Hi
I'm having a bit of a nightmare with my h2b and his sister regarding our seating arrangements at the reception. I bought some table planner software last week and did a mock up of a table plan, way to early to be seating people in their definite seats but I thought I'd be prepared and see how the table planner worked.
I have said all along I want a traditional top table with 8 people - me, h2b, my mum + dad, his mum + dad, best man and chief bridesmaid. My h2b's sister is going to be my second bridesmaid - she has been asked out of courtesy rather than me really wanting her to be my bridesmaid. We also have a son who is going to be our page boy. In the mock table plan I had placed h2b's sister, our son, my only brother (usher) and h2b's brother round table right at front of top table. We are unsure if h2b's brother is going to be able to make the wedding as he is in a foreign country working but if he does make it, he will be groomsman.
When h2b seen the plan he flipped - he said our son couldn't sit at that table as he needed an 'adult' to look after him - i'd originally placed him beside h2b's sister who is 15 and quite childish, so I said ok we will but him beside my brother. He then said that our son and my brother don't get on. Our son is currently 16 months old and my brother lives in Ireland. We only go over to visit every so often and for the first couple of days round him he's a bit shy but then comes around to him. H2b suggested a 10 seater top table with his brother and sister added as the extra 2 but I feel that this is very unfair as his whole family will be at the top table and my only other sibling will not - which is especially harsh as my brothers girlfriend is my chief bridemaid and will be at the top table with us - so basically my brother will be by himself.
H2b telephoned his mum yesterday and she is demanding that h2b's sister sits at the top table. She says she has never been to a wedding where a bridesmaid is not at the top table and she will look really silly sitting at another table wearing he bridesmaid dress. I really really really don't want her there. The rest of the "lesser" bridal party are not at the top table, i.e. my son (page boy), my flowergirl, and the 2 ushers. I really don't see why she can't sit with the rest of them. I just want to turn round and say 'well if she's not old enough to eat her dinner away from her parents then she's not old enough to be my bridesmaid'. I'm tempted to say my parents are hosting the reception and will seat people appropriately but I dont' think this is a justifiable reason why she can't sit at the top table.
I'm probably sounding like a mean bride but I'm fed up with my mil2b dictating things which happen in my life, and my h2b being her puppet. When my son was born she insisted i do things 'her' way just becaused she worked in a baby shop and we HAD to buy all the baby products from there even if they were cheaper elsewhere.
This is really upsetting me - does anyone know anything I can say to h2b and his mother to justify h2b's sister not sitting at the top table?
