Put one guest from each family at the table.
For a Southport rehearsal dinner, invite somebody from each side to keep me honest. One chooses the card. The other decides who gets to hold it. By the time the couple returns from photos on the Cape Fear River waterfront, those two have learned each other’s names and formed a small, deeply unreliable investigative committee. Their partners can join the next hand or keep talking over drinks.
The Riverwalk is a photo location. Which door is dinner?
If you’re hosting in a private dining room, send the restaurant entrance and the name on the reservation. Ask the host which table can stay set through service. I’d put the station where guests can stop on their way in, clear of the servers and the person collecting place cards. If supper is at a house instead, a corner of the living room works just as well.
Tell me whether the toast happens before the first course or after it. I’ll arrange a cue with the speaker so the last hand finishes before the first glass goes up. If children are at the wedding weekend, reserve this for the adults’ welcome party or a separate 18+ space. Text your date, venue, and adult guest count and I’ll recommend where the magic fits.