Reception Seating - family or friends closer?

[nylalany]

I have 13 tables of 8 (more or less) and a sweetheart for us. The layout is bad though b/c the sweetheart is at the end of a sort of rectangle/oval area, so there are about 3-5 tables that are closer to us and the other 7 are on the other side. My bridal party is split across approximately 3 tables, because they are a mix of relatives and friends that we put with people they know. We have 2 parent tables (one on each side), but I feel like the parents tables should be close to the their contemporary relatives tables. So if I put our parents tables near us, we end up with all the older relatives near us, and the friends and wedding party on the other side. Maybe it doesn't matter b/c it is just dinner? It is very frustrating!!

[lucy106]

I dont think it really matters too much. But I know my parents would want to be near us so if you can handle it then i would vote for the family tables closer to you if possible.

[boscobel]

That setup is kinda hard. I think that parents and bridal party should be nearer to you and then everyone else should fall into place around them.

[melglnh2o]

I am finalizing my seating chart too and was having some similar issues but I put all the family closer to us. I figure that after dinner we will all be mingling and it won't really matter. I don't have a sweetheart table though. We opted to have our parents and his grandmother (the only grandparent left) sit with us.

[Bride010101]

That is a tough call. I would have to say for minimal conflict, I would put family near by. Especially if its just for dinner!