Mom is deceased....Dad has girlfriend, where does she sit?

She sits with your dad. You don't have to include her in anything, but it would be awful to put her in the back somewhere if she is in a relationship with your father.

I am sorry about your mom. That is sticky. She will in no way be sitting in your mom's "place" but if that is his girlfriend, I think they would want to sit together if they are a couple.

She needs to sit with your dad. She'll never take your mom's place, but as a couple it would be disrespectful to the both of them to not have them together.

I think you should have her sit with you dad and if you want someone else to sit where your mom would sit than have that person sit next to your dad. Or just an idea but how about a picture of your mom on the chair?

I agree with others - she sits with your dad. Just don't have her announced with the bridal party.

Especially if they've been together for a while, she should sit with your dad. Another family member can 'take your mom's seat' or you could place a photo/flower/or some other momento on that seat to signify her. You could also add a small note in the program about missing your mother on your wedding day to convey that information to your guests without having a visual reminder of your loss during your ceremony.

My dad passed away almost 5 years ago now, and my mom just told me she would like to bring a date. I am happy for her but i have not met this person yet. If she does bring a date he will sit next to her because that is only fair. People will understand that she is not your mom especially if she is not escorted in the ceremony.

My parents divorced when I was young and my father remarried when I was 8. My mother met her now husband after I left for college, so I call him her husband, not my step father. My father passed in 2006. My mother will walk in with her husband, my step mother with her son (my step brother). My step sister and sister are bridesmaids. My mother and her husband, my step mother, step sister, step brother, and sister will all sit together. Families are complicated. People may assume she is your mother. I don't think anyone will say anything about the relationship dynamics, just like they wouldn't if you mother were present. But she should sit with your dad because she is important to him. You are an adult. His relationship choices are not based on your well-being/opinion anymore.

I think seating her on one side of your dad for the ceremony and leaving an empty chair on your fathers other side in memory of your mom would be nice. And for dinner they should be seated next to each other.

She sits with your father, but not on the side your mother would have occupied (probably on his left). You can ask your mom's sister to take your mother's seat -- I've seen that done. But if you're going to do that, your aunt gets escorted down the aisle as traditionally, the MOB is the last guest to be seated in the extreme right seat on the first row on the bride's side.

I'm not sure if you are talking about at dinner or during the ceremony. At dinner you should absolutely let them sit together. During the ceremony I guess I may be in the minority but I would say it depends. At our wedding since it was small, we only had a total of 8 seats in the front (reserved) row. So we had to decided very carefully who got those seats. For DH it was his parents and grandparents. For me since my grandpa is gone, it was my parents, my grandma, and my aunt who I am very close to. I am sure some other people might not have been thrilled to not be in the front row but we only had so many seats. If you have a whole big pew then I wouldn't see any harm in letting her sit in the front row but I also don't see any real issue with having her in the row right behind if you are having the front row be only family or only those in the BP (if they are sitting as some people do) etc. It would also depend to me on how long they have been together and how serious they are. If they are only recently together and not very serious it might feel odd for everyone for her to be up with the family during the ceremony. If they are more serious, it might be a slight to put her somewhere else. Think about it, decided what you prefer, and then talk to your dad and see what works best for everyone.

I am really sorry about your mom. I think your dad's girlfriend should be next to him.

It is very possible that she will be mistaken for your mother -- and I'm sorry about that, and it sucks, however, that is not within your control so don't even try to control that.

Here's something additional to think about...how awkward will that be for this woman and your dad? Out of respect for your dad, even if you don't know this lady, please do the kindest possible thing and make sure she gets to sit by him. If your mom was a great lady, maybe this lady is too? I assume she will be meeting your mom's family and that may be uncomfortable enough for her. It's ok that she won't be escorted but don't make her sit somewhere else. She is your father's date.

Please also consider (in advance) what you want to do about photos as well and make sure your dad has time to share that with his date.

My father brought a girlfriend to my brother's wedding three years after my mom died. I had met her many times but my brother wasn't as comfortable with her and she had to sit with strangers during the wedding. Also, the photographer included her naturally in family photos since he wasn't sure who was who. My brother acted like a total ASS and asked my dad's girlfriend to step out of the photo--I was astounded by his rudeness. She was SO polite and did...but you know what? That was awkward for everyone. My dad was with that woman until she died (13 years) and he cared for her immensely. She wasn't my amazing, beautiful mom but she deserved to be treated with a bit more respect from my brother, even if it was just to make my father happy.

Please have compassion for your dad's date, whether she lasts a day or a decade. You don't know. Treating her with anything less than respect won't bring your mom back and it will hurt your dad as well as her.

Again, I am sorry for your loss. Hang in there.

Sorry if this sounds rude but i think it would be unfair and insulting to your father if you didn't allow him to sit with his girlfriend. You lost your mother but he lost his wife, right? I'm sure he's struggled many times in his personal life with trying to determine where this new woman will fit into his life and his family (both literally and metaphorically) and it doesn't seem right to use your wedding as a time to make a stand about their relationship and your fear that she's trying to replace your mother.

I'm so sorry for your loss and I can't imagine planning my wedding without my mom, but think about your father's feelings too. It's his daughters wedding day and he most likely wants to include this new woman in his happy day. It's not fair to rob him of that.

You can still honor your mom and her memory in other ways throughout the wedding and that will eliminate confusion that guests might have. But then again, if these people don't know you well enough to know that your mom passed away 11 years ago, does it really matter what they think about your family dynamic anyway?

No one can ever replace your mother ... you know this and I am sure she knows this. Be an adult. The right option, and only option in my mind, is to sit her with your Father.

Everyone has nailed it. Except the empty chair thing, sorry Sarah....it's far too graphic for everyone else who knew her, and you will be looking at that empty chair for the whole ceremony.

Invite him, invite, her, honor your mother where every you can in subtle ways. This woman may be in your life for years, and your kindness will be appreciated; I'm sure she's nervous too.

She sits with your dad, and is his escort into the reception. I know weddings can bring up raw emotions but trust me- no one will or could ever take the place of your mom, literally or figuratively.

I agree with everyone that your dad and his girlfriend must sit together. You want them to have a good time, right? Be welcoming to this woman.

I lost my father over a decade ago and my mom is bringing her boyfriend of a few months to the wedding. It will be a little awkward, but the main thing that matters to me is my mother's happiness. I'm actually excited to see her have a nice time with someone and dance with them later in the night! I haven't met him yet.

Yes, the girlfriend needs to sit with your dad. Definitely honour your mother in subtle ways. Have a tiny frame with her picture included in your bouquet or wear a piece of her jewelry. Hope this helps. <3

She absolutely should be seated next to your father at both the ceremony and the reception. She is not taking your mother's place, nor does she want to, I'm sure. I understand it is difficult to have a parent missing your wedding - both my father and FH's father have passed away. But this woman is your father's partner and deserves to be treated with respect as such.

Condolences on the loss of your mother. I read the comments and agree. During the reception she should sit with your father. However, I have to disagree with those that say during the ceremony, she should sit next to your father. Not sorry to say, but she is not a part of your immediate family. During the ceremony, the immediate family (parents, siblings, and grandparents) sit closest to the couple during the ceremony.