Is there a traditional left and right side for the bride's family and groom's family?

I'm provide advice on this one thats a little bit radical. I suggest that the Brides family sit on the opposite side to where she's standing and same for the Groom .. this is so that the respective families can see the full face of their child while they are making their committments, rather than only being able to see them from from behind.  It makes such a differnce to family's viewing pleasure. 

Regarding which side traditionally  is Grooms on right if you are guest looking towards the front, but this can be switched for many reasons .. including the position of the sun (better for Groom to get sun in his eyes than th bride) and sometiems a bride feels she has a better side or a hairdo that she wants to stand on one particular side  

The tradition is an old one that dates back to the middle ages when a bride might be kidnapped from another village and would then be held by the Groom with his left hand so that his sword (right) arm was free in case the Bride's father or brothers came to her rescue. The best man (best fighter) in the village would stand nearby ready to defend as well. The couple would face the altar in a church and family members who were supportive, would sit behind and so the groom's family sat to the right and the bride's, to the left.

Given that it is highly unlikely that the Bride has been kidnapped and that most ceremonies are now performed by a Civil Celebrant (no altar) with the couple facing each other or the guests; and that in many instances all guests are known to both the bride and groom, seating no longer has the importance that it once held.

I was at one wedding where the bride had 70 relatives and the groom has only 5 and so if all they had followed ye olde tradition, one side would have been near empty while the other side filled which doesn't look great in photos.

My advice is that you should make your own traditions according to your own wishes. It is after all your wedding. 

You may not need to follow what was done 500 years ago to make your wedding beautiful and fun.

There's no law or written rule about which side either party should stand on, nor where the family should sit. This is one of those issues where you get to choose, so consider things like hair, makeup, clothes, and whether certain sides matter in that regard. You're probably not going to look at your family in the ceremony, you'll be looking at each other, but if you want to look at your family, then place them on the other side.

But all of that aside, don't strangle the ceremony with all these rules and traditions. Let it flow and be awesome.

I tell guests that "we dont pick sides at a wedding"
I also ensure that guest spread themselves evenly across 

If you are wanting real tradition, Brides family & friends sit on the left & Grooms family & friends on the right.  However many modern weddings encourage the "pick a seat, not a side" option.  This seems to be a better option when couples have joint friends and some times one party only has a few family & friends, compared to their partner.  There is no right or wrong option.

I agree with most responses here - have the guests on the opposite sides so they can see the face they love :)

In the case of a bride and bride or groom and groom, it would obviously be up to them - perhaps choose the side they sleep in their bed.

Please note - sometimes one party has only a few guests (for a range of reasons).   We recently had a wedding where there were 10 people on one side and nearly 100 on the other.  In such a case, please ask everyone to mix together!

I always like to have the groom on the left and Bride on the right, but you can do whatever you want, it is your day. 

Just something else I like to do, is have the parents of the bride sit on the opposite side to her and the parents of the groom on the opposite side to him, this way the parents and family can see the face of the person while the are saying their vows. 

Just a little thing but most people do not think of it and it does make a difference.  

Traditionally, the family (and friends) of the bride sits on the left of the aisle as you are walking toward the front.  However, in a Jewish wedding, the seating is reversed.  Some folk see a marriage as the bringing together of two families, not dividing them.  So perhaps these are traditions best left in the past.   Also, this is a bit tricky where friends of both the bride and the groom are invited.

Great question.

It really is a case of your choice which side suits you best, but I always suggest to my couples to have your immediate family sit on the opposite side to you.

That way, they see your face.

While traditionally, the groom stands to the right of the altar as you look from the guest's view, there is absolutely no right or wrong, you can do whatever you like! ??