Seating Arrangements
A seating plan should be drawn up for a formal reception. The exact arrangement of tables will depend on the venue. The top table will be for the wedding party and should include the couple, their parents, the best man and the chief bridesmaid. Ushers and other bridesmaids may also sit at the top table if places are available.
As a general rule the closer relations and friends are seated nearest the top table. Some people choose to seat the bride's family on one side of the venue and the groom's on the other side. However, it is more important to combine people who will get on well together than to keep to any 'rules'. After all, the wedding in many cultures is seen as a joining of two families.
Seating plans are not necessary for buffet receptions although they are an option if there are enough seats for everyone present.
Top Table Seating
The most common top table seating arrangement is for eight people with the bride and groom seated in the centre with the bride's mother on the groom's right, then the groom's father and finally the chief bridesmaid or matron-of-honour. The bride's father sits on the bride's left and next to him the groom's mother and then the best man.
| Chief Bridesmaid | Groom's Father | Bride's Mother | Groom | Bride | Bride's Father | Groom's Mother | Best Man |
This seating arrangement may not be possible or practicable due to divorce and remarriage. Difficulties might arise where there are both natural and step-parents, especially where there is some inter-relationship tension. There are a number of alternative seating plans which may help things go smoothly - however, it is up to the bride and groom to say what they want, as ultimately there is no right or wrong way of handling these potential problems.
If the bride's parents have divorced and either one or both have remarried:
| (BSF) | CB | GF | BM | G | B | BF | GM | BM | (BSM) |
If the groom's parents have divorced and both remarried:
| BM | GSM | GF | BM | G | B | BF | GM | GSF | CB |
If both sets of parents have divorced and remarried:
| GSM | BSF | CB | GF | BM | G | B | BF | GM | BM | BSM | GSF |
KEY
B = Bride
G = Groom
BM = Bride's Mother
BF = Bride's Father
BSM = Bride's Stepmother
BSF = Bride's Stepfather
GM = Groom's Mother
GF = Groom's Father
GSM = Groom's Stepmother
GSF = Groom's Stepfather
CB = Chief Bridesmaid
BM = Best Man
