Seating at Ceremony Question

mkjasani

Hi Ladies... I am thinking this may be a SA issue but wanted to see if any of you encountered this situation with your parents... My parents said to me - oh, we have to reserve the first 3 rows for family only.  I said - well that is fine but the 5 seats of the first row on both sides (groom & bride) is going to be our bridal party.  We just need to leave the first 5 seats free for them so if there are 10 seats to a row, only 5 will be available (on each side).  My dad said this was not acceptable, etc... and I told him it was important to FI and I - if they are being a part of our special day then they should be right up front.  My dad said we would 'discuss'... this is one battle though I won't let them win...  I just wanted to see if anyone else had encountered this issue?  (I have very traditional parents with these things - yet I am not at all traditional - hence lots of issues as I am sure you all can imagine)  Thanks!

Bhanu&Anuj

Hey mkjasani!

This was something I was also thinking about....

On the sides of your mandap (I'm guessing you have a mandap) if there is enough room put 2 rows of 6 seats there...then close family can sit there.

Then you can have your theatre style seating infront of the mandap.

I want to do that as well...as I want the BP to sit infront if possible

mkjasani

Thanks Bhanu & Anuj... that is a good idea, the only problem is I am Indian and he is not - but we are still doing Hindu ceremony.  I don't want it to feel completely one-sided and all Indian if that makes sense?  Plus I would go nuts with all those ppl up there - lol

raangoli

Tell your dad you will sell him the seats up front for $200 a seat. Then see what he says

Is there a happy medium you can reach with him on the seating though? Tell him that you will have seats for your mom and him and the same for your FI's side, then the first row of 5 seats on either side is for your bridal party, then after that your family can be seated.

I fear I will have a similar problem as you in November. Not that we have a bridal party, but that my family will over take the front rows and I will feel crowded.

mkjasani

Ha, Ha Raangoli - I like the selling seats idea!  Actually my parents and his parents will be IN the mandap so it is all the extended relatives he is worried about (and you know in Indian weddings that means ALL family and friends). 

I am hoping he will agree with me (and your suggestion) that the 1st 5 seats on each side should be bridal party - and then the first 3 rows if he wants to block for family fine - but only on our side... he cannot take over the groom's side...

I kind of really want our friends to be closer because they are really excited and many have never been to an Indian wedding... whereas all the relatives, etc have been to so many.  And lets be honest - the relatives and fam friends will not be paying attention whereas our friends will.  But I am not going to push my luck with my parents - will just fight for the bridal pty.

raangoli

I think that's a happy medium - that you can reserve the first three rows on your side for all the family and friends (that won't pay attention, like you said) and make sure that your friends have space on the groom's side.

Good luck!

jnsaini

We dont have this issue, only the parents sit near the bride and groom along with few bridesmaids to help the girl up and down during phere since in a gurdawara we all sit on the ground. I love the phere part..:)