Junior Rasmussen
Planning a wedding seating chart is one of the most challenging aspects of wedding planning. The bride and groom must first decide where they will sit at their wedding reception. They can opt for a sweetheart table, a head table, or a regular guest table. If they choose a head table, they can sit with their wedding party or immediate family. The best man and maid of honour are usually seated next to the couple, with the remaining wedding party members and their dates occupying the surrounding chairs. The head table is typically centrally located, allowing the couple to look out at their family and friends.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who sits at the head table | The couple, with the wedding party, including bridesmaids and groomsmen, seated on one side of the table facing guests. |
| Alternative head table arrangement | The couple, with the best man and maid of honour seated next to them, and the remaining wedding party occupying surrounding chairs. |
| Alternative to a head table | A sweetheart table for just the couple, or the couple sitting with their parents and close relatives/friends. |
| Seating for large wedding parties | All together at one long head table, or divided among several tables near the couple. |
| Seating for wedding party's partners | At their own table, or with their dates at separate tables, or at a "king's table" with the couple and wedding party. |
What You'll Learn
Bridesmaids and groomsmen sit with their dates
There are several options for seating bridesmaids, groomsmen, and their dates. One option is to place a table on both sides of the sweetheart table, with bridesmaids and their dates at one table and groomsmen and their dates at the other. If the bridal party isn't close, bridesmaids and groomsmen can be seated at different tables throughout the reception, based on who they are closest friends with.
A traditional head table would have the bridal party seated on one side of the table, facing the guests. While this type of setup usually does not include dates, this tradition is often ignored, with most couples including significant others.
A recently popular option is a "king's table", a long rectangular table where the bride, groom, bridal party, and their dates sit around and face each other. This setup encourages conversation and creates a fun atmosphere for the couple to socialise with those closest to them during the meal.
If the head table is too small to fit everyone, consider a "sweetheart table", or only seating parents, siblings, and the maid of honour/best man and their partners at the head table. Alternatively, you could scrap tradition and simply sit amongst your family and friends.
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The head table is centrally located
The head table is the table at which the bride, groom, and wedding party sit. It is traditionally located centrally, allowing the newlyweds to look out at their family and friends and giving them a nice view of their guests and vice versa. This table is usually placed at the top of the room or in the middle of the guests' tables, depending on the venue and floor plan.
There are several options for seating arrangements at the head table. The bride and groom typically sit in the middle, with the bride seated to the groom's right. The best man and the maid of honour are usually seated next to the couple, and the remaining wedding party members occupy the surrounding chairs. One option is to seat the best man next to the bride and the maid of honour next to the groom, creating a male/female pattern. Alternatively, the groomsmen and bridesmaids can be seated on their respective sides of the table. For same-sex couples or non-traditional wedding parties, the seating arrangement can be customised accordingly.
If the wedding party is small, the couple may choose to include their bridal party's partners or even their parents at the head table. However, if the wedding party is large, the head table may not accommodate everyone. In such cases, the couple may opt for a sweetheart table, a traditional head table with only the bridal party, or a king's table, which is a long rectangular table where the couple, bridal party, and their dates sit together.
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The bride and groom sit in the middle
The bride and groom are the stars of the show, so it makes sense to position them centrally at the wedding reception. Traditionally, the newlyweds sit in the middle of the head table, with the bride seated to the groom's right. The best man and maid of honour typically sit next to the couple, and the remaining bridesmaids and groomsmen fill the rest of the table.
If you have a small wedding party, you might want to include their partners at the head table, or even your parents. Alternatively, you can scrap tradition and sit with your family and friends, or opt for a sweetheart table for just the two of you.
If you go for the sweetheart table option, you can place a table on both sides for the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and their dates. Or, if the bridal party isn't close, you can seat them at different tables with people they know well. A more recent trend is the king's table, a long rectangular setup where the bridal party and their dates sit around the table facing each other, creating a fun, conversational atmosphere.
The head table should be in a central location, allowing the bridal party to look out at the other guests. This is usually at the top of the room or in the middle of the guest tables, depending on the venue and floor plan. The bridal party can be seated on one side of the table, facing the guests, or on both sides of the table.
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The best man sits next to the bride
Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially when it comes to figuring out the seating arrangement. The best man is the groom's chief assistant and closest friend or relative. Traditionally, the best man stands next to the groom during the ceremony, but where does he sit at the reception?
If you want to stick to tradition, the best man sits next to the bride's father. In this scenario, the bride's father sits to the bride's right, with the best man next to him, and the groom's mother to his right. This arrangement may vary depending on family dynamics and preferences.
A more modern approach is to have the best man sit at a 'head table' with the newlyweds and other members of the wedding party. This table is usually centrally located, allowing the wedding party to look out at the guests. The best man and maid of honour are typically seated next to the couple, with the remaining wedding party occupying the surrounding chairs. This arrangement can be adjusted to include family members, such as parents or siblings, or even the bridal party's partners, if space allows.
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong way to arrange your seating plan. You can choose to mix things up and have the best man sit with their date or other friends and family. It's your special day, so feel free to get creative and make it your own!
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The maid of honour sits next to the groom
If you want to go with the traditional seating arrangement, the best man would sit next to the bride, and the maid of honour next to the groom, with the parents of the bride and groom sitting next to them. This layout puts the happy couple at the heart of the celebration, surrounded by those who have supported them the most.
However, some couples prefer to shake things up and have their maid of honour and best man sit next to them, with their parents on either side. This can be a nice way to honour the parents and give them a more prominent role during the reception.
Another option is to have a sweetheart table, where the bride and groom sit alone, allowing them to have a more intimate moment together. This can be a good choice if you want to spend time with your new spouse and not have to worry about entertaining your wedding party.
Ultimately, the decision of where to seat your maid of honour and groomsmen is up to you and your partner. You can choose to follow tradition or create your own unique seating arrangement that reflects your personality and relationships. The most important thing is that you are surrounded by the people you love and who have supported you.
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Frequently asked questions
The bride and groom can either sit at their own table, known as a sweetheart table, or at a head table with their wedding party. The head table is usually located centrally, at the top of the room or in the middle of the guest tables.
The best man and maid of honour are typically seated next to the couple, with the remaining wedding party occupying the surrounding chairs. The bridal party can be seated in a male/female pattern, with the best man next to the bride and the maid of honour next to the groom. Alternatively, the groomsmen can sit on the groom's side, and the bridesmaids on the bride's side.
While traditionally, the head table only included the bridal party and not their dates, most modern couples now include significant others. If your head table is too small to fit everyone, you can place a table on both sides of the sweetheart table, with bridesmaids and groomsmen seated with their partners. Another option is to have a king's table, a long rectangular table where the bridal party and their dates sit around and face each other.
If you opt not to have a head table, you can seat the bridal party among other guests according to their personalities, ages and interests. You can also group them with people they already know or seat them at separate tables based on who they are closest friends with.
