Ceremony Seating
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By Lei Lydle
Founder and Editor
Last Updated: 8/8/2005 11:39:39 AM |
In general, when seating guests, the Bride's side is the left side of the church (when looking from the back) and the Groom's side is the right side of the church. Ushers should ask each guest which side they would like to sit on. However, if one side has a lot more guests, it is perfectly acceptable for the ushers to ask some of the guests if they would mind sitting on the other side.
Reserved Pews
Three or four of the front pews on each side should be reserved for immediate members of the family and close friends. Those people who should sit in these reserved pews are notified by pew cards or by word of mouth.
Seating Divorced Parents
This is the standard seating but can be varied according to the bride's feelings.
- Bride's mother and stepfather sit on the front pew on the left side.
- Bride's mother and stepfather's immediate family sits directly behind them.
- The bride's father, stepmother and his family will sit on the next pew.
Seating the Mothers and Grandmothers
- The groom's grandmothers are seated first - escorted by an usher and followed by their husbands if they are still living. They are usually seated on the second pew on the right side of the church. The usher for the grandmothers should be a member of the family if possible - sons, grandsons, etc.
- Next the bride's grandmothers are seated - escorted by an usher and followed by their husbands if they are still living. They are usually seated on the second pew on the left side of the church. Again, the usher for the grandmothers should be a member of the family if possible - sons, grandsons, etc.
- Next the groom's mother is seated usually on the front pew on the right side of the church. The groom's mother should be escorted by one of her sons who is an usher or by the best man and followed by her husband if he is not in the wedding party.
- And finally the bride's mother is seated on the front pew on the left side of the church. The bride's mother should also be escorted by one of her sons who is an usher or by the best man. Her husband will join her after giving their daughter away.
Guests That Arrive Late
After the bride's mother is seated, no guest should be seated from the center aisle. If anyone arrives after this they must wait in the vestibule.
| vc from Arlington heights, Il says... |
We have a problem. My Husband to be has an extended family. He has a mother/stepfather and a father/stepmother. They all seem to get along. How would I list them on my programs, how would they be seated at the ceremony, etc. Now, to compound the issue, I too have others in my family. My mother nor father are married but have significant others. How would I arrange them???? Please someone help me. Also, has anyone ever worked with a wedding planner?? How much do they usually run and what has been your experience with them? Thanks for your assistance.
Sincerely, Fragile bride!
Wedding Date: 11-12-05
Comments Posted: 8/8/2005 11:39:39 AM
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| John Perry from Monroe, La says... |
My wife has a stepmother and her father is deceased when and where should she be seated.
Thanks
Wedding Date: 2/18/06
Comments Posted: 5/17/2005 6:03:08 PM
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| Annamarie from Columbus, Ohio says... |
Please help! My parents are divorced and still get along very well together. They would have no problem sitting next to one anthoer in the same pew. Neither are re-married but my father will have a date for the wedding. Where do I have her sit? I should also tell you that I really don't care for her that munch. I think every bride has a "thing" that keeps them up at night. This is mine and any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank You
Wedding Date: July 2nd 2005
Comments Posted: 2/4/2005 10:56:58 AM
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| Dianne from Chelsea, AL says... |
Help!! How do you do the seating for divorced parents of the groom?? Is the step mother and father of the groom escorted down the isle, prior to the escorting of the groom's mother, or should they just be seated normally????? Your expert advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Wedding Date: 6/5/2005
Comments Posted: 1/18/2005 10:56:04 AM
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| Lisa from Big Canoe, GA says... |
Our big day is going to be at The Chimneys in Big Canoe, GA. The ceremony will be outside on a patio that seats approx. 100. If we have 100-150 guests, is it improper to not provide a chair for every guest? Our ceremony will not be a long one, and the reception is on site (inside The Chimneys) I know our families should be seated, obviously, but does everyone have to be?
Wedding Date: 10-15-05
Comments Posted: 11/4/2004 10:30:59 AM
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| April from Akron, OH says... |
I was wondering how we have our guests seated when there are 3 sections of pews and 2 aisles.
Wedding Date: 05/20/2005
Comments Posted: 11/3/2004 7:46:01 PM
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| Debbie Grubb from South Charleston, WV says... |
I need to submit the seating arrangements for the ceremony. I know the grandparents are seated on the second row behind the parents. My mother (the groom's grandmother) is a widow, so I plan to have my nephew (her grandson) escort her. Should he also sit with her, or just escort her and sit with his mother (who is divorced) on the row behind his grandmother? Or, should both he and his mother sit on the same row with my mother AND the other grandparents? My mother would most likely be more comfortable with my sister and nephew beside her during the ceremony than to be "alone" in the pew with my in-laws. And, I think my sister would like to have her son beside her. You can respond to debg1214@aol.com.
Wedding Date: 3-19-2005
Comments Posted: 10/24/2004 12:43:55 PM
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| RD from Royston Ga says... |
Since this is a small garden wedding, about 50 people, and the Father will be sitting with the mother, does he sit on the end of the pew or second seat. This is the mother of the bride.
How is the grooms mother and father seated
Wedding Date: October 16 2004
Comments Posted: 10/4/2004 5:55:00 PM
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| RD from Royston Ga says... |
Since this is a small garden wedding, about 50 people, and the Father will be sitting with the mother, does he sit on the end of the pew or second seat. This is the mother of the bride.
How is the grooms mother and father seated
Wedding Date: October 16 2004
Comments Posted: 10/4/2004 5:54:06 PM
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| Julie from B'ham, alabama says... |
In the case of divorced parents on the groom's side, is the step mother and father of the groom escorted down the isle, prior to the escorting of the groom's mother, or should they just be seated normally.
Wedding Date: 8/2004
Comments Posted: 4/2/2004
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| Lei Lydle, Editor from this Site says... |
Dear Sue,
Usually, when the parents are divorced and remarried, the bride's mother sits on the first row with her husband and the father sits on another row behind her as described above in the "Divorced Parents" section of this article.
HOWEVER, in most large churches, the ONLY people sitting on the first row are the bride's mother and her husband - leaving a lot of open space. Many small chapels need to be able to seat as many people as they can so they will make exception to the seating “rules” and seat both sets of divorced parents and sometimes the grandparents on the first row with the mother of the bride. The father of the bride is seated closest to the aisle because he sits last after giving the bride away.
If your videographer wanted to get a good shot of the bride and the groom up close, unfortunately he probably wasn't able to get you in the video during the vows... but I am sure you were in the video as you walked in and out of the chapel.
I know you are a little disappointed in the seating arrangement, but try not to get all worked up about it because it was probably just a consequence of having a smaller more intimate wedding in a chapel. I am sure your daughter made a beautiful bride and hopefully she had the wedding of her dreams. I hope this helps!
Happy New Year!
Lei
Comments Posted: 1/2/2004
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| Sue from Columbia, TN says... |
My daughter was married on the 31st in Gatlinburg, TN. My question is: Where does the mother of the bride sit during the ceremony??? Her father and I are divorced and we are remarried....The chapel director put the step-mother on the front pew in the second seat from the isle (the father sat in the seat next to the isle after walking my daughter down the isle)...My husband and I sat on the front seat next to the step-mother (seat 3 and 4). I wasn't visible in the video at all......like I wasn't even there......Was this the correct seating or am I making a mountain out of a mole hill???? I only want to inform the chapel of their error as I paid for the wedding.....her father did not contribute one cent......
I am very disturbed by this and was greatly offended.
Thank you.....
Wedding Date: 12/31/2003
Comments Posted: 1/1/2004
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