While table one most frequently includes the couple, their wedding party and the wedding party plus one's, "a head table can really be constructed in whatever way makes the most sense for the couple and who they want to sit with," says Jamie Chang of Passport to Joy.
In 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 fill in the first row on the right side.
The Top Table. Traditionally, the top table is the table at the head of the reception room where the newlyweds, their parents, the best man and the maid of honour sit facing the guests.
As you're facing the table, the maid of honour sits at the far left, with the groom's father next to her. The bride's mother sits on the groom's father's left. The bride and groom sit in the middle, with the groom on the left as you're facing the table.
The first row is for parents of the bride and groom, and members of the wedding party who may need a seat during the ceremony. The second row is for siblings of the couple who are not in the wedding party. The third row is for grandparents and siblings who do not sit in the second row.
Who usually sits at the top table? The traditional top table layout is the wedding party, including the bride and groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen, maid of honour and best man.
Traditionally, the host and hostess sit at the head and foot of the table. When they are friends with a number of the guests, they may choose instead to sit opposite each other at the middle of the table, where it will be easier for them to converse with more people.
The majority fall under the category of wedding party roles, including the bride and groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen, and the officiant. The other wedding positions are optional, depending on your personal preference and if there are enough additional people to fill the roles.
Another method for simplifying the getting-seated process: Make sure the tables are numbered roughly in order, with even-numbered tables on the right of the room entrance, and odd-numbered tables on the left.
At the altar, the bride stands on the left, the groom on the right, facing the officiant. The best man stands beside the groom, with the ring bearer and ushers to his right. The maid of honor stands beside the bride, with the flower girl and bridesmaids to her left.
Long story short, the groom typically says his wedding vows first in the vow exchange. As is customary, the officiant will give him the floor to speak his piece before giving it to the bride.
A groomsman or usher is one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony and performs the first speech at the wedding.
It is widely agreed that the origin of marriage dates well before recorded history, but the earliest recorded evidence of marriage ceremonies uniting one woman and one man dates from about 2350 B.C. in the Far East.
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.
Traditional. We generally follow an 8 people per table rule. This is just enough for everyone to have some good conversations, without making the tables too crowded. This rule works better with traditional seating plans, with round or square tables.
The most important people in a wedding are typically the bride and groom, as the wedding is a celebration of their love and commitment to each other. Additionally, close family members and friends often play significant roles in a wedding, such as parents, siblings, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and witnesses.
First and foremost, the Groom and the Groomsmen should match each other in some way. Whether that is the same suits, dress shirts, ties or the Groom has a charcoal suit with the Groomsmen wearing a charcoal vest and dress pants. Groom you should match the bride, whether that is in your shirt, tie or pocket square.
Maid of Honor/Matron of Honor
Then she walks down the aisle, after the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and stands next to the bride, on her left. She might also hold the bride's flower bouquet during the ceremony.
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.
It is usual for partners to be seated opposite rather than next to each other and this has many things to recommend it. There is the security of being able to see and talk to each other without the people on either side feeling excluded.
If the occasion is more relaxed, women may seat themselves before the hostess. Many formal dinners fete honored guests. If there is an honored guest, that guest is served first. The man of honor sits to the right of the hostess and the lady of honor sits to the right of the host.
Stick with Tradition
Left to right, here's how they're traditionally seated: maid of honour, groom's father, bride's mother, groom, bride, bride's father, groom's mother, best man.
"Traditionally, most couples would be have a long table facing guests, with the following seating arrangement (facing the table from left to right): chief bridesmaid, the father of the groom, the mother of the bride, the groom, the bride, father of the bride, mother of the groom and the best man," says Emma Murray- ...
What is referred to as the traditional order of vows is simply the way wedding ceremonies have been performed in a patriarchal religious society for centuries; the groom says his wedding vows first.