A silly question about ceremony seating

Traditionally, it's your bridesmaids and your father in the front on your side. Mother if you want, but mothers are often in the row behind if there's limited spacing. Or your father could also go behind with her, depending on how many BMs. Anyway, BMs normally up front with you. On your OH's side, him, BM and ushers. Or put ushers behind and have his parents up front, doesn't really matter. Talk to the venue and registrar about it, and don't forget to deserve an aisle seat for anyone doing a reading who isn't in the front row.

We had my parents and bridesmaids (3) on one side, and H's parents and best man on the other. There were two spare unreserved seats on that side, which H's aunt and uncle took. Our ushers were at the back because they'd been showing people to their seats, and H's brother was at the back because he was taking photos.

It's tricky with your setup to work out a way that's not going to upset somebody. I would reserve specific seats in the front row for all the people who will be walking down the aisle (your dad, bridesmaids, page boy, the best man and possibly the ushers) and then just leave a general reservation for the rest of the family members and let them sort it out amongst themselves.

Thank you!

I had the same problem and got married at Easthampstead Park on new year's eve last year. I had our family on the front rows and then had extra seats put at the front facing out to the guests for the bridesmaids and ushers, either side of the big table they use in the Terrace Room. I loved that they felt more part of the ceremony and it meant they could walk down the aisle and be by their seats before I arrived so they weren't blocking the aisle

We made 'reserved' signs with names on for the first two rows on either side.

My side - front row was bridesmaids, second row was my parents, brothers and brother's wife

H's side - front row was best men (x2) and his parents, second row was his sisters and husbands