I'm not sure if I want a head table. My wedding is by far not a traditional wedding. I was going to go with a head table, but my caterer is talking me out of it. What is the trend right now? I don't think my fiance wants a sweet-heart table, because he's freaking out about all eyes on him already.
Youc could sit at a regular round table like other guests with you and your FH's parents or your MOH&BM and their dates. I personally woudl not recommend having a head table if it would break up couples (one at head table, another a regular guest). As a guest at a wedding where FH was a groomsman and I was not in the wedding I did not enjoy having to sit by myself at the ceremony and reception where I hardly knew anyone. Good luck!
we didnt have a head table either. We ended up sitting with our brothers (4 total) and their wives because the MOH/BM and parent options didn't work for us....we considered a Sweetheart table, but I wanted to sit with people and celebrate with them as well as my new husband! I agree that head tables are a bit passe and separating people from their dates during dinner is not great- they arleady spent the ceremony and time taking pictures apart!
We are planning on using a head table, and we are also not having a "traditional wedding".
My main concern was splitting couples up, but when I looked into it more I realized that most invited would have family members there, or friends that I could put together so it wouldn't make them feel awkward...
I think a head table is fun, and I think it will look nice for pictures, and work well with toasts...
We had a "head table" of sorts with just our immediate family members (both sets of parents, our siblings + significant others), for a total of nine people at the table. This only works in the simplest of situations, though (both sets of parents still married to each other and only one sibling each plus his sister's fiance). You might want to consider something similar, where you sit with your siblings and dates or your parents. that way it's not only all eyes on you, and you have meaningful people in your photos. My SIL did the same thing at her wedding two months later.
We are having a non-traditional head table - we're having our bridal party sit with us but not at a long table on display for everyone. We will be seated at the same type of round table as the rest of the guests, ours will just have a slightly larger centerpiece! This way we can sit together without being "on display" as such.
I think many people would find it uncomfortable to be sitting at a table facing the rest of the guests and being watched while eating. I also think a round table is more intimate as you can actually talk to the people at the table :)
I have also seen at weddings where the bride and groom sit with their parents, or their parents + siblings and I thought these were nice ideas as well.
My fiance and I got into a head table debate. I wanted to sit with Best Man, Maid of Honor, Matron of Honor, and their spouses/dates, and have the rest of the wedding party and their spouses/dates at a separate table (regular round tables, which fiance didn't like at all). Fiance wanted to have a head table with the wedding party, and have all the spouses/dates sat out separately (I was strongly against separating the couples). Another option considered was to have a two-tiered head table with all of the wedding party with their spouses and dates, but neither of us liked that option.
The compromise: a sweetheart table for us, members of the wedding party that are family sat with our respective families, and the rest of the wedding party and their dates/spouses at one round table. I wasn't too keen on the sweetheart table, since it's so separate, but as fiance pointed out it'll make us visible for toasts, and we won't be sitting there for long.
One of the florists we interviewed told us the sweetheart table is pretty popular right now, since more people have bridesmaids and groomsmen who are married and want to sit with their spouses - there just isn't enough room for everyone at a head table.
Well, I took a slightly different approach and we are having one large long head table. I didn't want to separate the dates from the wedding party (as I know most of them very well also) but I wanted the traditional table. Therefore, we will all sit at one long table, but set normally (people on both sides) with one execption - no one will sit across from us. This leaves us open to the guests for photos, but also less on display. For the two singles that might bring dates, everyone will be looking at us and we plan to sit them towards the end with back facing most of the guest so they don't feel on display.
I have no clue what we're doing yet, but I was thinking maybe you could do the regular tables that you are doing for your guests but maybe do extra special linens just for the "head" tables? And I also like the idea of a different centerpiece -- just be careful that you dont have one that is too big so that peopel wont be able to take pictures of you, because they will want to!!
i had a head table which was an easy arrangement bc our bridal party consist of siblings and their SO/hubby and couple friends we knew so we didn't have to split anybody up.
we're not having a head table but rather sitting at a regular round table with our brothers/sister. It works out because it's me and FH, Bro and GF, FBIL and GF and FSIL and BF which is a nice round 8. Doesn't always work for everyone.
