Buffer Seat
Buffer Seat: An intentionally empty seat used to keep two guests apart.
A buffer seat is a deliberately unfilled seat at a table, used as a separator between two guests who should not sit next to each other but who must sit at the same table. Common scenarios: divorced parents at a small wedding, ex-coworkers, or family members in a long-running feud. Buffer seats are an awkward last resort — usually a better fix is to assign the two guests to different tables entirely.
Related terms
- Conflict Pair — Two guests who must not be seated near each other.
- Assigned Seating — Each guest is given a specific table (and sometimes a specific seat).