How should the dinner table seating be with one pair of parents and one pair of separated parents

Are you speaking about one long table or separate tables? Are the divorced parents with new spouses?

Give them each their own table, close to the head table, and fill it with their close family members and/or their dearest friends. Ask each of them who they would like to have seated at their table and honor the requests as best you can.

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Originally Posted by dontknownuthin

Give them each their own table, close to the head table, and fill it with their close family members and/or their dearest friends. Ask each of them who they would like to have seated at their table and honor the requests as best you can.

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I think weddings are one of the occasions where parents need to act like adults, sit together and play nice. They should behave responsibly for the sake of their children.

I've been in that situation - we all sat together. I'm not saying converation flowed but we interacted for the sake of my husband's daughter.

I also don't think guests should pick where they sit.

I guess I don't think of the parents as just "guests" as they usually are contributing to the cost. No sense making them sit together when there are multiple tables anyway. They can each host their own table. I feel etiquette rules are for making people feel respected and comfortable. When the custom does the opposite, adjustments are called for.

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Originally Posted by dontknownuthin

I guess I don't think of the parents as just "guests" as they usually are contributing to the cost. No sense making them sit together when there are multiple tables anyway. They can each host their own table. I feel etiquette rules are for making people feel respected and comfortable. When the custom does the opposite, adjustments are called for.

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I never think of parents as "paid guests" at a wedding, but using your logic, I suppose they are.

Another adjustment caused by changing times.