Wedding Etiquette Forum

Help- Family Seating Disaster!

I'm having a small wedding and the reception will be held at a local restaurant.  We were planning on doing long banquet tables, but since the number of guests just went from 40 to 50 I was informed by the venue we'll have to use all small round tables that only seat six.  FI's parents are divorced- which means there are six parents, so eight people need to sit at the head table!  I am totally stumped on how to do the seating chart.  Since his parents do get along very well, I could bump the step-parents, but they're critical to the wedding!  His step-mom is a florist and is doing our flowers for free, and his step-dad owns a printing shop and is doing our stationary for free.  I have no idea what to do- suggestions please!!

Re: Help- Family Seating Disaster!

  • redheadfsuredheadfsu member
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2009
    Op- you didn't get much snark, even by the knot standards. I swear why do some posters assume that the knot boards are all rainbows. It is still an internet message board. But I might be biased b/c I read message boards like Fark & other mean boards.  *off soapbox*

    Sorry about your venue. But I'm sure if you speak with your new venue about table space & all the parents, you guys can come up with something that will please most people.  You may have to split parts of the family up (but of course not couples, just generations). Most people understand that they can't sit next to every single person they wanted at a wedding. Just do your best.

    But without venue & parents input I vote:
    1. Sweetheart table 
    2. Your parents host a table (with their close friends), each set of his parents host a table, & you host a table  (or any variation on this.)

    Planning Bio
    Married 9/15/11

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    *This is Not Legal Advice*
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_family-seating-disaster?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3df4db87-fb84-4d0f-860c-cd05da373171Post:6a54ab1a-ed1a-4601-8ce3-facbbc267400">Re: Help- Family Seating Disaster!</a>:
    [QUOTE]Wow- this is the first time I've ever posted and I was suprised by the snarky comments from some of y'all.  I know it's not a "disaster"- it was just a nice catchphrase.  The "disaster" was when the day-after reception site for our 200 person party decided to remodel and broke the contract two weeks ago.  My FI and I decided we didn't care about the party, canceled the whole thing, and just bumped the wedding guest list from 40 to 50.  Also, the reason I care four months before I need to start caring is because I took a new job and I am moving and will no longer be living in the same city where we'll be getting married.  My mother is coming next week and this will be her only visit to the site- and my last visit- before the wedding.  I simply wanted to suggestions so when I see my mom and we go to the site I talk to her about it and we can ask restaurant about all of the possibilities. And to answer other questions- we have one bridesmaid and one groomsman.  I am only child but my FI has three siblings all married and with children.  Can't do a table with just the wedding party because then we'd split up the groomsman's family.  Best option is probably a sweetheart table, didn't even think of that.
    Posted by merin528[/QUOTE]

    Surprised by our snark?  You MUST be new.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_family-seating-disaster?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3df4db87-fb84-4d0f-860c-cd05da373171Post:1a59db53-78af-49d1-945a-80f1ba21ff90">Re: Help- Family Seating Disaster!</a>:
    [QUOTE]have a sweetheart table and seat the family elsewhere.
    Posted by Night_Sprite[/QUOTE]


    ITA with this.
  • >> I was informed by the venue...

    Step One:  You need to realize that YOU are the CUSTOMER.  You are contracting the venue.  You call the shots.  There is no such thing as "was just informed by the venue" about tables.  YOU tell the VENUE how you want the tables set up.
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