Who sits at the head table?
The head table traditionally seats the couple flanked by their wedding party: bride, groom, maid of honor, best man, then the rest of the bridal party alternating outward. Partners of wedding party members are seated at a nearby table, not the head table.
Seating your best man at the head table while his wife sits alone at Table 6 creates an awkward evening for everyone. Many couples switch to a sweetheart table for two, or a small VIP table for the couple plus maid of honor and best man with their respective partners, for exactly this reason.
Where do the parents sit at the reception?
Both sets of parents should have prominent placement, close to the couple, with a clear sightline to the dance floor. The traditional approach gives each set of parents their own table with their immediate family. It gives parents a natural group, avoids the awkwardness of two families who don't know each other sharing one table, and ensures both sides feel equally honored.
Parents of the couple do not typically sit at the head table in modern weddings unless the couple specifically wants them there. If there is any friction between families, keep parents at their own tables near the front.
Where do parents sit during the ceremony?
In a traditional Western ceremony, the bride's family sits on the left (as you face the altar) and the groom's family on the right. This is reversed in some traditions. When one family is significantly larger than the other, many officiants invite all guests to sit wherever they like to avoid a lopsided room. If you want the traditional arrangement, have ushers guide guests to their side as they arrive.
Do divorced parents sit together?
No, unless they specifically want to. Give each parent an equally prominent table on different sides of the room, seated with people they know and like. Neither parent should be able to look at the other's table and feel like they drew the worse position. A table in the front-left section and another in the front-right section, both close to the couple, is the standard approach.
For separated but amicable parents, ask them directly rather than assuming. Some co-parents genuinely prefer to sit together; others do not. Have the conversation early, before you have built your chart around assumptions.
Where do plus-ones sit?
Seat plus-ones with the person they came with. Do not put all unattached guests or plus-ones at one table. A table of strangers placed together because they didn't know anyone rarely works well. People feel segregated and end up having a worse time than if they had been placed with their partner's friends, even unfamiliar ones.
Where do children sit?
Children typically sit with their parents. For weddings with several families with young children, clustering those families near an exit and away from the speakers is sensible and most parents appreciate it. A separate kids table works only if the children are old enough to manage it (usually 10 or older) and their parents explicitly want this arrangement.
Who should be seated closest to the couple?
The front and center tables, nearest the couple, should go to parents, grandparents, and close family first, then closest friends. Work outward from there. Colleagues, neighbors, and distant relatives should not find themselves in prime seats while the couple's closest people are at the back of the room.
What about guests who will arrive late?
For the ceremony, reserve a back row for guests likely to arrive late or need to leave early: parents with young babies, elderly guests, or anyone traveling a long distance. For the reception, confirm with your venue whether you can hold one or two seats near the entrance for late arrivals without disrupting the rest of the plan.
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