TOPTABLE / Top table protocol
Top table protocol
Eight seats, fixed left to right order. The photographer's running order depends on it and the venue has it printed.
| Seat | Role |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chief bridesmaid |
| 2 | Father of the groom |
| 3 | Mother of the bride |
| 4 | Groom |
| 5 | Bride |
| 6 | Father of the bride |
| 7 | Mother of the groom |
| 8 | Best man |
Nobody else sits at the top table. No children, no partners of the above, no exceptions.
The order is not negotiable. It has been agreed with the venue and the photographer and it is already printed. Changing it now costs money.
Where the top table is smaller than eight
Some rooms have a top table of six. Seats fill from the middle outward: groom and bride first, then their parents, then the best man and chief bridesmaid. Roles that do not fit sit at the nearest round table together.
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