Top table help!!

Perhaps you could just have best man, ushers and bridesmaids with you on the top table? Then put parents elsewhere?

I'm with the future mrs h, have your bridesmaids and grooms men

If your mums and dads can't be on good behavour then sit them somewhere else and have your BM's and grooms Men x

A few people on here who have similar problems are having best man and CBM and their partners on the top table, the having their parents 'hosting' a table x

My parents are divorced, and both have new partners. I am having my parents at the top table (with my sister and niece sat betweenm them!) and their partners are sitting on other tables, with each of my parents sides of the family (if that makes sense?!). If they dont like (which my step mother wont!) then tough, they are hardly going to kick up a fuss on the day when they find out!

Our top table complications are slightly different, but we have decidede to go for a sweetheart table to save the hassel. I am sure your parents will u8nderstand that it's your day and will accept whatever your decision is and not cause any problems. Just Bridesmaids and Grooms men, as suggested, seems a very good idea

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We also had similar issues so we had a sweetheart table and let the parents host tables. It worked great and my and hubby got to spend some time together.

We have the same problems, so no-one feels weird or awkward we are not having a top table, we will be sitting with our mates.

Its easier for us though as we are having a garden party so the whole thing is less formal than usual.

Good luck - remember families are why we choose our friends xxx

Thanks for all your advice everyone!! I think parents seated elsewhere is the best way forward. x

We are kinda in the same boat. Well, FPIL are together and fine but my parents are seperated and not on great terms any more. Plus my Dad has a GF of 5 years who doesn't get on with my mum at all. We will be doing the trad mixing of His mum next to my dad, and his dad next to my mum. My parents' partners can sit with other guests. At the end of the day we all only have 2 physical birth parents and I'm sticking with them for the top table.

Family politics are just a nightmare though!

You say this and in most cases I am sure your right however When i worked in a hotel i remember one wedding where the FOB's new partner was not seated at the top table and kicked off big time we had to explain to her it was the bride and grooms seating plain and their wishes as she tried to re arrange the seating plan herself anyway it all got out of hand and she left and never came back.

This - we'd just rather sit with our friends so all tables will look the same and we'll be sat on one of them ?. Ours is an informal village hall do, wihch I think helps.

Use the same principal that should be applied toall wedding decisions: what do WE want - and do that ?

We're going for a sweetheart table to avoid the issue of absent parents and also to be different from the 'norm'.