Seat locks
Lock VIP seats without rebuilding your whole chart
Locked seats keep the plan stable while the rest of the room stays flexible. They are useful any time a few placements matter more than every other decision.
In this guide
Use locks for genuine constraints
Lock seats for guests who must stay near each other, away from each other, near the couple, near a stage, close to a caregiver, or at a sponsor table. Avoid locking everyone too early because the chart needs room to improve.
Separate VIPs from preferences
A VIP placement is not the same as a preference. Parents at a wedding, board members at a gala, and students with accommodations are hard constraints. Friend groups and table balance are preferences that can move.
Shuffle around the locked seats
After locking important people, shuffle the flexible guests. This lets you test new combinations without breaking the placements you already reviewed.
Unlock when the plan changes
Locks should not become invisible rules. If a head table changes or a classroom arrangement moves, unlock the affected seats, make the change, then lock again once the new constraint is real.
Good reasons to lock a seat
- Wedding party, parents, hosts, honorees, or sponsors.
- Accessibility, caregiver, interpreter, or aisle needs.
- Teacher-controlled student placements.
- Guests who must be separated for comfort or safety.