Who should sit at the top table if the bridal party have all got partners?

only the bridal party, most people are understanding

Why don't you just have a table for the two of you, there are no hard and fast rules , Have the bridal party and their partners on two tables either side of you.

If you have a large bridal party the partners would be unable to sit at the bridal table. I think most unfair for members of your bridal party to complain. Stick to your guns. It is your day not theirs. They will get over it.

Hi Jackie

Tell them that traditionally it is only the bridal party who sit at the table with the bride and groom and that after the formalities and dinner , they will be able to mingle , dance and sit with their partners. Tell them that is how you want it to be as it is your wedding, your day!

If problems still occur, organise both sets of parents/ grandparents to sit with you.

Dear Jackie,

I really want to say to you, that this should not create a huge problem for you. I think you and your fiancé should place people where you want to.

Personally, I would suggest keeping it "even". Put all the Bridal Parties partners at the one table together, with other close friends. Your parents, Grandparents and long time close friends of the family in your parents age bracket at another table.

If your members of your Bridal party are being stubborn. Nicely, suggest to them that it is your day and you have asked them to be your attendants because they are who you wanted. However, if they will not budge on this matter, I would seriously ask them to step down so you can choose someone else. For goodness sake, cant they be without their partners for a couple of hours. They are in the same room !!!

Be strong, it is YOUR day.

Regards,

Jan

Hi Jackie,

Traditionally, the bride and groom, their parents and their bridal attendants, without partners, sit at the top table. (Occasionally, following a religious ceremony, the priest or minister etc.will also sit at that top table). The partners of the bridal attendants usually sit at another table among other guests.

It is your wedding day, and you should insist that this is what the seating arrangements will be.

Your request to have the bridal attendants, without partners, sit at the top table with you during the reception is normal and reasonable. If any of them is already giving you a hard time about this,give them a choice now: they either join you on the top table with you as a bridal attendant, or they drop out of that position and be a guest only, seated at another table with their partner.

Mardi Kent

Civil Celebrant

Quite honestly, they have no rights whatsoever to dictate how you want your Bridal Table to be. Traditionally, it was the Bridal Party only that sits at the Top Table, with their partners in amongst the guest. For goodness' sake, surely they can cope without sitting with their partners for an hour or so. That's all it is, because everyone ends up mingling. You need to be quite firm with them. It is YOUR Wedding. YOUR decision. You want it the traditional way and perhaps, if they don't like that, they should reconsider being in the Bridal Party. You must take control, or other issues may come up where people consider they have rights to hijack your day. Be strong! Good luck!

If your worried about being alone, then the bridal table can be made up of, the bride and the groom, their parents, and grandparents..also if there are godparents or sponsers they can all sit on the bridal table.. The bridal party can sit with partners at a table nearby

Hi Jackie, this highlights a problem that often befalls couples who invite their bridal party too early in their arrangements. However you need to remember that this is yours and your fiancés wedding and if your bridal party want to dictate how you arrange things then you need to reconsider their roles and replace them or draw up a diagram of how the bridal table will be set up and a diagram of the table for the partners. They may not like it but they will have their wedding day one day and will have it as they want. Remember also that you are inviting your friends to be your bridal party and their partners are quests! If they don't want to comply with your wishes replace them with friends who are there for you.

Regards Desmond Stow CMC

Mt Waverley.

Hi Jackie, I'm wondering if your bridal party could be nudged (by someone other than you) to think about putting you and your fiancée first... You will only be doing this once in a lifetime!!

Depending on the dynamics of your family you could have a 'Bridal Party and Partners Table' separate to yours and perhaps a ' Bride and Groom and Parents Table' or a 'Bride and Groom and close non bridal party friends Table' or you could both draw cards and raffle off who gets to sit with the bride and groom! The possibilities are endless - as long as your guests know it really is all about you and can assist to make this happen.

The most important thing is that you and your fiancé are relaxed, honoured, and are able to have fun amongst those whom you love and who love you!!

Hope this helps,

Mary

Mary Bruce Celebrant

Sunshine Coast Qld