Place Settings

In Italy the places reserved for the “stars” of the day (the newlyweds, the parents and the best man and maid of honour) follow precise rules, whereby for all the other guests, simply follow common sense so everyone will feel at ease at their table.

- The horseshoe table and the rectangular table are the most traditional ones. The bride sits at the centre of the long part with her husband on her left side, and  her father in law on her right side, then on his right, the maid of honour, then the brides father, then another witness. On the left of the brides mother is the best man, then the grooms mother, then a witness
- Round tables from six to twelve guests, the largest table is for the bride and groom, parents, best man, maid of honour and witnesses. The other tables are assigned according to friendships, relationships and age.
- The table for young guests: is a recent tradition started in France that places the table of young guests in the centre with the closest friends and bridesmaids.
Children’s table – another option is a table off to one side for young children ( over age 3) that can have a special menu served first and then can be entertained by a babysitter nearby. Children are often present at weddings in Italy, and a babysitter is an excellent idea.
- If the bride and groom prefer not to have specific table settings, it is a good idea to set aside a few tables for the close family and for older guests.