Non-traditional top table arrangements...

I'm not going to go into the ins & outs of my family strife in this post but essentially I am now having to think about an alternative to the traditional top table seating. My parents have been divorced for over 20 years, but due to my mother's recent behaviour, I don't think seating her on the same table as me or my dad is advisable. However, my dad has remarried, my mum has a long term boyfriend and she went on to have two children (my 2 half-sisters)- so there is the possibility of seating them separately with their new families.

Still with me...?!!

Right, so H2B has a 'normal' family set up and wants his parents on our table (so a sweetheart table is out of the question), and we have discussed whether to have a long or round table - and both of us don't mind either way. But whichever option we go for, I don't know who to seat at our table!

So far we have Bride, Groom, MOG & FOG, Best Man, MOH...with my dad & stepmum 'hosting' their own table, and my mother & her family doing the same. Has anyone else had to juggle something similar when sorting out their seating plans? Who did you end up having on your table?

We don't have complicated family situations like you do, but we aren't having a traditional top table.

We're having everyone sat at round tables, with us and our parents (and possibly bridesmaid/best man) sat at our table

I think your plan could work, but (not wanting to cause you any more issues) would it upset your parents that H2B's parents are sat with you but not them? Would it be better for H2B's parents to also host their own table? Just a thought

Mine is, in order of left to right:
Grandmother of groom, mog, best man, hubby, me, cheif bm, mob, my brother.

My dad is going to sit with my step mum and step brothers. It was actually my dads idea and will save a lot of awkwardness for me on the day!!!!

I wouldn't have had one at all but h2b was pretty keen!

xxx

Sarsaparilla - my dad won't mind that we're sat with OH's parents. My mum might create a fuss but that's just because she thrives on drama and she'll want an excuse to have all attention on her. We don't get on, so I'm not going to stress over her reaction! We might go with a round table instead though.

Pminxy - I wasn't fussed either but H2B wants one, so he gets one - Groomzilla! x

I cant even talk about the top table arrangements for our wedding.. I will start twitching.

It was the most stressful part for me. Good luck to you and my advice would be dont ask too many people what they would prefer as inevitably you cant please them all.

In the end from left to right we had my stepmother, my dad, my mother in law, groom, bride, mother of bride, stepfather, bestman.

Our top table is going to be (l-r)

Best man, our son, groom, me, bridesmaid, bridesmaid

I don't have either of my parents to sit beside and it saves any hassel.with the rest of my family and who they might think should be at the top table.

Glad I'm not the only one struggling with this!

My parents and my H2B's parents are both divorced and remarried and he has 3 half-sisters. His parents have only seen each other once in the last 11 years and my dad's wife is totally jealous of my mum (with absolutely no justification).

H2B has also decided to have 2 best men and we're only having 36 people, including us two at our reception (getting married abroad).

Currently have absolutely no clue how we're going to seat everyone

dissfunctional springs to mind for my H2B's family.

we've not asked them to do anything of importance (mainly because we'll get it thrown back in our faces - as they've done in the past)

our top table will most probably look like:

My Brother, My Mum, H2B, Me, My Dad, Bestman

if his mother even bothers to turn up then she'll be on the table at the back of the room lol

Me and my h2b are having just the two of us on our top table!

Saves all the arguements and is more personal and special... as his parents are both re married and I have 4 bridesmaids and 2 best men to seat as well!

Completely sympathise with you. It's not easy but you must remember that you do need to do what is most enjoyable for you and less hassle free. It's your day afterall.... Anyway, we are not having a traditional table. We are having a bigger round table in the centre of the room and it's going to have -
bride
groom
best man
best man's partner
usher 1
ushers partner
usher 2
usher's partner
bridesmaid 2
bridesmaid's partner
bridesmaid 2
bridesmaid's partner

It certainly hasn't been easy making this decision but we will make it work. I just hope guests don't find it odd... I'm going to have my family on a table closest to me (helps with dad's speech) and likewise, my H2B's family will host their own table x