Why start from a spreadsheet

Most couples already have their guest list in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets — RSVPs, meal choices, plus-ones. Re-typing two hundred names into a seating tool is exactly the kind of work a spreadsheet should spare you. SeatMark reads that list directly and turns it into two things you actually need on the day: a seating chart for the entrance, and a set of place cards for the tables.

Everything runs in your browser. The file is parsed locally, so a guest list with contact details or dietary notes never touches a server — useful when you are handling family data.

Step 1 — Shape the list

One guest per row, first row as headers. A name column is the only requirement; a table or group column lets you pre-assign seats. Extra columns (meal choice, RSVP status) ride along harmlessly.

  1. Save or export the sheet as .xlsx or .csv.
  2. If names sit in several sheets, keep them — multi-sheet workbooks import sheet by sheet.
  3. Watch for trailing spaces in names; they can split one guest into two rows visually.

Step 2 — Import and pick a template

In the studio, choose a wedding place-card template, then import the file. Column headers are matched to card fields automatically — check the mapping once, adjust if a header was not recognised, and every card previews with real names immediately.

Banquet seating maker with guest list input, group colours and venue layout steps
The banquet seating workspace: paste or upload the list, then build the venue layout.

Step 3 — Seat the guests

Open the banquet seating view and create your tables — round, long, U-shape. Drag guests from the list onto seats; anyone unassigned waits in the side list so nobody gets lost. Changing your mind costs a drag, not a redo.

Seating floor plan with eight round tables and colour-coded guest names seated
Groups are colour-coded, so a party split across two tables is visible at a glance.

Step 4 — Print the chart and the cards

Export the seating chart as PDF at A4 or A3 for the welcome board, then export the place cards — names and table numbers already filled. Print at 100% scale (never "fit to page") and cut along the printed guides. If your printer shifts the output a fraction of a millimetre, run the built-in calibration wizard once and the offset is compensated.

Common pitfalls

  • Scaled printing. "Fit to printable area" shrinks every card by a few percent and misaligns cuts — always print at 100%.
  • Duplicate names. Two guests with the same name are flagged by the data check; disambiguate before seating.
  • Last-minute changes. Keep the browser tab open on a laptop at the venue — edits re-render instantly and the PWA keeps working even if the Wi-Fi does not.