We did have a head table - one long table - mostly because I was worried about the politics of trying to split our families into two regular sized round tables. I really wish that we hadn't. First of all, the long table makes it quite difficult to actually talk to your loved ones - and we found we had little enough time to really talk with people anyway. Second, we found that everybody (except his family, but that's another story) was spending so much time socializing - and this included us - that we were never really all sitting at the head table. Overall, it seemed to artifically separate us from our guests in a way that I just didn't like.
<span class="postby">roseskier1- My fiance and I just discussed this as an option the other night, and we were wondering if it was a totally crazy idea! Have you seen it done before or seen any photos? I love the idea but I'm a bit nervous it will come off looking odd. Anyone else seen this done?
subee - I haven't seen a photo of what we're thinking. Saw a long table where they did a semi circle at the end and the bride and groom sat there, together at the head which gave me the idea. As for the option I discussed, I think it will work for us because we're not really separating that table from the rest. We plan to be in front of the dance floor, but there will be tables all the way up to the ends of our table - in a circle around the dance floor if you will. There might actually even be a few rounds behind us (the room is square and the dance floor is in the very center). I think if we were totally separated from the other tables it might be strange, but since we'll blend into the room but maintain the focus on /access to us, then it will work.
Thanks, roseskier1. I think I'm picturing what you described. I just liked your idea of maintaining the "head table" in a way that doesn't separate the wedding party from their SOs. Like the OP, my fiance is very anti-sweetheart table because he doesn't want all eyes on him-nevermind that all eyes will be on us all night anyway!
I'm not sure if I want a head table. My wedding is by far not a traditional wedding. I was going to go with a head table, but my caterer is talking me out of it. What is the trend right now? I don't think my fiance wants a sweet-heart table, because he's freaking out about all eyes on him already.
posted by nortona 18 posts 3 months agoYouc could sit at a regular round table like other guests with you and your FH's parents or your MOH&BM and their dates. I personally woudl not recommend having a head table if it would break up couples (one at head table, another a regular guest). As a guest at a wedding where FH was a groomsman and I was not in the wedding I did not enjoy having to sit by myself at the ceremony and reception where I hardly knew anyone. Good luck!
posted by pinotnoir 41 posts 3 months agowe didnt have a head table either. We ended up sitting with our brothers (4 total) and their wives because the MOH/BM and parent options didn't work for us....we considered a Sweetheart table, but I wanted to sit with people and celebrate with them as well as my new husband! I agree that head tables are a bit passe and separating people from their dates during dinner is not great- they arleady spent the ceremony and time taking pictures apart!
posted by Janna19 343 posts 3 months agoWe are planning on using a head table, and we are also not having a "traditional wedding".
My main concern was splitting couples up, but when I looked into it more I realized that most invited would have family members there, or friends that I could put together so it wouldn't make them feel awkward...
I think a head table is fun, and I think it will look nice for pictures, and work well with toasts...
But, I don't think it is necessary. :)
Good Luck!
posted by cassiereanne 76 posts 3 months agoWe had a "head table" of sorts with just our immediate family members (both sets of parents, our siblings + significant others), for a total of nine people at the table. This only works in the simplest of situations, though (both sets of parents still married to each other and only one sibling each plus his sister's fiance). You might want to consider something similar, where you sit with your siblings and dates or your parents. that way it's not only all eyes on you, and you have meaningful people in your photos. My SIL did the same thing at her wedding two months later.
posted by mrsbear 26 posts 3 months agoWe are having a non-traditional head table - we're having our bridal party sit with us but not at a long table on display for everyone. We will be seated at the same type of round table as the rest of the guests, ours will just have a slightly larger centerpiece! This way we can sit together without being "on display" as such.
I think many people would find it uncomfortable to be sitting at a table facing the rest of the guests and being watched while eating. I also think a round table is more intimate as you can actually talk to the people at the table :)
I have also seen at weddings where the bride and groom sit with their parents, or their parents + siblings and I thought these were nice ideas as well.
posted by MsB 212 posts 3 months agoMy fiance and I got into a head table debate. I wanted to sit with Best Man, Maid of Honor, Matron of Honor, and their spouses/dates, and have the rest of the wedding party and their spouses/dates at a separate table (regular round tables, which fiance didn't like at all). Fiance wanted to have a head table with the wedding party, and have all the spouses/dates sat out separately (I was strongly against separating the couples). Another option considered was to have a two-tiered head table with all of the wedding party with their spouses and dates, but neither of us liked that option.
