Bridal party NOT sitting with dates at reception?

I was a bridesmaid in my brother's wedding this past june...we all sat @ a head table just for the wedding party for dinner etc...our s/o's they placed @ tables with people they knew...once dinner was over i didn't sit @ the table anymore....we had a blast because we all knew each other in the wedding party also..so it didn't bother me..or my FH

If I'm a BM, allowed to bring a guest, and I'm not seated with them, there will be questions raised as to how good of a friend this person is when she doesn't have my comfort and best interests in mind.

We were at a wedding a few weeks ago where my fiance was a groomsman and I was not in the bridal party. She did a similar seating. I was not impressed. I enjoyed sitting with our friends, but it was the one time of the night I thought I was going to get to see my date, and he was off at the bridal party table! I recommend seating your bridal party with their dates. if nothing else, it will make their dates happy!

It's not about the guests' happiness or them being comfortable! It's about me! Me, me, ME!!!

I've thought about this too. I'm doing a head table, without their dates, BUT the BP family members will all be sitting with friends or family, and I don't expect the BP to sit with me all night!

Jamie B.: It's your wedding, it's horribly impolite to not set the 1 year girlfriend at the table with the rest of the family. Nick and I were pretty serious at 1 year. Don't tell your FMIL about the seating chart, just do it, and she'll be surprised at the wedding. She doesn't have a say where you put the girlfriend, and how does the BM feel about this? Does he know?

I can't see not seating the party with their SO's We are having 2 large "Party tables" +1s included

I recently was in a wedding where they did not designate seating for the party. . .by the timr the BMs and GMs got their stuff done and were in the reception hall, unless you knew someone and they had saved you a seat there was almost no way for FH and I to sit together. . .much less with anyone we knew (and then people made a really big deal about having to maybe move down one chair so we could sit together) seriously rubbed me the wrong way.

If you are any kind of friend you would realize that yes you are the bride but you do not need to be selfish and have everyone sit with you. And honestly you are only sitting down to eat that is it. The rest of the time you are saying hi to everyone or dancing or getting pictures taken. And the day is not about "me" its about "you and your husband" starting your new chapter together.

@Shannah, I'm really torn up about this. FH's parents gave us a substantial wedding gift (about 25-30% of our wedding budget), so I feel like FMIL has a say in this, especially when it comes to seating "her" guests. If it wwre earlier in the wedding process, i might have suggested to FH that we politely decline the gift. BM knows about it (so FH says). I also have a really good relationship with my FMIL. She's like a second mom to me, and I'm trying not to jeopardize that.

I personally think that if there's going to be a sweetheart table for you and your husband that's acceptable. I think the way your friend A should do the seating is the bridesmaids and maid of honor with their dates, the groomsmen with their dates. It makes sense, and that way everyone is happy. Personally, if someone separated my fiance and I would think they are bananas and not logical thinkers. Everyone is entitled to what they do, but for us it wouldn't make sense. So we're sitting the girls with their guys and the guys with their girls. End of story. Good luck, hope for the best.

I personally think it is rude to separate a WP member from his/her guest.