Seating the Head Table at a Reception

Creating seating charts for a reception is one of the trickier aspects of planning a wedding, and no table is more fraught with potential conflict than the head table. Traditionally the head table is a long, rectangular table where the bride, groom and guests sit facing the rest of the wedding assemblage. Those important guests for whom there may not be room sit at nearby tables, but deciding who sits at which table and in what order can be challenging. Prioritize your own happiness, followed by the needs of your guest list, and don't worry about adhering to stuffy traditions.
Difficulty:
Challenging
Instructions
1
Select the people with whom you want to share your head table, as the number of seats will directly influence how you arrange the table. Traditionally the bride and groom share the head table with immediate family, the wedding party or a combination of both. If your family is seated elsewhere and your wedding party is small, fill out the remainder of the table with the dates of wedding party members. For a table that is strictly family, seat the wedding party at the tables nearest the head table, or disperse them through the crowd.
2
Consider the personalities at play when creating a head table seating chart. Many guides suggest seating the bridesmaids next to the bride and the groomsmen next to the groom; if your wedding party members are shy this may be the most comfortable arrangement. However, if you are hoping sparks fly between a bridesmaid and her attendant groomsman, consider seating the wedding party in a boy-girl pattern. Family tables are fairly traditional, but seating divorced parents at the same table can be contentious. Seating each parent and their spouse at their own separate table where they can join their own friends may be the most peaceful option.
3
Pay careful attention to the tables nearest the head table and plot their seating charts with equal care. These tables are typically seats of honor, and those who may not be accommodated at the head table will sit at the tables closest to it. Exercise care and consideration when seating these guests; the wedding officiant and his significant other is traditionally invited to the reception, but seating an elderly pastor at a rowdy table of wedding party members may be a poor choice. If you have a relative who is offended at not being included in a larger wedding role, asking her to join the tables of honor can soothe ruffled feelings.
Tips & Warnings
Seat flower girls, ring bearers and other junior wedding party members at tables among the rest of the guests with their parents.
If no satisfactory arrangement presents itself, allow the wedding party to sit among the guests and seat the bride and groom at their own two-person head table, also called the "sweetheart table."