So I started discussing the top table with my mum and fiancé the other week. Wish I hadn't started!
The traditional set up of parents plus MOH and Best Man won't really work for us because my fiancé only has his mum (dad has passed) and he isn't having a best man. I have my sister as MOH and then her three kids (2x girls aged 8 and 10, 1 boy aged 3) and my two daughters (aged 12 and 14) as in the wedding party. My mum suggested having all the kids (except the 3 yo boy) on the top table along with my sister who would sit next to my fiancé's mum. This is 10 of us so quite a big table but do-able in the venue.
When I suggested this to fiancé he was wittering (lol) about us having to look after the kids too much and that they would be a pain on the top table. The 3 yo definitely would I agree but he is going to sit with his dad on a standard table. The younger girls are surely old enough to be sat still for the meal plus my sister will be sat next to her girls and fiancé's mum. My two will be fine as they are older.
We then talked about not having the kids or my sister and just the parents but future MIL would be sat alone next to my fiancé and I could tell he didn't want to spend all meal entertaining her. She is 87 and I get it, her conversation can be a touch repetitive! He then suggested that we sit his step sister next to mum on the top table to keep her company! I wasn't keen on that as I have never even met the woman and she has made no effort to meet me over the 6 years we have been together (odd I know!). I told him this, in a nice way lol.
So I am now thinking of the couple table and just having us two but I have a feeling my mum won't be happy with that..... I have tried to explain that my wedding is not the same traditional church one my sister had 11 years ago (we are getting married in a museum lol) but not always sure she gets it. I should say I have a fantastic relationship with my mum and my parents are paying for the wedding but she seems quite traditional at times, particularly with wedding stuff.
Thoughts please?!