Who is sitting at the bride and grooms table?

I'm doing a captains table. I've heard it called other things too. It's a rectangular table where you, the BP and their dates all sit together. They sit all around the table, EXCEPT the two seats directly across from the bride/groom are left empty, or just no chairs there at all. I hate the idea of a one sides head table, and FH wasn't a fan of the sweetheart, so this was our compromise

We're having a sweetheart table, so we're the only ones sitting at it!

But as someone who has been in six weddings recently - I would have to say yes it is awkward to split the bridal party from their dates if the dates don't know anyone. Even if they do, I still think it is strange to split couples.

ETA: I've been in a wedding as Trena described (the called it a Tuscan table or something) and I did like that too, our venue just isn't big enough for a table like that!

I like that idea too, and that is what I wanted to do, but our venue said that there was not enough room! There are 4 dates that are not in our wedding party. Our bridal consists of 12 people plus us which makes 14.

We are having around 140 people (guessing) under a 40'x60' tent. Our table will be able to hold 16, but that's if all of our single BP members bring a date. Most likely there will be 12-13. The table will hold 8 on one side, 6 on the other, and one on each end.

Sweetheart table - only us.

We're having a sweetheart table. I find it's a little awkward for the plus 1s of our bridal party to be sitting without their own dates.

We had a sweetheart table. We only had a MOH and a BM. This allowed my MOH to sit with her boyfriend (who knew no one else at the wedding), and our BM to sit with his wife and kids.

I'm not in favor of splitting up bridal party members from their dates/significant others. The reception is a time for them to enjoy as well, and they should be able to do it with the person they came with. If their dates will not fit together, then consider a sweetheart table or sitting with your family instead.

At my brother's wedding, they had large wedding parties with about 7 on each side. They had a table of groomsmen and their dates and a table with bridesmaids and their dates. There were a couple couples among the bridal party so it helped fitting everyone at 2 tables. Then my brother and SIL sat at a sweetheart table between the two.

I like that captain's table idea.

I wanted a head table. But everyone kept saying it wasn't fair to my BP's dates. So, we have decided to do a sweetheart table with our wedding party and their dates at the tables next to us.

We have enough room to do something like the captain's table. So, I might have to bring that up to FH.

Im having it the whole bridal party which will just be 8 of us. My FH was just in a wedding and they had a table that was dedicated to the spouses of those in the wedding party which is what ill be doing as well

We are having a very small wedding, maybe 54 people. I have one MOH and he has his BM. His bestman is married. So, we will have them and their significant other/spouse at the table with us... Six total.. We didn't want to be all by ourselves...

When my FBIL got married my FH was the BM and I was left alone until one of the other GM's wives came and sat with me because she didn't know anyone.

So the whole breaking couples up is not ideal in my book. Maybe have the MOH and BM and spouses/dates sit with you at a head table if there isn't enough room for whole BP and dates.

We are having our parents sit with us at the head table. We didn't want to force the bridal party to sit seperate from their families. FH wasn't too keen on the sweetheart table. He thinks a head table looks better in our venue - everytime we have looked at the venue it was set up with a head table. Anyway, everyone is supportive of the decision to have the parents at the head table.

We're doing a sweetheart table- I want our BP to be able to sit with their dates (plus it's easier in case of rain)

Sara, my FH isn't keen on the sweetheart table either, because he said he doesn't want people staring at him while he eats

We are doing the sweetheart table too. It makes it much less complicated to seat your bridal party with their dates, IMO. But you can do whatever you think is best! If you want to share a table with your family, and put your BP at a different table you can do that too...or the traditional way as well. Don't fret!

Our venue actually has the bridal party table set up a bit higher so we can see everyone better. I dunno how happy I am about everyone being able to watch me eat though lol. We are having the entire BP sitting with us with the exception of the FG RB and the one young BM and one young GM. We did make an exception for the oldest BM (She is 18) and our oldest son who is (16) otherwise our BP is all made up of couples who are already married.

I have a BP table, dates will sit closer up to the BP table, and the FGs & RB will have their own little table for them to sit at.

Sweetheart table for us also.

We're going to have a sweetheart table to avoid this problem all together, haha. I think it's a good idea because it'll give us a chance for some one on one time as well

The BMs and GMs including the MOH and Best man sat at the head table with us. The JR BM and JR GM sat at the table with their parents including the FG and RB.. as far as the wedding party's guests we had them sit with other people that they knew so it worked out well!!