It is traditional for there to be a ‘top table’ at the wedding reception with the bride and groom seated with their closest friends and family looking onto their guests. Guest get a good view of the bride and groom and the speech-makers and the bride and groom get to see everyone either beside them or in front of them.
There are many different ways to organize a wedding top table, but traditionally in the UK:
- The bride and groom sit central to the length of the table
- The groom sits to the right of the bride
- Places alternate male-female
- The brides mother and grooms father sit alongside the groom
- The brides father and grooms mother sit alongside the bride
- The Chief Bridesmaid or Matron of Honour if you have one sits next to the grooms father
- The Best Man sits next to the grooms mother
- Partners of the Best Man and Chief Bridesmaid sit at other tables
This sort of seating arrangement is, however, very formal. Who to put on the top table can be a sensitive issue, especially if the parents of the bride or groom have divorced and remarried. Make sure you resolve any such issues long before the wedding day or adjust the layout so it includes step-parents or other key people.
Most importantly make it the way YOU want it – yes follow tradition but make that tradition work for you and your wedding!
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