Sweetheart table

LaurenRae25

So I know the sweetheart table is a huge trend, but for me, the thought of having everyone at the reception watching my FI and I eat dinner weirds me out. Plus I feel like I invited everyone, I don't want to be separated from everyone. What are yalls thoughts on sweetheart tables.

lyndausvi

I'm not a fan of them.  They are a little too AWish for me.    Besides most of the night it's just a lonely table sitting out there.

I'm not a fan or head tables either.     I think I dislike them even more (well I should say ones that do not include WP SOs)

We ended up sitting with my nieces and nephews who were in the WP.  The rest of the WP sat with people they would have sat with if they were not in the wedding.     

Our situation would not work with 99% of couples.  So I always suggest the couple sitting at a table with the MOH and BM and their SOs or their siblings or parents.  Some sort of cut that makes sense.

Summer2011Bride

We didn't care for a sweetheart table for the reason you listed. We also wanted to be able to socialize with other people during dinner.

I like the idea of sitting with your MOH/BM and their SOs at a table or sitting with whomever you want at a regular table and seating your WP with people you would normally sit them with.

HockeyFan4

We did a sweetheart table, but we didn't have it sitting off by itself.  Ours was nestled in between two regular round tables, where our parents were sitting.  We were only at our table for maybe 15-30 minutes tops.  We did table visits during dinner.  Like a pp said, this way we weren't leaving guests at our table to visit others.

angelsong21

We did a sweetheart table.  I also liked that we weren't leaving anyone behind to socialize and it gave H and I 10 minutes to talk and reflect on the night thusfar.  We didn't feel like anyone was staring at us as family and friends were socializing at their own tables.  We sat there maybe 10 minutes tops before we started making the rounds to greet friends and family at their tables.  We also had a very small WP (1 MOH, 1 BM) and we knew they would want to sit with their family and friends anyway.

pokepoke27

We did a sweetheart table, but it's not like we were up on a stage with a spotlight or anything. We were between two rectangular tables nestled into a corner. We sat and ate then visited tables. 

JoanE2012

We're doing a sweetheart table.  I don't think people will be staring at us.....they will probably be busy eating their own dinner!  We don't plan on being there very long.....just long enough to take a break, eat dinner and reflect on the day up until that point.

[Deleted User]

We did a sweetheart table. We didn't want to do a head table with the wedding party and have to figure out how to fit everyone without splitting up WP & SO's, and our immediate families are too big to have done it that way.  We did it so that the parent tables were immediately next to ours and the remaining guest tables formed a horseshoe around those three; that way it wan't like we were sitting in the spotlight and we were close enough to the other tables that we weren't isolated.  Like PPs said, you aren't really sitting that long anyways, but it was nice that we could sit and enjoy each other for a few minutes.

mrsR12

We are doing a sweetheart table as well.  We have friends and family in the bridal party so did not want their significant others to sit without them.  We are not too worried that people will be watching us eat as we plan on going around to greet people as well.  

ECook25

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sweetheart-table-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:50bc97fe-14bc-4d75-8215-c29d7dc4c127Post:05d7f4c3-7c0d-462c-a940-4c61c7a8484b">Re: Sweetheart table</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm not a fan of them.  They are a little too AWish for me.    Besides most of the night it's just a lonely table sitting out there. I'm not a fan or head tables either.     I think I dislike them even more (well I should say ones that do not include WP SOs) We ended up sitting with my nieces and nephews who were in the WP.  The rest of the WP sat with people they would have sat with if they were not in the wedding.      Our situation would not work with 99% of couples.  <strong>So I always suggest the couple sitting at a table with the MOH and BM and their SOs or their siblings or parents.</strong>  Some sort of cut that makes sense.
Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]

This!  I feel like on TK, there are only two options ever discussed - head table(s) or sweetheart table.  But you can also do it the way Lynda explains above.  We did it similarly - we sat the WP at tables that made sense socially, not all at one or two tables simply because they were all people wearing matching clothes for the evening.  We sat at an actual table ourselves, with the MOH, BM, SOs, and two other very, very close couples. 

daffydillie

We are doing a head table but sitting the bridal party with their signifigant others at our table and do not plan for anyone to be there very long. I hate weddings where the SOs do not sit together. I went to one once where my FI was in the wedding and I was not, I did not know a soul there and sat in a corner by myself. They took forever coming to the reception and were an hour and a half late (she did not let me stay for pictures and flipped out), every member of the bridal party gave a toast, and the head table remained for all the "Specialty" dances and cake cutting. She would usher my FI back to the table if he strayed over to talk to me. It was the worst wedding I have ever been too.  

