Post # 1
Member
509 posts
Busy bee
I know this question has been asked before, but I’m wondering what the current brides to be are thinking because I just had a conversation with my mom about this, and she seemed really upset with what we were considering, even though months ago I asked if there were any traditions important to my family, and she said no.
Some background on why I’m doing this poll:
She says it’s tradition for the parents to be at the head table, but I say our wedding party is too large. When you have a large bridal party (3-4 each), it’s not possible to seat everyone. I said she’d be sitting at the brides family table, and her reply to that was that if she’s not at the head table, then both sets of parents should be seating together. I look forward to reading what other brides say!
My parents have been divorced since I turned 5, and they can almost never be civil to each other (Dad, actually is the one who pisses people off). If we do a parents table it’ll be my divorced parents, his parents (who have yet to make an effort to come to NS to meet my parents, a 3-4 hour drive), my estranged paternal grandmother ( I really hope she can’t make it), her boyfriend I’ve met once, my paternal grandfather and his longtime girlfriend, and my recently widowed maternal grandmother. Fiance has no grandparents left. I look at that list and I think “awkward”
Post # 3
Member
2703 posts
Sugar bee
i havent been to any weddings where they had parents at the head table.
in ours, we had our bridal party and their +1’s. 17 ppl at our head table! :O
Post # 4
Member
11325 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
us + bridal party + their dates
Post # 6
Member
7174 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I’ve NEVER seen parents at the head table, and I’ve been to tons of weddings.
We did sweethearts.
Parents usually sit at table closest to the head table with other family members (their own family, not FI’s)
Post # 7
Member
3620 posts
Sugar bee
We did a sweetheart table, and then to our left was a table for our bridal party and their significant others’, and to our right was a table that had our parents and grandparents.
Post # 8
Member
539 posts
Busy bee
We did a big oval family style table. Had us, the wedding party, flower girls, ring bearers, ushers
Post # 9
Member
433 posts
Helper bee
You might be better off having these difficult people “host” their own tables. We had my parents and his mom and stepdad at one table with my god father and his wife, and his dad hosted a table with his closest family members (DH’s aunt, uncle, brothers etc). My grandparents hosted a table with other older members of my family. the bridal party was mixed around so they could sit with people they felt most comfortable with and their dates. They were all at the tables closest to us but we were at a sweetheart table.
Post # 10
Member
1498 posts
Bumble bee
Man I didn’t even think about having their dates sit up there!?!? Hmmmmm…we do have two married couples in our bridal party! 🙂
Post # 11
Member
8738 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@CorgiTales: We’re doing the same thing.
Post # 12
Member
2015 posts
Buzzing bee
We had a small wedding party, and they didn’t have SOs, so we had our entire wedding party and parents sit with us at the head table. I liked it 🙂
Post # 13
Member
1269 posts
Bumble bee
Ours will be us and some of the wedding party and dates. We don’t have room for everyone at our table and I didn’t want to separate bridal party and their dates. The ones who will sit at other tables are ones that know many other people.
Post # 14
Member
1995 posts
Buzzing bee
we didn’t have one of those (cheesy) long head tables where you only get to talk to the person next to you. I feel that they seem very “Royalty” like. As if you’re watching down over all your guests and the dance floor. IMO.
we just had a few different tables like everyone else. We sat our attendants dates with them since I know that sucks when the husband or gf has to sit alone! We just sat some with us and others nearby. It doesn’t really matter since you get up soon.
Post # 15
Member
56 posts
Worker bee
I’ve never heard of parents at a head table as a rule…. we’re doing sweetheart table, my cousin, sister, and 2 sets of friends did this too, one set of friends whos wedding we were in had just me and FH at their head table with them b/c we were Maid/Matron of Honor and best man.
It was really important to FH for us to have a little alone time at some point during the day/ night, and I’m ok with it 🙂
We’re having one table for the wedding party and their spouses (all are married) and since all of our parents are divorced, and remarried in 2 cases, they each get their own table with their choice of family and friends.
Anyone else LOATHE setting up seating arrangements? so far it’s the only thing I totally HATE about planning. 😛
Post # 16
Member
13099 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Our head table was us and our wedding party (6 on each side).
My parents were at one table right in front of us and got to choose who sat there (they chose some of their friends). DH’s parents were at another table right in front of us and they chose to sit family at their table with them.
@almsotSLC: Really? I found seating arrangements to be super easy. We arranged our 16 table, 135 person wedding in 10 minutes, tops.
