Question 1

Can the free tier handle a 30-guest christening meal?

Accepted Answer

The free tier covers up to 30 guests, which suits a typical christening, confirmation, or family lunch. Upload the guest list, drag family and godparents onto 3 or 4 round tables, and export a printable plan to hand over at the restaurant or parish hall.

Question 2

Is the free tier enough for a small hen do dinner?

Accepted Answer

Hen-do dinners usually run 12 to 25 guests, well within the free tier. Plan the seating for a restaurant group booking or a private dining room, with the bride near the host or at the head of a long table. Export a printable plan to hand over to the restaurant.

Question 3

Can I use the free tier for a 30-guest retirement do?

Accepted Answer

Retirement dos for up to 30 guests fit the free tier. Plan round tables of 8 or 10, mix workplace colleagues with family across tables, and seat the retiree at a central table with easy access to the podium or speaker area.

Question 4

How does a table planner save time compared to spreadsheets?

Accepted Answer

Spreadsheets make you hold the seating in your head, with constant recalculation and manual updates. A visual table planner lets you drag and drop guests onto tables, see capacity warnings, and test different layouts with every change saved automatically. Most event planners tell us they save 3 to 5 hours on seating by switching from spreadsheets to a dedicated tool.

Question 5

Can I import my existing guest list from Excel or Google Sheets?

Accepted Answer

Magic Table Planner accepts Excel and CSV imports. Upload your spreadsheet with guest names, meal preferences, table assignments, or any custom fields you've tracked. The tool maps your columns and pulls in hundreds of guests in seconds.

Question 6

What types of events work best with table planning software?

Accepted Answer

Any event with assigned seating benefits from a visual table planner. Weddings are the common one, with couples juggling family dynamics, friend groups, and dietary needs across 100 to 150 guests. Corporate events like galas, award dinners, and conferences use table planners to group attendees by company, department, or networking strategy.

Question 7

How do I handle last-minute guest changes without redoing my entire seating chart?

Accepted Answer

Drag-and-drop makes last-minute changes painless. If a guest cancels, remove them from the table and the guest count updates automatically. If someone brings a plus-one, add them to the guest list and drag them onto any table with a spare seat.

Question 8

Can I share my seating chart with venues, caterers, or co-planners?

Accepted Answer

Export your table plan as a PDF or printable layout to share with vendors, venues, and your planning team. The PDF includes table numbers, guest names, and meal preferences (if you've tracked them), giving caterers and venues everything they need to set the room up correctly.

Question 9

What happens if I need to seat more guests than I originally planned?

Accepted Answer

You can upgrade for unlimited guests at any time. The premium plan unlocks capacity for events of any size, whether you're scaling from 30 to 300 guests or planning multiple events throughout the year. The upgrade is a one-off payment, not a subscription.

Plan your event seating without the spreadsheet

Import and organise guests

Arrange tables visually

Share when you are ready