Bride & Groom Reception Seating Options

Hi Jamie--make sure you change your avatar!!

Are the priest and sponsor couple definitely coming? Many times people like this are invited to the wedding but don't actually attend the reception. Assuming they do, I'd seat them with your parents, since your mom is the one who wanted them invited.

I don't think a sweetheart table is awkward and lonely at all! We'll be doing one because I know I've heard from many people that they didn't actually get to spend very much time with their spouse on the wedding day, and eating dinner together is a good opportunity to do that. I have also seen honor attendants and their dates at the table with the bride and groom, but personally I'd prefer just to sit with my new husband.

Sweetheart tables are amazing. You're not actually at the dinner table for very long because you're up mingling the majority of that time, so the two seats you'd be taking up at a large table would just be empty! We're doing a sweetheart table, and then we'll just seat our bridal party w/ their significant others/other friend groups. FH's parents will sit with their family.

Hi, RATR! I did change my avatar--it is not showing up (still). Maybe I did it wrong? I clicked on my name and My Profile, then Change Photo.

The priest is coming; I'm not positive about the sponsor couple, but I'm about 90% sure they are.

Thanks for your advice on the sweetheart table--I still don't love the idea, but that makes me feel more comfortable.

We are doing a sweetheart table. My grandmother hates it lol. But it gives the option for my mom to sit with her friends, my grandparents to sit with theirs. And the wedding party not to be split from their SO.

Thanks! You ladies are making me feel better about the sweetheart table.

I still wish there were more options. :\

Jamie--are you on the app or a desktop?

You're going to feel lonely.....with your husband?

Sweetheart tables give you another moment throughout all that hecticness to have some time alone with your new spouse. AND YOU GET TO EAT!

Jamie - You'll have to change your avatar photo on your desktop when you get the chance.

If you're not in love w/ a sweetheart table, I've also been to a reception where the bride and groom sat w/ the MOH and her significant other, and the best man and his significant other (which happened to be me) and her little brother. So it was a small intimate table. Then the bridal party was just scattered throughout at their respective friend/family tables.

We are doing a sweetheart table and seating our BP together with SO/friends etc I love everyone in my BP but we are a very rowdy bunch and I wanted to be able to have a few moments with FH and to share that special time with him at the table just the two of us. Most weddings I have been to the bride and groom aren't at the table for very long anyways

Do you guys have a MOH and BM in that group? Maybe you could sit with the MOH, BM, and their spouses and then sit the rest of the bridal party separately with their dates. This way you would have some company at your table and it is a natural way to split the bridal party because you've already designated them as MOH and BM.

ETA: If you have 10 person tables you could actually sit with MOH, BM, their dates, sponsor couple, and priest.

RATR--I'm on a desktop. I also tried to adjust my vendor team; the changes don't seem to save. (I've saved everywhere I had an option. Maybe a glitch?)

Janeen--Hah, I know what you mean! Maybe lonely is not the word for it. Just a little awkward, continuing to be spotlighted? We're spotlighted in the ceremony and first dance, cake cutting, etc. I've always been a little uncomfortable with direct attention. We're BOTH nervous about being introduced as a couple at the end of cocktail hour--we're both so serious all the time, and not really going to dance in or anything like that. If that makes sense?

People will be too busy eating and drinking to pay that much attention to you.

It's showing up now!

And I agree with Janeen, no one will really care where you're sitting lol.

Okay--logged out and back in. I think my avatar is showing up now????

@Janeen, hah. Thanks! I can't help but be nervous (shy)!

@Angela and Muffinbutton--I'm trying to think if I can make that work. BM isn't bringing his wife. MOH is coming... with her son (who's in the wedding), her husband, and both of her parents (love them!). We could sit with MOH and her fam, but BM isn't bringing his wife and would probably feel way more comfortable sitting with other groomsmen (they are almost all old friends who live far apart in the country and will be thrilled to be reunited for an evening).

Your photo is showing up now!

Could you seat MOH's parents elsewhere, so it was just you guys, MOH/husband/child and BM? Either way, you'll figure something out. I wouldn't worry so much about it! Maybe google some photos of sweetheart tables too, I'm totally in love w/ the idea of them now and I used to feel the same way as you.

We did a sweetheart table and loved it. We were only there for about 15 minutes before we got up and did table visits to make sure we got to thank everyone for coming at least once. Our MOH and BM both had families with kids so it didn't make sense to separate them from their families.

I would seat the priest and sponsor couple with your parents, unless there are other guests they know. We had a few priests at our Mass and they all came to the reception; we sat them with people they already knew just like any other guests.

Hooray, av showing! Thanks.

Well... maybe the sweetheart table is just the way to go. I'll look for pictures and try to find a way to decorate it or something so it feels familiar and reassuring.

As much as I like the idea of sitting with MOH, her parents feel most comfortable at her table and vice versa (they're super close--I'm in awe of them!!!!), and I think there are similar issues with just about any other split.

Thank you, all!

We are doing a sweetheart table. It's nice to have a little "down" time with just the two of you. If we sit with the bridal party, parents, anyone else, we would be talking to them more. I think of it like going out to dinner. Its great when you have you have your best friends and FH but very different than a dinner out with just you and FH. The rest of the reception, heck the whole wedding weekend, I think I'll be focusing on other guests more than my husband.

Collen, that's a nice way to word that. Thank you.

Jamie, I'm doing the same thing as you! The BPs' SOs/dates won't know anybody else or each other, and I don't really see a reason to split everyone up and make it awkward. The reception is for them, too, in addition to our families and guests and I want everyone to be comfortable and happy with the seating arrangements. We're a laid back bunch, so I don't anticipate anyone clutching their pearls over relatively informal seating. There won't be a lot of time that you and FH will have to yourselves throughout the day, so I say get the sweetheart table and cherish every moment you get to sit and enjoy with just the two of you!