The compromise: a sweetheart table for us, members of the wedding party that are family sat with our respective families, and the rest of the wedding party and their dates/spouses at one round table. I wasn't too keen on the sweetheart table, since it's so separate, but as fiance pointed out it'll make us visible for toasts, and we won't be sitting there for long.
One of the florists we interviewed told us the sweetheart table is pretty popular right now, since more people have bridesmaids and groomsmen who are married and want to sit with their spouses - there just isn't enough room for everyone at a head table.
posted by Pengwen 57 posts 3 months agoWell, I took a slightly different approach and we are having one large long head table. I didn't want to separate the dates from the wedding party (as I know most of them very well also) but I wanted the traditional table. Therefore, we will all sit at one long table, but set normally (people on both sides) with one execption - no one will sit across from us. This leaves us open to the guests for photos, but also less on display. For the two singles that might bring dates, everyone will be looking at us and we plan to sit them towards the end with back facing most of the guest so they don't feel on display.
posted by roseskier1 65 posts 3 months agoI have no clue what we're doing yet, but I was thinking maybe you could do the regular tables that you are doing for your guests but maybe do extra special linens just for the "head" tables? And I also like the idea of a different centerpiece -- just be careful that you dont have one that is too big so that peopel wont be able to take pictures of you, because they will want to!!
posted by HumarockBride 182 posts 3 months agoi had a head table which was an easy arrangement bc our bridal party consist of siblings and their SO/hubby and couple friends we knew so we didn't have to split anybody up.
posted by melbride 95 posts 3 months agowe're not having a head table but rather sitting at a regular round table with our brothers/sister. It works out because it's me and FH, Bro and GF, FBIL and GF and FSIL and BF which is a nice round 8. Doesn't always work for everyone.
posted by PrettyKitty 38 posts 3 months agoWe did have a head table - one long table - mostly because I was worried about the politics of trying to split our families into two regular sized round tables. I really wish that we hadn't. First of all, the long table makes it quite difficult to actually talk to your loved ones - and we found we had little enough time to really talk with people anyway. Second, we found that everybody (except his family, but that's another story) was spending so much time socializing - and this included us - that we were never really all sitting at the head table. Overall, it seemed to artifically separate us from our guests in a way that I just didn't like.
posted by suzanno 1,978 posts 3 months ago<span class="postby">roseskier1- My fiance and I just discussed this as an option the other night, and we were wondering if it was a totally crazy idea! Have you seen it done before or seen any photos? I love the idea but I'm a bit nervous it will come off looking odd. Anyone else seen this done?
posted by subee 33 posts 3 months agosubee what are you referring to?
I always thought sweetheart tables are weird. You are up there by yourself and I feel like you are on display.
posted by ebm 4 posts 3 months agosubee - I haven't seen a photo of what we're thinking. Saw a long table where they did a semi circle at the end and the bride and groom sat there, together at the head which gave me the idea. As for the option I discussed, I think it will work for us because we're not really separating that table from the rest. We plan to be in front of the dance floor, but there will be tables all the way up to the ends of our table - in a circle around the dance floor if you will. There might actually even be a few rounds behind us (the room is square and the dance floor is in the very center). I think if we were totally separated from the other tables it might be strange, but since we'll blend into the room but maintain the focus on /access to us, then it will work.
posted by roseskier1 65 posts 3 months agoThanks, roseskier1. I think I'm picturing what you described. I just liked your idea of maintaining the "head table" in a way that doesn't separate the wedding party from their SOs. Like the OP, my fiance is very anti-sweetheart table because he doesn't want all eyes on him-nevermind that all eyes will be on us all night anyway!
posted by subee 33 posts 3 months agowe're not having assigned seating. We're having a cocktail inspired wedding. There will only be one reserved table with our folks, grandparents etc
posted by AHotPinkPetticoat 33 posts 3 months ago