Where Do The girlfriends and boyfriends sit?

magsmcgee

My Fiancee and I are having a very small wedding, I'm having my sister and bestfriend as my bridesmaids and hes having his two brothers as his groomsmen. All four parties have significant others. I was wondering what is considered appropriate as far as seating at both the wedding and the Reception? 

OliveOilsMom

For the ceremony, your WP will be up front with you either standing next to you or sitting in the front row (depending on how long your ceremony will be).

As for the reception, you should have the SOs sit together.  So either have a sweetheart table with just you and FI or have a head table that has the SOs sitting next to your wedding party.  This is also called a Kings table.

Jen4948

At the ceremony, SOs sit with the other guests.

At the reception, they should be seated with their partners.  SOs of wedding party members sit with their partners at the head table (if the wedding party is seated there) or  at the tables their partners are seated at.

Kate61487

Ditto PPs.  During the ceremony their SOs can sit with other friends they may know, or with each other.  Since 3 out of 4 are dating immediate family I wouldn't find it odd at all if they sat in the first or second row with parents/grandparents/cousins they may know. 

All the weddings H has been in thus far I know plenty of others - usually the GFs/wives of the other groomsmen since it's been mostly his college buddies.  When I stood up in my brother's wedding H sat with his mom and my family.  If you're concerned that they don't know anyone else make sure to introduce them to each other or another friend/relative at the rehearsal so they have a buddy.  Not that sitting alone would be the worst thing ever, but try to make them comfortable.

At the reception as PPs have said they should really be sat together; whether at the head table or normal guest tables.

mlg78

I plan on having my WP sit at the head table but have their significant others sit at a table where they know people which all of them do.  People on here say that you shouldl have their significant others sit at the head table or have the WP sit at the regular table and have a sweetheart table instead but I've never attended a wedding like that...  

SKPM

In Response to Re:Where Do The girlfriends and boyfriends sit?:[QUOTE]I plan on having my WP sit at the head table but have their significant others sit at a table where they know people which all of them do. People on here say that you shouldl have their significant others sit at the head table or have the WP sit at the regular table and have a sweetheart table instead but I've never attended a wedding like that... Posted by mlg78[/QUOTE]
Yeah, we say that because it's how to properly treat you nearest and dearest. Seriously, you'll be sitting with your new husband at an event celebrating your relationship and commitment, and you wouldn't dream of seating any other guests separate from their SO at the reception. So why on earth would it be okay to seat your WP members [your nearest and dearest friends and family, who have bought attire, likely already have spent the day with you while their SO is on their own, maybe thrown you showers or b parties] apart from their dates? Just because you have seen something done doesn't make it any less deplorable. OP, just seat SOs together, anything else is up to you and your FI.

Summer2011Bride

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_where-do-the-girlfriends-and-boyfriends-sit?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:605227fc-7d7e-43df-b660-cf020a7ea9a0Post:98a7819a-6244-4c10-b60e-e6f88e45f1ac">Re: Where Do The girlfriends and boyfriends sit?</a>:
[QUOTE]I plan on having my WP sit at the head table but have their significant others sit at a table where they know people which all of them do.  People on here say that you shouldl have their significant others sit at the head table or have the WP sit at the regular table and have a sweetheart table instead but I've never attended a wedding like that...  
Posted by mlg78[/QUOTE]

Yeah I had never attended a wedding in my circle without a money dance, but we didn't do it because it's boring and rude to ask your guests for money at your wedding.

OP, seat the SOs with the WP members. It is rude to split them up at the reception. During the ceremony, they have a "role" in the ceremony by standing up front with you so it's OK if the SOs are in the audience like everyone else. But at the reception where the WP is not needed to do anything, there is absolutely no reason to not let them sit with their dates.

freebread03

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_where-do-the-girlfriends-and-boyfriends-sit?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:605227fc-7d7e-43df-b660-cf020a7ea9a0Post:98a7819a-6244-4c10-b60e-e6f88e45f1ac">Re: Where Do The girlfriends and boyfriends sit?</a>:
[QUOTE]I plan on having my WP sit at the head table but have their significant others sit at a table where they know people which all of them do.  People on here say that you shouldl have their significant others sit at the head table or have the WP sit at the regular table and have a sweetheart table instead but I've never attended a wedding like that...  
Posted by mlg78[/QUOTE]

<div>By your logic, if everyone else is jumping off a bridge, you should too since everyone else is doing it.  "People on here" say that you should seat significant others with their husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. because that is the correct thing to do etiquette-wise, and is the way you should treat those nearest and dearest to you.  If you choose not to do that, I think that says a lot about your consideration towards others.</div>

brielleinlove

Making your wedding party sit at a head table can be just as uncomfortable for single guests as for attached guests.  I was single when my best friend from college got married, and I was the only member of the WP who was not a family member, so I really only knew the bride and groom.  It was sort of awkward to sit there and eat dinner with a bunch of people that were essentially acquaintances.  

Seat your wedding party with the people it makes sense for them to sit with.  Seat your siblings with members of your family, FI's siblings with members of his family, friends with mutual friends, etc.  It's no fun to eat at a head table.

banana468

I never understand the logic of splitting up couples at the reception that celebrates love and commitment.   For Pete's sake, seat your WP with their SOs.