Sort your seating plan in an arvo.

Melbourne Cup lunches are a mixed bag. Some guests go full fascinator-and-suit, others stay work-casual. Don't mix the extremes at the same table; it makes the casual crowd feel underdressed. A few ways to handle it. Sort tables by role (execs at the formal end, ops team more relaxed). Or seat people by name and mix formal with casual so nobody feels picked on. Or skip assigned seating entirely and let the dress codes sort themselves. Start service by 2:15pm so plates are clear by 2:45pm and everyone's around a screen for the 3pm race.

Winery weddings usually split between an outdoor ceremony and an indoor or marquee reception. Long tables suit Barossa and Yarra Valley cellar doors. They match the farmhouse feel. Round tables of eight or ten work for function-centre receptions with a dance floor. Run a cellar-door tour or wine tasting during drinks so guests mingle before sitting down. Have a wet-weather plan for anything outdoor, and book the marquee early. They go fast at peak season.

About a third of Aussie weddings blend two cultural backgrounds, and seating is where the balance shows. For a Chinese-Australian reception, reserve a family table for the couple's parents and a tea-ceremony area where both sets of parents sit. For Italian, Greek, Lebanese or Indian receptions, plan tables of ten rather than eight. Extended families run larger. If the ceremony blends two traditions, brief the senior guests on seating order so nobody feels side-lined.

Import the guest list from Excel or type it in. Add tables that match the venue, round or rectangular. Drag guests onto tables. Share a view-only link with your venue or export a PDF. Households group automatically.

Unlimited table layouts, drag-and-drop seating, PDF export, RSVP tracking. Excel or Google Contacts import. Works in a browser on desktop or tablet. No installs. Magic Table Planner does all that free up to 30 guests, no card needed.

A 48-inch (4-foot) round seats 6. A 60-inch (5-foot) round seats 8-10. A 72-inch (6-foot) round seats 10-12. Allow 24-30 inches per person. These sizes cover most weddings and formal events.

Build a guest list with household groupings and notes. Work out VIP tables for immediate family and wedding party. Seat divorced parents at separate tables with a comfortable gap. Place singles near people they know; mix friend groups. Test a couple of versions before locking it in. That's what Magic Table Planner is for.

Magic Table Planner is free for up to 30 guests. Unlimited table layouts, drag-and-drop seating, PDF exports, RSVP tracking. It saves automatically, works on tablets, no downloads. The free tier covers dinner parties, small weddings, and smaller events.