In the most traditional Christian, heterosexual weddings, the bride’s parents sit in the first row on the left side of the aisle, while the groom’s parents will fill in the first row on the right side.
Can I use the same chairs for ceremony and reception?
During the reception, all guests require a chair for dinner and dessert. To slash rental costs, you can use one set of chairs for the ceremony and reception if both parts of the day take place at the same venue.
How do you have ceremony and reception in the same space?
When using the same space for both ceremony and reception, consider exchanging vows on an elevated platform so everyone can see. Instead of saying “I do” at the front of the room (where your head table would be), consider standing on the dance floor. That way, more guests will have a great view.
Do bride and groom’s parents sit together at reception?
Traditionally, the bride and groom’s parents sit at the same reception table, sometimes with the officiant and his or her spouse (if they attend the reception) or with your grandparents.
Where do you sit if you know both the bride and groom?
Both wedding parties typically sit in the first row after processing down the aisle—if they’re not standing up at the altar with you.
What is the etiquette for wedding seating?
Classically, the groom sits to the bride’s right and the best man sits to her left. The maid of honor sits to the groom’s right. Depending on how large the table is, the other attendants can also be seated near the couple.
Where should aunts and uncles sit at wedding reception?
Members of her mother’s immediate family—the bride’s grandparents, any siblings who aren’t attendants, and aunts, uncles, and their spouses—sit immediately behind in the next one or two rows.
How do you word wedding invitations with ceremony and reception are at different places?
If the reception is at a different location, you can list the venue on the following line, or you may decide to include a separate insert card (called a reception card) inviting guests to the reception, with the venue’s full address.
Can you have a small ceremony and big reception?
Whether it’s a small ceremony immediately followed by a big reception or events on completely separate days, you can definitely cut down that ceremony guest list to whatever makes you comfortable without feeling like you’ve left anyone out of the celebration.
What do you do in between wedding ceremony and reception?
If there’s a gap in between the ceremony and the reception, couples often use this time to take wedding photos, enjoy some alone time before welcoming their guests into the reception, or spend quality time with their bridal party.
Who walks the mother of the groom down the aisle?
As the wedding begins, the groom’s mother will be escorted down the aisle, to the first pew, right-hand side, by the head usher or a groomsman who is a family member. A nice touch includes the groom escorting his mother down the aisle. As the groom’s mother is escorted to her seat, her husband will follow along behind.
Who seats the mother of the groom at a wedding?
5 minutes prior to ceremony: The groom’s mother is escorted to her seat by the head usher, a son, or the groom. The groom’s father follows and sits next to her.
Who does the mother of the bride sit at the reception?
Our wedding etiquette expert is here with the answer. Traditionally, the parents all sit at the same reception table, along with siblings not in the wedding party, the officiant and his or her spouse (if they attend the reception) and any grandparents.
Should couples sit together at weddings?
For long rectangular or banquet-style tables, couples traditionally sit opposite one another – but you can seat them side-by-side if you prefer. It’s up to you. The only couples at a wedding that don’t usually sit together are the maid of honour and her partner, and the best man and his partner.
Where does the best man’s partner sit at a wedding?
A round table with the wedding couple in the center is the traditional table setting for the top table. The maid of honour and best man sit on either side of the couple. The groom’s men and bridesmaids then sit on either side of the maid of honour and best man.
What are the best seats at a wedding?
Seat them with their dates and a group of other mutual friends. They should be seated at the third-best tables in the room: the first is your sweetheart table, the second-best table(s) are for your parents, and the third nearest table(s) are for your wedding party.
Who sits next to who at a wedding?
So who sits where? Traditionally, the newlyweds sit in the middle of the table, with the bride seated to the groom’s right. Same-sex couples can feel free to seat themselves as they’d like. For a male/female pattern around the table, seat the best man next to the bride and the maid of honor next to the groom.
Who sits in first row at wedding?
The parents of the bride sit in the first pew or row on the left, the groom’s parents sit in the first row on the right, leaving the two spaces closest to the aisle for the groom and best man. Space permitting, extra chairs may be placed in front of the right hand pews for the groom and best man.
How are parents and grandparents seated at a wedding?
The grandparents of the groom are the first to enter & are seated on the right side in the first or second row, if seats have been reserved for them. Ushers can escort a grandmother if so desired. Grandparents of the bride would follow immediately after & are seated on the left side.
Do parents get introduced at wedding reception?
Wedding reception introductions are usually offered by the wedding DJ or an emcee. This act opens the activities of the wedding reception and it serves to offer formal introduction of the couple, bridal party, and their parents to the wedding guests.
Should my mom or brother walk me down the aisle?
At the end of the day, deciding who you want to walk you down the aisle is such a personal decision. What matters most is that whatever decision you make reflects your truth, be it your mother who walks you, your father, your sibling, or hell, even your dog. As long as it’s your choice, there is no wrong answer.
Can I invite people to my ceremony but not reception?
The answer is “yes, you absolutely can!”. According to the traditional etiquette, it is absolutely okay to invite a small number of guests to the wedding ceremony and have more guests attend the reception. On the other hand, everyone who’s present at the ceremony should also be invited to the reception.
Can you invite guests to ceremony but not reception?
If you invite someone to the ceremony, you must invite them to the reception. While there are certain situations that make it acceptable to invite some guests to the ceremony and reception and others to just the reception alone, you should never do the opposite.
How far apart should the ceremony and reception be?
Ideally, you want your guests to be able to witness your vows and then to celebrate with you. As a general suggestion, try to keep the travel distance under 20 miles from ceremony to reception.
Is 3 hours long enough for a wedding reception?
4-5 hours will be your best bet for reception length. Do note that the ceremony isn’t included in this, as it’s just the reception (and cocktail hour, if you’d like to count that). Some people think that less than 4-5 hours is perfect and I really feel that even 3-4 hours would be plenty.