Wedding Reception Seating Arrangement Etiquette

Keep guests comfortable with a well planned wedding reception seating plan.

Wedding reception seating arrangement etiquette.

A sample wedding seating arrangement for the top table is as follows. The best man sits next to the groom s mother who is then seated beside the bride s father then the bride the groom the bride s mother the groom s father and then the maid of honor. Another alternative is to decide who sits at which table but not designate specific seating arrangements at that table. Instead they ll often sit at the head table with their attendants.

Don t get stressed or fight over the seating plan. Accept that you will not be able to please everyone. Make sure the important people are up front for all the events from the time the bride walks down the aisle until the last glass of champagne is raised. Bride and groom seating at reception traditionally the bride and groom sat alone at a sweetheart table but today many couples feel like this is isolating and they forgo this tradition.

At any kind of sit down dinner affair including your wedding reception. Why have seating plans in the first place. Reference this list of wedding reception seating etiquette faqs as you finalize your seating arrangement. While assigned seating at a wedding certainly isn t mandatory most couples do opt to create a wedding seating chart.

Guests should never alter seating arrangements or switch assigned seats at a wedding reception but it s perfectly acceptable to mingle at different tables after dinner. People can then sit next to whom they choose at their table.