Kristin789

Sounds like you think that you and FI would sit at the sweetheart table FACING the guests.  That's not correct.  You would sit at the sweetheart table turned to face each other, and talk to each other for just about the only moment you can do that all day.  It was a total relief for us to sit down and talk quietly to each other for a moment.  And because we're not facing the guests totally, like the head table WOULD, no one was watching us eat.  They got some kind of profile look at us, IF they even looked at us.

nessavll

We are planning on doing a sweetheart table also. Every member of our bridal party has a significant other attending the wedding and I didn't want these people to feel left out or have to sit alone. Our immediate family will be seated at tables surrounding ours.

klwpaz

We will sit at a large family table with both of our parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. We have rectangular tables and are putting a couple together, the same way the rest of the guest tables will be set up. WP are sitting with their SOs at guest tables with the people they know best (their parents, other close friends).

crash2729

We had a sweetheart table because that's what our venue had room for. H and I sat next to each other, but we had our family at round tables around our tables. 

I don't think anyone was watching us eat...and if they were I was definitely not paying attention to them.

Mrs.B6302007

We had a sweetheart table.  We ate while the guests were going through the buffet so I don't think anyone was really staring at us. Then we made our rounds while they were eating.  We probably used the table all of 20 minutes.  Oh, I did sit down and rest for about 10 minutes during the dancing and have a water break.

mkrupar

We were able to fit us, WP, and SOs at one round table. If we hadn't been able to do that we probably would have sat with our parents, and the WP with people they knew. There are a variety of options, and figuring out what works best for you is what you need to do.

Except don't do a head table, that's for sure asking people to stare at you while you eat. :-)

kateguess22

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sweetheart-table-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:50bc97fe-14bc-4d75-8215-c29d7dc4c127Post:d0eced80-9583-4b0d-b34a-76aa89e81bb6">Sweetheart table</a>:
[QUOTE]So I know the sweetheart table is a huge trend, but for me, the thought of having everyone at the reception watching my FI and I eat dinner weirds me out. Plus I feel like I invited everyone, I don't want to be separated from everyone. What are yalls thoughts on sweetheart tables.
Posted by LaurenRae25[/QUOTE]

I'm with you. I'd much rather eat with our guests. Our fantasy is having ALL of our guests at one long table all together. Might not work out logistically, but we definitely don't want to be at a "stage" type table where our guests watch us eat whether that's a sweetheart table or a head table.

melb2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sweetheart-table-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:50bc97fe-14bc-4d75-8215-c29d7dc4c127Post:d0eced80-9583-4b0d-b34a-76aa89e81bb6">Sweetheart table</a>:
[QUOTE]So I know the sweetheart table is a huge trend, but for me, the thought of having everyone at the reception watching my FI and I eat dinner weirds me out. Plus I feel like I invited everyone, I don't want to be separated from everyone. What are yalls thoughts on sweetheart tables.
Posted by LaurenRae25[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I'm with you, OP.  I realize they're hugely popular, but I feel they're very "omg look at me!" and I would just feel weird not eating with my friends and family.

</div>

melb2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sweetheart-table-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:50bc97fe-14bc-4d75-8215-c29d7dc4c127Post:607ec505-32ea-488b-98d8-4cb8beb734b4">Re: Sweetheart table</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Sweetheart table : This!  <strong>I feel like on TK, there are only two options ever discussed - head table(s) or sweetheart table. </strong> But you can also do it the way Lynda explains above.  We did it similarly - we sat the WP at tables that made sense socially, not all at one or two tables simply because they were all people wearing matching clothes for the evening.  We sat at an actual table ourselves, with the MOH, BM, SOs, and two other very, very close couples. 
Posted by ECook25[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Very true!  We're sitting at a table with our MOH and BM and their SOs and our parents.  The BM is also the only sibling between us.  It's a regular table, not a head table.  Everyone else is being seated where it makes sense for them to sit.  So many different ways of doing it besides a sweetheart table or a head table.

</div>

Ali092011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sweetheart-table-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:50bc97fe-14bc-4d75-8215-c29d7dc4c127Post:aa34e1aa-3699-4e1a-852e-963a930fea25">Re: Sweetheart table</a>:
[QUOTE]Sounds like you think that you and FI would sit at the sweetheart table FACING the guests.  That's not correct.  You would sit at the sweetheart table turned to face each other, and talk to each other for just about the only moment you can do that all day.  It was a total relief for us to sit down and talk quietly to each other for a moment.  And because we're not facing the guests totally, like the head table WOULD, no one was watching us eat.  They got some kind of profile look at us, IF they even looked at us.
Posted by Kristin789[/QUOTE]

I hadn't thought about it that way. I was nervous about people watching us eat, too, but that makes total sense to me. FI and I have already promised each other to find some way to have alone time at the reception. I love the idea of being able to talk over dinner before making the rounds to each table. Good points!

bunni727

H and I just had a couple of chairs at the cake table. It was right in the middle of everyone instead of being spotlighted on one end, and we weren't sitting long enough to have anyone stare at us.