I still have five months to go, but I'm already stressing out about how to seat our bridal party at our wedding! My fiance and I each have four attendants. Two of his are his brothers, each of whom have two kids (ages 4-9). Two of mine are my sisters, each of whom also have two kids (ages 1-5).
I've never been a fan of head tables. I've sat at one as a BM and was really uncomfortable looking out over the entire reception and facing no one. I've also been in a wedding that follows what seems to be the more common trend of having a sweetheart table for the bride and groom, and seating the wedding party together with their guests. I think it's less awkward for the bridal party and is nice for their dates who, if they don't know anyone else at the wedding, won't be left stranded at a table full of strangers. And honestly with the craziness of the wedding day, I love the idea of a nice cozy table for two for my new husband and I. This is the route my fiance and I are strongly considering.
Re: BP Reception Seating
Hubby and I had a sweetheart table and our 6 WP members split across 5 different tables, depending who they were closest to among the guests. I'd recommend this set-up. Good luck!
Depending on the table options at your venue, you might not be able to seat everyone that would make sense in one group together at a table. I know our venue has tables for 8-10, but doesn't recommend seating more than 8 at the tables for comfort sake. You can seat people of larger groups at adjoining tables. Perhaps, FI's siblings, their spouses and kids at one table; your siblings, their spouses and kids at another (you could put parents in too if they would fit), and the other members of the bridal party and their dates at a third - along with some other close friends they know if necessary to fill out the table.
We're having a wedding full of kids. We'll put the teenagers at a table together but have gone back and forth on the idea of putting the younger kids with them. It seemed like a brilliant idea at first until we were reminded how awful grumpy 6-8 year olds can be.
We're putting members of the WP near people they know or I think they'd like. They don't all know each other so I figure that they'd have more fun sitting with other people.
My SIL/brother/nephew (BM, musician, RB) sat with my parents and the priest and a family friend.
DH's brother and nephew (a GM and RB) sat with family.
The BM and other GM, high school friends of DH, sat with other high school friends.
And so on. Since their duties ended when the photos were over, at that point they were just guests and I wanted them to have a good time.