Choose a seat not a side

What did I do now?? I'm not bragging at all. I simply know more people and my FH has expressed concern about his side looking less full.

I like the sign idea, I think it's cute!

We're skipping the cutesy signs altogether and just having the ushers mix up the seating.

As someone who has been married for more than three decades, I can tell you that "Pick a Seat, Not a Side -- We're all Family Once the Knot is Tied" is about as authentic as the sappy sentiments in your Hallmark wedding cards (and come on, the check or hundreds in the card catch your eye before the text does, lol).

Two entire families will not suddenly become one family because a daughter/son/granddaughter/grandson/sister/brother/niece/nephew/cousin/second cousin is marrying another family's daughter/son/granddaughter/grandson/sister/brother/niece/nephew/second cousin. People generally walk into the ceremony area and, if they are the family of the bride, they're going to follow the same road map they've always followed at weddings -- they're going to find a seat on their left. If they are the family of the groom, they'll go to the right (mirror image for certain religions).

What may change that is a sign telling them to do something else....but probably not. Why not just skip the effort and expense of creating or buying a sign that nobody believes anyway (sorry, that's life), and just leave it to your ushers if it's so important to you to have your guests just fill rows as they would at a funeral.

Chances are the people who were told that they are all one big family will have other big families created by their other children who were/or are going to be married. How does that work on the holidays? The sign is as forgotten as the favors, and families will invite their own to celebrations, and married kids will have to figure out a way to split the holidays by year or by hour. There will likely be no big unified family holidays.

And the usher option is great news for Erin Wood -- because, you know, so many of her people are coming to the wedding, and, sigh...so few of his are making the effort.

Eh, I didn't see this as a humble brag, honestly.

Just let everyone sit where they want.

She said "yes" Now they say "I do" Choose either side, were now one family not two

I'm not saying his friends aren't making an effort. He's not a super social person and didn't stay in touch with most of his friends. He's inviting 2. I tried to suggest other friends but he's not into it. I'm all for having ushers as some of you suggested, but I hate the idea of putting my guests to work. Can an usher be hired? Or I guess once one side is full people will just fill up the other side. Thanks everyone! I've got a few options I didn't think of before.

Personally I would go with a plane writing it in the sky. That's what my friends do. They're very rich.

Our sign says 'Pick a seat, either side. You're loved by both, the groom and bride.'

So many people hating on the signs!

Your GM can act as ushers.

I'm kind of shocked there is this much opinion on the sign thing. Who cares.

But that's just me

Applause for CP. I've also been married for more than 3 decades, and while our parents were cordial to each other, they did not suddenly become "family". My DD's ex-MIL decided that when our DD married her son, we suddenly would want to spend ALL holidays with them.....as if we didn't have our own family traditions. Please don't use the "We're all family" nonsense. Either have an usher or two, or let adults sit where they'd like.

And please think of it this way. If I go to a wedding, of course I'm going to sit with my family-chat with them, catch up, visit before the ceremony starts. I'm not going to go sit by strangers for the 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. I'm going to find someone I recognize and sit with them. And I expect that the people there for the "other side" of the couple will want to do the same.

Another sign hater here, sorry, great for some I guess. I personally mentally roll my eyes every time I see the "were all family once the knot is tied" sign, the "trust me you can dance - alcohol" sign, the "no good story started with a salad" sign, the here's your cup fill it up one... I could go on and on. #pinterestvomited

As long as a sign doesn't say, "Last chance to run" or some variation, I don't mind the cheesy stuff.

Also not a fan of the signs. I think they're an unnecessary expense. And all look exactly the same - copied straight off Pinterest.

That's true. I figure families will sit together up front. I was thinking more friends. Mine don't care where they sit. They are mostly guys anyway. We'll probably just let people do what they want. FH just said he's afraid his family will sit on my side and so will mine and he'll have nobody. Silly silly man! HaHa!

I'll being doing a sign. I love it I'm going with it. Whatever makes you happy.

I am a traditionalist and prefer people to sit on the brides or grooms side. But...alas my child is not hence the cheesy sign which will be set up at the wedding.