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Savvy May 2016

Divorced parents head table issues

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Maybride2016, on April 3, 2016 at 11:56 PM

FI and I are having a traditional italian wedding. My parents are paying for half, and I'm paying the other. I want my parents sitting at the head table to honor them and everything they've done for FI and I. FI is worried about drama between his parents who have been divorced for 12 years. I spoke to his mom, who understands wedding etiquette and is comfortable sitting at head table. I don't have much of a relationship with is father to ask (he REALLY keeps to himself).

I was thinking I could put his parents on opposite ends of head table, with my parents, myself, and FI in between them (perhaps even add best man and MOH to space them farther apart). Has anyone else ever done anything like this or had a better solution? I asked my parents how they'd feel not sitting at head table (even though I'd hate it if they didn't) and they seemed pretty hurt by the thought...

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25 Comments

Expert September 2015
Massy · on April 4, 2016 at 12:26 PM
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Head tables seem so 90's to me. I hope you are also having the SO's of the wedding party (and parents) seated with them at the head table. It's rude to separate them, especially after they spend all day with you.
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Savvy May 2016
Maybride2016 · on April 4, 2016 at 4:36 PM
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@Massy I'm not having the whole wedding party at the head table. They have 2 tables of 10 people each so each BM and GM can sit with their SO. Adding them to the head table would make it over 30 people which is way to big haha. So might add the BM and MOH with their dates to the head to space out groom's parents apart more
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Master November 2015
Kristy · on April 4, 2016 at 4:49 PM
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I went to countless large Greek weddings growing up, all with a head table, and I dont recall ever seeing the parents of the bride and groom sitting there. I believe it was just the bridal party.

Either put them at opposite ends as suggested above, or put them at their own table with their own family/friends. Celia gave really good suggestions as to how to honour them
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Master July 2015
annakay511 · on April 4, 2016 at 5:03 PM
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I think this is a great argument for a sweetheart table. Even with the head table, I've never heard of having the parents sit there? Its always the bridal party. The sets of parents each host their own table, divorced parents get their own tables to host to avoid drama.
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VIP November 2016
LadyPearl · on April 4, 2016 at 5:20 PM
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I feel your pain Maybride! If we were doing a head table I would have the same concern about my parents so I definitely vote for a head table with them on opposite ends. It sounds like that's what you really want so try your best to make it a reality. I say talk to them both first and see if they can handle sitting next to each other, mine probably would for my sake so hopefully your FH's parents will too. If they absolutely can't handle sitting next to each other, put them on opposite ends.
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