(Iif you are nervous about your speech, in order to start relaxing and enjoy your day, make the speeches and cut the cake before the meal.)

As your replies start coming in, start planning who will sit where, some names will link up automatically - groups of families or friends. Use the Table Plan with our FREE wedding planning tools.

Try to arrange it so that each table has someone good at keeping conversations flowing.
Usually couples sit at the same table but not next to each other. Make a list of the people who may not know many of your other guests and rather than use them to fill gaps, think about common interests - children of the same age, shared professions.

Traditionally, (if you are facing the top table) from the left the seating is:
chief bridesmaid, groom's father, bride's mother, groom, bride, bride's father, groom's mother and then the best man.

If your parents are divorced and the seating plan is less than straightforward to arrange, consider having only yourselves, the bridesmaids and best man at the top table with each parent seated with their new partners and friends at tables nearby.

You may want to formally greet your guests at the entrance to your reception giving them the opportunity to congratulate you, thank you for inviting them and to meet your parents. The receiving line is in the following order:
bride's mother, bride's father, groom's mother, groom's father, bride, groom, chief bridesmaid, other attendants.

(Announcing your guests is one of the many tasks a toastmaster can perform.)

Instead of numbering the tables, (guests may look at their number and wonder why they are on table 26 and not number 5), consider naming your tables instead. The names could be associated with your theme, or to do with your life so far or places you've visited.

A few suggestions:

To break the ice, draw up a "whos who" of your guests with brief details about occupations, special interests and have a copy at each table. Also, distribute a "guest book" for people to send you special written messages.

Get prints of your special photographs, especially if you have children, and decorate the room with holiday snaps, childhood pictures, you at home, you at work, friends and family, and make up a collage. It’s a lovely way to show your extended family, friends and colleagues, what your lives have meant so far.

To evoke a real feeling of involvement and the recollection of happy memories, you could also ask your married guests to bring one of their wedding photos to pin on a special board at your reception.