So you have set the date, bought the dress, rented the tuxedos, and now it is time for the rehearsal. In my travels in the wedding business I often get questions from couples who have step parents. Where should they sit? Who should walk them down the aisle? Should my Mom or Dad sit with my step-parent or with their x-spouse?

All of these questions are valid concerns and I always tell my couples to do what feels right and what they are comfortable with. If your parents can not stand to look at one another then they should definitely not sit together. They should be able to put aside their differences for the night but that does not always happen.

If you have step-relatives, make sure ushers know who they are. Step-relatives should be escorted to their seats first -- for example, step-grandparents precede birth grandparents. You may want to reserve a few extra rows directly behind immediate family for step-grandparents and step siblings.

If the bride's or groom's parents are divorced, seat the parent who raised the bride or groom in the front row with his/her spouse, and seat the other parent and his/her spouse in the third row. Alternatively, birth parents may sit beside each other in the first row, or they may share the front row with stepparents.

Discuss this in advance to avoid awkward moments.

Do you like the photo? This my beautiful wife and I on our wedding day - January 25, 1975 - We looked pretty snappy!