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Sweetheart tables (just the couple) got popular in the US in the 2000s, especially on the West Coast. Traditional head tables (couple plus wedding party and parents flanking) are still the norm in the Northeast and Midwest. Southern weddings often skip both and just put a couple's table near the dance floor. There's no wrong answer, but the choice affects sightlines for your photographer and toasts. Build both layouts in Magic Table Planner and see which one actually works with your room.

Most Bar and Bat Mitzvah receptions run 100-400 guests over 4-5 hours. Reserve a family table near the stage for the kid, parents, and grandparents. Put teen friends on round tables of 8-10 where they can get up for the Hora without climbing over anyone. Keep elderly relatives away from the DJ speakers. Leave clear floor space for the Hora circle and the candle-lighting. Place cards with table numbers are standard for check-in.

Give each parent their own round table with their side of the family or their closest friends. Put them on opposite sides of the room. If a parent has a new partner, seat them together with friends they actually know, not strangers who make it worse. If tensions run high, keep both parents out of direct sightlines to the head table so the couple stays the center of attention. Talk to each parent about the plan before the wedding day. Surprises are what cause scenes.

Import your guest list from Excel (or type it in), then add tables that match your venue layout: rounds, rectangles, or a mix. Drag guests onto tables until the arrangement looks right. When you're done, share a view-only link with the venue or export a PDF for printing. Households auto-group on import, so you're not dragging spouses one at a time.

Unlimited layouts, drag-and-drop seating, PDF export, and RSVP tracking are the basics. Excel or Google Contacts import saves you an hour of retyping. It should run in a desktop and tablet browser without installing anything. Magic Table Planner covers all of that free up to 30 guests, no credit card.

A 48-inch round seats 6 comfortably. A 60-inch round seats 8-10. A 72-inch round seats 10-12. Plan on 24-30 inches per person so people aren't eating elbow-to-elbow. These sizes cover most US weddings and formal events.

Build the guest list first, with household groups and notes on who shouldn't sit together. Pick your VIP tables for immediate family and the wedding party. Put divorced parents on separate tables with distance between them. Mix friend groups so singles aren't stuck next to strangers. Test a couple of versions in Magic Table Planner before you commit. It's free to experiment.

Magic Table Planner is free for events up to 30 guests: unlimited layouts, drag-and-drop, PDF export, RSVP tracking, no watermark. Look for a tool that auto-saves, works on a tablet, and doesn't ask you to download anything. The free plan covers most dinner parties, showers, and intimate weddings.