When planning a Quinceanera, there are many traditions and rituals to plan for, from the dress, to Mass, to the shoe ceremony! Along with the fun parts of planning, there is also a practical piece to plan for properly – the seating arrangements. Where your guests sit at your Quinceanera will affect the overall experience at your celebration.
One of the first things you’ll need to decide is whether you want to take the traditional route and assign everyone a seat, or whether you feel a more modern approach is your style and offer open seating. You can certainly go in a more modern direction. However, there are a few things you may want to be aware of before committing to this idea.
Talk with your parents as they will most likely have an opinion one way or the other and they are will be an important part of planning your party.
Open Seating vs. Assigned Seating
Your guests will be able to choose where they sit with open seating, which will make it easier for you. With open seating, you won’t have to worry about creating seating charts and table numbers, but there can be considerable challenges with this approach. For instance, you may have guests that move from table to table, looking for the “best spot” as they angle for seats near other guests or try and secure a spot close to the head table. This can be disruptive and can potentially shift the focus from the guest of honor to the guests as they get situated.
Open seating can be done well if your friends and family are tight-knit or you have a smaller crowd. But either way, you want to make sure that your family and pedrinos feel appropriately honored. If you decide to offer open seating, perhaps you can plan for assigned seating just for your family and pedrinos and have open seating for the rest of your guests.
Planning your Quince Seating Arrangement
Arranging to seat for your entire guest list can feel like a daunting task, but it can also be an opportunity for you to craft your event just the way you want it. When you chose to do the seating chart yourself, you will be able to play matchmaker by putting two people next to each other at a table that you think should have an opportunity to get to know each other better.
You can also put some guests at the same table because you know they have some things in common. Conversely, you won’t put people at the same table that you know will not be comfortable in conversation. With some time, thought, and effort, this part of your planning will make for a smooth, fun, and memorable time for everyone.
When you’re looking at the floor plan of your venue and the table layout, here are the typical sections that you’ll need to plan for:
Head Table
Traditionally, the guest of honor and her escort are seated at the head table with the court de Honor on either side. There can be up to 15 people total in the court, but that will depend on who the Quince would like to invite to be included and whether she’s more traditional or more modern in her style.
The Family Table
The tables that are set closest to the head table are typically reserved for the parents, padrinos, and siblings. Whether these tables are round or rectangle, as long as they are closest to the head table, you’ll be following tradition.
The Guest Tables
The next set of tables are for your guests. These guests can be seated at square, round, or rectangle tables and set closest to the family tables. Again, this is an opportunity for you to put compatible people together and keep a little distance where necessary.
When it comes to seating children at a Quinceanera, you can either seat children next to their parents or set a section of the dining room for the kids with activities.
Planning and Organizing Your Quinceanera
By planning your quince seating arrangement ahead of time, it can keep family drama from ruining your party. Plus, it’ll make for a smoother and more organized entrance for your guests. Make sure to go over your seating plan with key guests, like your court, and run it by your parents.
If you have all the elements of your quince as organized as possible, you’ll get to enjoy your celebration plus have your guests satisfied and comfortable. More often than not, everything will run smoothly, so sit back, relax, and enjoy your party!
Your Nevada County Quinceanera, at The Foothills Event Center
We can help you plan every aspect of a quinceanera, so your special girl has a special day! The Foothills has flexible packages and planning sessions are included. We’re here to ensure her celebration will be memorable for her as well as family and friends!The Foothills Event Center has elegant décor, gorgeous table top designs, padded mahogany Chiavari chairs, chic farm-to-table cuisine, richly colored LED accent lighting, and fine music to make her quinceanera a special memory to last a lifetime. Our helpful event team will assist in planning an unforgettable experience every step of the way, taking care of all of the fine details so you can relax and enjoy your celebration. Learn more today, or call us at 530-271-1000.
Mardie has been a successful and inspiring entrepreneur since 1981. The Foothills Event Center was created out of Mardie’s desire to enrich the community and provide a place to come together for celebrating, learning, sharing, and enjoying our rich Gold Country heritage. Rooted in her love of Nevada County, Mardie’s strong vision and desire to serve the community yielded the opportunity to revitalize the former Weaver property into a gathering place that we all can enjoy.
Her innovation and commitment to environmental responsibility contribute positively to our community and surroundings. With The Foothills Events Center, Mardie is creating the best experience for our clients and their guests, creating memories for generations.