Treat these as conventions, not rules
Seating customs vary by culture, family and venue. What follows is what many couples do, along with alternatives. If your families have their own traditions, those come first, and a quick call to the people involved usually settles more than any guide.
Head table or sweetheart table
A long head table seats the couple with the wedding party. A sweetheart table seats just the two of you. The head table keeps the group together but is often in a row facing the room; the sweetheart table is simpler and lets the wedding party sit with their own partners.
- Choose a head table if you want your attendants beside you and the room is wide enough.
- Choose a sweetheart table if attendants have partners who would otherwise sit apart.
- A round table in the middle of the room is a third option that feels less formal.
Parents, family and divorced parents
Parents commonly sit at a table close to the couple, often with grandparents and siblings. With divorced or separated parents, a typical solution is a separate table for each parent, each hosted by that parent and their partner and nearby relatives. Ask each parent what they are comfortable with instead of guessing.
Plus-ones, singles and children
Seat partners and plus-ones together, even when you barely know them. For single guests, avoid a table that is all couples; a mixed table of friends from different circles usually works well. For children, some couples use a kids table with a trusted older relative or sitter nearby, while others keep children with their parents. Families with babies or toddlers often prefer to stay together.
Guests who do not get along
Put a table or more between them, and avoid seating them in each other’s direct line of sight if the room allows. You do not have to explain your choice. If you are unsure, ask a mutual friend or relative, not the guests themselves.
Finally, give difficult guests a job or a clear seat on the chart. A named place near people they like tends to calm things more than a last-minute decision on the day.
Have a correction or a suggestion? Tell the studio.