- How do I keep two guests apart — like divorced parents?
- Add a “keep apart” rule for the two guests in the Rules tab. The auto-arranger will never seat them at the same table, and if you ever drag them together manually, the table turns red and the violation is spelled out until you fix it.
- Can I import my guest list from Excel or Google Sheets?
- Yes. Copy the rows from your spreadsheet and paste them into the import dialog — one guest per line, optionally followed by the circles they belong to (for example “Anna Meyer, School, Sports”). Groups are created automatically.
- Is Gather free? Do I need an account?
- Gather is free and requires no sign-up. Open the page, add your guests, and start planning — your plan is saved in your browser automatically.
- Where is my guest data stored?
- On your device only. Gather runs entirely in your browser and never uploads your guest list to a server. Even share links work without a backend: the whole plan is compressed into the link itself.
- How does the automatic seating arrangement work?
- Gather scores every pair of guests — shared circles and interests attract, “keep apart” rules repel strongly, couples are inseparable — then searches for the table layout with the highest total score. You can tune how much circles, interests, and chemistry each count, and pin guests you never want moved.