"Six Common Careless Mistakes in Seating Charts You Must Avoid!"

2019.06.23 published

殿堂記事

Terrifying to Think About! Mistakes on the Seating Chart...!

On the wedding day, a seating chart is handed to each guest.

It's a crucial paper item that must never contain mistakes, as it includes everyone's names and titles, creating immense pressure.

But.

Since it's created by humans, mistakes can happen.

No matter how thoroughly you think you've checked, there are instances where you might overlook errors due to preconceptions like "This part should be fine."

There are even mistakes you only realize later, thinking "Wait, was this not correct?"

To avoid embarrassing situations where you only notice a mistake after a guest points it out on the wedding day...

In this article, we'll share common mistakes often seen on seating charts.*

Common Mistake #1: Mistakes in Kanji

Mistakes in guests' names in Kanji are the most common errors, and they are the ones you should absolutely avoid...!

Errors like writing "崎" as "﨑" or "郎" as "朗" are mainly due to conversion mistakes (which is why copying and pasting is a safe option).

For the bride and groom, keeping track of the Kanji of dozens of guests is challenging, so it's essential to carefully cross-check the names you received when asking for addresses and confirm them multiple times.

Common Mistake #2: Honorifics for Family Members

It is generally understood that at a wedding, the bride and groom, along with their parents, are considered the hosts (the ones providing hospitality).

Therefore, honorific "様" is not added to the names of the parents on the seating chart.

Up to this point, everyone should be okay.

What about honorifics for grandparents and siblings?

The presence or absence of honorifics for siblings depends on their marital status.

If they are unmarried, they belong to their parents' family, so they don’t receive honorifics. If married, they are considered to have their own families and thus usually receive honorifics.

Grandparents living with the parents do not receive "様."

Interestingly, nieces, nephews, and children of cousins (up to elementary school) receive "くん・ちゃん."*

Common Mistake #3: Groom's Side Listed as Bride's Side

This is a surprisingly overlooked mistake.

Sometimes what should be "Groom's Side Friends" is mistakenly listed as "Bride's Side Friends."

Many people assume this portion is correct and overlook it, so it's wise to double-check just in case.*

Common Mistake #4: Do Not Abbreviate Company Names or Titles

For guests with high social standing such as company presidents or supervisors, it is common to include their company name and title (although it's not mandatory).

Avoid abbreviating like using "(株)" or "(有)" due to a lack of space or because the company name is long, as this is considered poor etiquette.

It's best to refer to business cards or email signatures and list the company name and title in full to avoid any offense.*

For colleagues or seniors, you don’t need to include the company name; you can simply use "Groom's Company Senior" or "Groom's Colleague."

Common Mistake #5: Distinguishing Between 伯母 and 叔母

Many people casually use the characters "伯母" and "叔母," but do you know how to distinguish between these two?

Firstly, "伯母 (伯父)" refers to an older sister (or brother) of one’s father or mother.

Meanwhile, "叔母 (叔父)" refers to a younger sister (or brother) of one’s father or mother.

It's a minor detail, but be careful not to mix them up!*

Common Mistake #6: Names Should Not Overlap with Folds

This is another aspect people might not have thought much about...

Seating charts come in various designs, including folded booklet types, tri-fold types, and six-fold types, but ensure that the names and titles of guests do not overlap with the folds.

It is considered rude to fold a guest's name at a wedding, which is an event where you are hosting them.

Couples planning on a design with many folds should be especially cautious.*

Aim for Zero Mistakes on the Seating Chart!

We have introduced common mistakes that newlyweds often make when creating seating charts.*

Pay careful attention to these six points, and make sure to create a flawless seating chart with no mistakes.

➡ This is What You Must Not Mess Up: Examples of Guests' Correct Titles When Creating the Seating Chart!*