Earn cash as you plan. Get a $20 gift card for every 200 points with The Knot Rewards
Wedding Reception Forum
tigerlily6
member
Options
Head Table v. Sweetheart Table
Hi all,
Just interested in hearing thoughts on sweetheart table vs. traditional head table.
As has been expressed in many posts, the concept of a head table where the bridal party sits but cannot have their dates seems to be rude and in very poor taste, and something I intend to avoid. Putting everybody on one big table seems to be confusing in terms of seating to me, though. We already have more bridesmaids than groomsmen, and more bridesmaids have SOs than the groomsmen (although one bridesmaid is engaged to one of the groomsmen, so whatever we do I want them to be able to sit beside one another). I know that our friend's relationship statuses could change between now and then, and that the groomsmen could just bring a friend or casual date, but if not, I'm not sure how I would have the head table seating arranged.
Currently, I kind of like this setup at the back of the room where the head table would be, but once again, numbers may not match on both sides.
What did you all do /plan to do when it comes to head table v. sweetheart table? Any creative thoughts on how to arrange seating for both when the number of groomsmen and their dates and bridesmaids and dates are different? Did you just stagger them on either side of the bride and groom to make it more even, or what?
Just interested in hearing thoughts on sweetheart table vs. traditional head table.
As has been expressed in many posts, the concept of a head table where the bridal party sits but cannot have their dates seems to be rude and in very poor taste, and something I intend to avoid. Putting everybody on one big table seems to be confusing in terms of seating to me, though. We already have more bridesmaids than groomsmen, and more bridesmaids have SOs than the groomsmen (although one bridesmaid is engaged to one of the groomsmen, so whatever we do I want them to be able to sit beside one another). I know that our friend's relationship statuses could change between now and then, and that the groomsmen could just bring a friend or casual date, but if not, I'm not sure how I would have the head table seating arranged.
Currently, I kind of like this setup at the back of the room where the head table would be, but once again, numbers may not match on both sides.
What did you all do /plan to do when it comes to head table v. sweetheart table? Any creative thoughts on how to arrange seating for both when the number of groomsmen and their dates and bridesmaids and dates are different? Did you just stagger them on either side of the bride and groom to make it more even, or what?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Head Table v. Sweetheart Table
For example, DH's sister and brother were both in our bridal party. They, and their SOs, sat at a table with DH's parents. My sister/MOH and her date sat at a table with our cousins and friends. Best man and bridesmaid sat with friends they knew as well.
It was so much easier to simply treat the bridal party as we treated everyone else and seat them with people they knew.
We sat with the younger members of our WP. Our table was in the middle mixed in with all the other tables.
You can choose to sit with your parents, your MOH and BM (and their dates/sos). Sit with all your siblings (and their dates). There are a lot of options.
My DH was in his sister's wedding. She sat us and his brother (also in the wedding) with his mom. The other WP members sat with their dates and various tables.
The only bridal party members who may not have many other mutual friends are the MOH (+ her boyfriend), and the Best Man (currently single). They are both close friends from our childhoods, and while they're close with our respective parents/siblings, don't really know our college friends and other relatives. So we might have them sit with us.
ETA for clarity.
Also wanted to add, our sweetheart table wasn't exactly front and center, it was off to one side at the end of the tables, so it didn't feel like anyone was staring at us eating, either!
I really liked having just a couple of moments with just my new husband to eat and talk after not seeing each other all day.
We did as PP did also. We had more BM than GM as well. The GM all ended up at the same table because that fit with H's other guests. The BMs ended up being spread out at 3 different tables. Even though my BMs have know each other for years, that was only because of me, so I made sure to sit them with people they knew better and would have more fun with.
And since your MOH & BM may not know anyone else that well, I think it would be good for you to have a regular round table and sit with your MOH & BM and their SOs. The rest of the BP can be spread around the room.
You can either include all of your WP +SOs/dates with you (without having them on one side vs. another), or sit with your family and seat the WP with groups of friends or family.
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."