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Wedding Reception Forum

Family seating

I would love some advice on the seating arrangement for our reception.  We aren't doing a head table because we have a large wedding party.  Originally we had discussed having us sit with both of our parents.  However, I have realized that this might be weird as we will mostly be up greeting people and the parents don't know each other that well.  I know that my parents would prefer to sit with their family and friends instead of at a table with his parents.  They have only met his parents once (They like his parents, but just don't have a ton in common other than us).  My parents are paying for the majority of the wedding, I just feel bad that they wouldn't get to sit with who they want.  

So then I thought about doing a sweet heart table and letting the parents each "host" their own tables.  I know my parents would really like this idea.  I know his parents would prefer to be at our table...but we won't even be sitting down very much, at least from what I have been told!  My FH doesn't love the idea of a sweetheart table.  Another option would be for us to sit with a table of some of the guests/wedding party.

Anyone have some advice?

Re: Family seating

  • Love this post! I am also torn on the sweetheart table, but I am starting to think it's just the most realistic just because the couple is not sitting down 90% of the time, and most of the wedding party has significant others etc that woudln'lt fit at a head table, like you said. I feel like your parents will probably end up seeing PLENTY of you at your wedding but will also need to be "playing host" with extended family, family friends, etc. 

    If you don't want to put the two families together to get to know each other more, I think having them each host their own tables of extended family, etc. would make a lot of sense. Is it possible to ask your parents about who they might want to sit with, if it wasn't with you? 
  • You and your new husband could have your MOH, BM and their dates sit at your table. The other members of the wedding party could sit with their dates at other tables, either together or mixed in with other guests they know. Each set of parents could host their own tables.
                       
  • I have hosted a table at all of my girls' weddings and woyld be terribly disappointed if I could not. My out of state siblings and our nonWP kids have sat with us for dinner and we enjoy that immensely. Sitting with people i don't know and making small talk would suck the specialness out of in for me. I vote have parents host tables.
  • Thanks for the advice. I will discuss the different options with my dh. I appreciate your perspective kmmssg, I think that is exactly how my parents feel! They have been so generous, I want the whole thing to be wonderful for them!
  • We did a sweetheart table.  Each set of parents hosted a table, and I think it worked out best. Generally speaking, people would rather be seated with people they know and catch up than with people they will rarely, if ever, see again.
  • We did a sweetheart table and our parents hosted their own tables of friends/family.  It worked out well as far as I know.  :)

    People still got up and mingled/danced/had fun, but during lunch they were able to relax and have fun with those closest to them instead of being "forced" to make small talk with people they don't know well.
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  • We sat at a table with our wedding party.  It was an eight person rounder and included me, DH, MOH and her FI, Best Man and his wife, and my two Bridesmaids (the were 13 so they didn't have dates).  My parents sat a table with family and my moms best friend and her husband.  MIL sat with her parents and some other members of her family.  
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  • I'm doing a sweetheart table and each of our parents will host their own table.  We have a small wedding party and I am just going to sit them with the rest of the guests, at tables I know they will be most comfortable.
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