Seat MakervsJoyWedding planning
Seat Maker vs Joy for Wedding Seating
Choose Seat Maker when you want to choose the exact seat, keep VIPs fixed and undo a change yourself.
Free browser tools · no account needed. Full online access is paid.
Try a real seat change8 fictional guestsAlex is fixed in seat 1. Shuffle the other guests, or select two people to swap.
Why choose Seat Maker?
See what you can do.
Put every guest in a seat
Lock VIPs. Shuffle the others. Swap two guests. Undo a change.
Try the seat controls
Keep planning at the venue
Edit saved native seating plans offline on iPhone and iPad.
Explore offline planning
Start with your guest names
Import a list, review the fields, then place your people.
Try guest-list importReal Seat Maker views with fictional names. Native offline edits work in saved iPhone/iPad plans; online sync and RSVPs need internet.
The key differences.
Full feature breakdown ↓| Your decision | Seat Maker | Joy |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Guest seats & room changes | AI placement connected to wedding RSVPs |
| Tools | VIP locks, shuffle & undo | AI auto-seat with party-together setting and unseated-only/reseat-all options |
| Offline edits | Saved native plans on iPhone & iPad | Not verified in reviewed sources |
| Price | Free browser tools; paid online access & native upgrades | Paid event seating; sample available |
Vendor-described capabilities. Unknown features are not scored as missing. Full terms & sources below.
The details, when you need them.
Pricing, transfers & official sourcesFull feature comparison8 topics, including devices and offline access
Joy's seating tool uses its existing guest list and advertises AI placement, followed by manual adjustments. Real guests require a one-time event purchase. Seat Maker offers direct seat editing, locks and shuffle, plus native and browser planning options. These are different assignment approaches, so compare how each handles your family groups.
| What matters | Seat Maker | Joy |
|---|---|---|
| Planning focus | Named guests, individual seats and a practical room plan. | Turn existing wedding guest data into a seating plan with AI placement, then manually refine and export for the venue/caterer. Source ↗ |
| Guest and planning tools | Import names, arrange individual seats, lock VIP seats and shuffle other guests. | AI auto-seat with party-together setting and unseated-only/reseat-all options. Room dimensions, table shapes, venue elements and multiple charts Source ↗ |
| Layouts and handoff | Room layout tools and native image/PDF exports. Browser tools include drafts, signs and place cards. | Manual drag-and-drop, guest filters, undo and version history. PDF floor plan and CSV meal counts/table assignments Source ↗ |
| Access and devices | iPhone/iPad app, free browser tools and a paid online planner. Features vary by surface. | Browser seating from the Joy Event Dashboard. Source ↗ |
| Offline work | Saved native seating plans can be edited offline. Online RSVPs, sync and published websites require internet. | The reviewed article does not establish offline seating access. Source ↗ |
| Price and access terms | Free browser tools. Paid online access and separate native upgrades. Review the complete offer before purchase. | Interactive sample floor plan is available before purchase. Source ↗ |
| Moving your data | Review a guest-list import. Rebuild room geometry and rules separately. Later updates need reconciliation. | Keep a record of attending guests and meals before any transfer. Source ↗ |
| A reason to choose it | You want to work directly on guests and seats, and keep a local native plan for offline venue edits. | Your RSVP responses, meals and guest tags already live in Joy, and you want to use its automatic placement. Source ↗ |
Plans & pricingWhat is free, what is paid and what expires
Seat Maker
Start with account-free browser planning tools and an editable local draft. The full online planner requires paid access. Native upgrades have separate in-app offers.
Checkout shows the current currency, renewal period and total before purchase.
View online access options →Joy
Interactive sample floor plan is available before purchase. Real guest list seating requires a one-time purchase per event; the dollar amount is not stated in the reviewed help article.
Official plan terms ↗Reviewed October 21, 2026. Confirm editors, exports, tax, renewal and access expiry for your region. A suite’s fee covers more than seating.
Bring your guest listImport, rebuild and review
Keep a record of attending guests and meals before any transfer. Reconcile new replies manually unless a supported connection is explicitly available.
- 1Keep an originalSave the source list and a dated visual plan.
- 2Test a small importReview names, duplicates, groups and accepted fields.
- 3Rebuild & reconcileCheck capacities, fixed seats and unassigned people.
A PDF is a visual reference, not an editable room transfer. A CSV snapshot does not create live sync; choose where future changes will be maintained.
Try Seat Maker’s guest-list import →When Joy makes senseIts strengths and documented workflow
Your RSVP responses, meals and guest tags already live in Joy, and you want to use its automatic placement.
- AI auto-seat with party-together setting and unseated-only/reseat-all options
- Room dimensions, table shapes, venue elements and multiple charts
- Manual drag-and-drop, guest filters, undo and version history
- PDF floor plan and CSV meal counts/table assignments
Turn existing wedding guest data into a seating plan with AI placement, then manually refine and export for the venue/caterer.
Editorial workflow illustration from Joy’s official documentation. Official positioning: “the AI places your entire guest list”.
Try a realistic sample120 fictional guests · downloadable CSV
Start with 120 fictional guests, 12 four-person families and four fixed VIPs in 16 eight-seat tables. Cancel Guests 105–108, add Guests 121–124, move Guests 117–120 into the four vacated seats and remove Table 16. The final plan has 120 guests and 120 seats. Keep families together, Guests 053 and 061 apart, and Guests 049–052 in their fixed seats.
Review imported names before setting groups and locks. Extra CSV fields may need manual mapping. This is a reproducible exercise, not a completed competitor benchmark.
Sources & comparison methodOfficial references · reviewed October 21, 2026
Seat Maker publishes this comparison. Recommendations are editorial judgments. Competitor features and prices come from official product, help and pricing materials reviewed October 21, 2026; no paid-account or timed head-to-head benchmark was performed.
- Joy: product & workflow ↗withjoy.com
Native images are Seat Maker v3.2.2 on iPhone 17 Pro; browser images are actual tool captures. Names are fictional. No competitor interface has been recreated.
Suggest a correction →Quick answers.
When should I keep Joy?
Your RSVP responses, meals and guest tags already live in Joy, and you want to use its automatic placement.
Can I move my Joy plan into Seat Maker?
Keep a record of attending guests and meals before any transfer. Reconcile new replies manually unless a supported connection is explicitly available.
Can I try Seat Maker before buying?
Yes. The public browser planning tools accept your own names and save a local draft without an account. The full online planner and native app upgrades have separate purchase terms.
What should I check about Joy’s price?
Interactive sample floor plan is available before purchase. Real guest list seating requires a one-time purchase per event; the dollar amount is not stated in the reviewed help article.
Can I edit my plan without Wi-Fi?
Seat Maker’s saved native seating plans support local offline edits. Account sync, online RSVPs and published websites require internet. For Joy: The reviewed article does not establish offline seating access.
Make your seating plan.
Free browser tools · no account needed. Full online access is paid.