divorced parent seating at ceremony and reception?

amanda1611t

My parents have been divorced and by October it will be a while. My mother has announced she will probably want to bring someone to the wedding. where does that guest sit during the ceremony?

about 11 people of my moms family are coming. i am ther closest with them. on my dad's side it is him and my grandmother and her boyfriend. mom and dad's family dont get along. do i seat my mom and dad seperately? does my moms guest sit with her family?

the only person from my FI's family is his mom since his parents are divorced...where do I seat her? 

should i maybe do a table with my mom, her guest, my grandfather, my dad, my grandmother and her boyfriend and my FI's mom?

Or do i tell my mom no guest?

mica178

If your mom wants to bring a date, let her bring a date.  During the ceremony, the date would sit next to your mom, and your dad can either sit at the other end of the pew or in a different row.  During the reception, I'd seat your parents at separate tables with their specific family and/or closest friends.  So at table #11 (or whatever number) would be your mom, her date, her parents, her siblings and/or closest friends.  Table #12 would be your dad, his family, his siblings and/or closest friends.  Table #14 would be your in laws and their closest relatives and/or friends.

Marrin713

I am your parents age and circumstance so if my son's wedding ever comes to pass I would hope that my current H would sit with me in the front row at the ceremony along with my mother and whomever else my son deems important enough to be in the front row.  I'm sure he would xH in the front row as well.  Or possibly current H would sit behind me in the second row.  Not sure; I guess I never noticed at other weddings I've attended where the parents are divorced.

As for the reception, ideally I would sit at a table with H2, my mom, and other close relatives.  And xH would sit at a table with his date and members of his family.  Our divorce was not very nice, but enough time has passed that I'm pretty sure he and I can sit in close proximity without stabbing each other with our shrimp forks.

Anyway good luck!

amanda1611t

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_divorced-parent-seating-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2d7910a0-1018-4d79-896f-ce75acbb1cedPost:f044aa85-94f6-4108-88b5-613327261cb3">Re: divorced parent seating at ceremony and reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]I am your parents age and circumstance so if my son's wedding ever comes to pass I would hope that my current H would sit with me in the front row at the ceremony along with my mother and whomever else my son deems important enough to be in the front row.  I'm sure he would xH in the front row as well.  Or possibly current H would sit behind me in the second row.  Not sure; I guess I never noticed at other weddings I've attended where the parents are divorced. As for the reception, ideally I would sit at a table with H2, my mom, and other close relatives.  And xH would sit at a table with his date and members of his family.  Our divorce was not very nice, but enough time has passed that I'm pretty sure he and I can sit in close proximity without stabbing each other with our shrimp forks. Anyway good luck!
Posted by Marrin713[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Thanks. I was thinking about putting my moms guest directly behind her in the ceremony. I guess I will just have to see how it works out

</div>

Marrin713

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_divorced-parent-seating-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:2d7910a0-1018-4d79-896f-ce75acbb1cedPost:36833a72-2eee-4fe2-94de-7518b2b91464">Re: divorced parent seating at ceremony and reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: divorced parent seating at ceremony and reception? : Thanks.<strong> I was thinking about putting my moms guest directly behind her</strong> in the ceremony. I guess I will just have to see how it works out
Posted by amanda1611t[/QUOTE]

That might be the best option Amanda.  I know for us it would be awkward for me, H, and xH to all be sitting together in the first row.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

My parents were/are both in serious relationships (my mom is remarried, my dad has a live-in girlfriend). My brother escorted dad's GF to the second row before the rest of the parents walked in (brother was a bridesman). You don't have to do that, but I've known her for several years, so it felt like a nice thing to do.

My dad sat in the second row. My mom walked in with her husband right before the wedding party and sat in the first row.

My in-laws all sat in the first row on the "groom's" side.

We had 3 parent tables at the reception. Mom was to our right with her husband and some of my friends whom she knows (she didn't have any family attending - she really doesn't have any living family), dad was to our left (along with his sister, neice, great-nephew, my brother and his GF, of course), and my in-laws were at a table in front of us.