Who Sits Where at Your Wedding?

Planning the seating arrangements for your wedding can be both a logistical challenge and an opportunity to enhance the beauty of your big day.

Where people sit can significantly impact your ceremony and reception, especially when it comes to capturing those unforgettable moments in photographs.

Here’s a friendly guide to help you navigate the seating plans with ease.

At the Ceremony: Guests

Traditionally, wedding guests have been seated with the bride’s friends and family on the left and the groom’s on the right. However, this custom is becoming less rigid, allowing guests to sit wherever they feel comfortable. That said, close family members often still prefer the front row, maintaining the left-right tradition. Here’s a tip: encourage them to swap sides! This way, they can see their loved one’s face as you turn to each other to say your vows, making for more heartfelt memories and photographs.

Consider reserving aisle seats for readers and others participating in the ceremony. This makes it easy for them to step up when it's their moment in the spotlight. Plus, these guests often appear in photos of iconic ceremony moments, like the processional and recessional, so having familiar faces in those shots is a lovely touch.