Plan the Seating for a Wedding

Formallweddings are always outstanding and help to teach the respect that marriage deserves. Children learn that marriage is the ultimate sign of love between a man and a woman. There are rules to follow that pertain to wedding seating arrangements in any traditional wedding ceremony.

Seating the Parents of the Bride or Groom in a Church Wedding


Generally, in a traditional Church Wedding, the parents of the bride sit on the left side and the parents of the groom sitting on the right of the church. Make the wedding seating arrangements so that both families are seated on aisle seats and the immediate families seated in pews directly behind them.

Seating Arrangements for the Friends


There are no specific seating arrangements to follow for the friends of either the bride or the groom. They usually sit in the rear of the Church, and on the side of their friend - either the bride or the groom. Friends of both can sit on either side for the wedding.

Seating of the Parents in a Traditional Wedding in a Synagogue or Temple


Seating the parents in a traditional Jewish wedding held in a Synagogue or Temple will place the parents of the bride on aisle seats on the right. with the grooms' parents seated on the left side. Making the wedding seating arrangements will place the immediate family directly behind. The vows take place under a Chuppah {Huppah} which is an ornamented canopy adorned with fresh flowers, tassels or embroidery.

Seating Immediate Family Members


The immediate families always sit directly behind the bride or groom regardless of where the marriage takes place. When making wedding seating arrangements this is not an easy task. At times it makes friends or families upset if they do not sit where they would prefer to sit.

Seating of Divorced Parents

If the parents are divorced, their partners will be seated in the second and third rows. Seated with them, are any children their parents might have had together.

What Are the Ushers Task?


The job of the ushers is to ask each guest whether they are friends, or related to the bride or groom and help them to sit accordingly.

Where Do Guests who are Late Sit?


Guests arriving after the mother of the bride is seated, should merely take the first empty seat in the rear, without disturbing anyone.

Seating For Divorced Parents?


Seating for parents who are divorced, not remarried, or are widowed is an individual preference depending on their relationships to each other and to the bride or groom. If this circumstance should arise, usually the bride will sit with the parents who raised her.

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People are excited at weddings, but they should keep their voices down to a whisper. Low voice talking is allowed among guests while waiting, but should cease once the procession begins.


**It is advised to never take a gift to the reception because there is no way that to know that the wedding couple will ever see the gift. Send the gift to the home of the bride, or to the return address on the invitations. Cash gifts can be handed to them after the ceremony and prior to the reception, when greeting the newly married couple on the reception line.

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If you arrive while the ceremony is already taking place, quietly find any available seat, regardless of what side you sit on.

Source: original article written published by me on eHow. I edited and updated the article.