Mom wants to sit with just her family

It’s pretty common to have the brides family sit together at tables and the grooms families to sit together at tables during the reception. Since she has already expressed a desire to sit with her family, I would honor her wishes. I don’t see any reason not to 🤷🏼‍♀️ The main goal for your reception is to properly host your guests, meaning making them feel comfortable and showing them a good time! Why would you purposefully put your own mother in a position where she feels uncomfortable? Especially if you know she will make negative comments in front of your grooms family!

How well does your mom know your fiancé's family? If they barely know one another, then I could totally see where your mom is coming from. I wouldn't force them to sit together if they don't already have an established relationship. My parents didn't sit my husband's parents. My husband's parents are also divorced so they sat at completely different tables from one another.

It’s common for families/parents sit with their friends and relatives. The rehearsal and pre wedding events are a good opportunity for them to socialize with each others families. I have never seen both sets of parents at the same table.

View Quoted Comment

I agree with this. It's common for members of the same family to sit at the same table. I get what you're saying about wanting everyone to mingle and families to intertwine at the reception, but if she doesn't feel comfortable with sitting with your spouse's family, then I'd let it slide.

I know for a fact that my mom wouldn't feel comfortable sitting with my FH's family, and the rest of my family wouldn't either. They'll only be sitting at their assigned table for the dinner portion anyways, so there's plenty of time for them to get to know one another and mingle afterwards!

Is it possible that is also has to do with Covid? Maybe yours and your FS family can sit together at the rehearsal dinner and then sit with their friends and family at the reception.

If she has a full table of friends and family who she will be comfortable with and looks forward to celebrating with, just curious why you would force her to sit with someone else? Is there something specific you are envisioning by blending the families by table?

View Quoted Comment

Agree with this. Seat them by family how mom wants because that is normal. Do not force anyone to mingle. If someone doesn't want to interact then respect that.

I agree with the previous comments. I would let your mom sit with who she wants to. From the weddings I've been to, the bride's parents and the groom's parents each sit at separate tables with their own families. My parents for sure would rather sit with their own family/friends instead of with my fiance's parents. They can all mingle during the reception after dinner, but I would consider honoring your mom's requests.

It’s more my dad’s friends. But she wants her one friend, who she can’t stand to be sit with at another table. She has expressed that does not want to mingle with my dad’s friends’ wives for a long time. They are more my dad’s friends than her friends

View Quoted Comment

Then she can mingle with whoever wants. As long as they're not seated together there is no issue.

View Quoted Comment That’s the problem is she wants to have his friends and wives sit with them but she doesn’t want to talk with them for long

View Quoted Comment

That's not gonna work. Ask her who she wants to talk to for a long period and seat her with those people

View Quoted Comment I’ve asked and she said to put them with her and she will just get up and go talk with someone else. I don’t think there is one person coming to my wedding that she can sit with that she can talk with for long at all

View Quoted Comment She wants my dad’s friend to sit with them but she doesn’t like their wives and said to put her friend at another table so she has an excuse to get up but she doesn’t like talking to that friend for long either

View Quoted Comment

Unfortunately some people are that way. Do whatever you need to and call it a day.

View Quoted Comment She is basically forcing herself to sit with my dad’s friend and their wives who she has expressed she doesn’t like and she doesn’t want to talk with them. I figured if she didn’t want to sit with them or talk with them they can sit at another table and she can talk with my FH family who she’s talked to for awhile before

Based on your comments, it sounds like no seat will be perfect for her. Just give her a seat and move on. She only has to mingle with them for an hour or so while eating and then she can go talk to whoever she wants

View Quoted Comment Thank you. She is very complicated and can be judgmental which is why I didn’t know what to do .

View Quoted Comment I think if that is what she is asking for, then that is what she thinks is best for her comfort during your reception. I would honor those wishes

View Quoted Comment It’s not necessarily comfort for her, but more of getting out of talking to certain people and having my dad be comfortable