Overheard At Your Wedding “I Hate the Head Table”
It doesn’t matter how gorgeous your head table or wedding is, as seen above, you risk isolating many of your guests and close friends by obligating them to a head table. I am so happy when I see couples opt out of the antiquated tradition, and look to sweetheart tables instead. At a recent wedding, I was pulled aside by a guest who asked to speak with me about the seating arrangements. The first words out of her mouth were, “I hate the head table”. As we talked more, I learned that she was the fiancée of one of the groomsmen, and she was seated at a table far from him with a group of gentleman that she didn’t know. “It was so uncomfortable”, she said. “They all knew each other, but I knew no one there”. Her fiancé later joined the conversation and agreed that he, too, felt bad that she was alone and he couldn’t be with her. I was given specific instructions to tell all my brides to “ditch the head table”.
No one likes to fee that way—isolated, uncomfortable and far from those that you have a connection with or know. This is what you risk doing with a head table, as well as a “bridesmaids’/groomsmen’s” table. Your bridal party will have been together all day with getting dressed, as well as extended pictures before and after the ceremony. Is there really need to have them away from their significant others an additional hour during dinner?
Of course, ultimately my suggestion would be to avoid the head table altogether and have a gorgeous sweetheart table that you can embellish and adorn for you and your new Mr. Just like your bridal party needs this time to “come down” and reunite with their wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends and children—you will need this time, too. The rest of your evening, albeit fun, will be filled with structure and activities. Having a semi-intimate dinner with your new spouse will allow you a private moment to take it all in and slow down to get a bite to eat.
If you are absolutely dead-set on having a head table, then you need to include the significant others of the bridal party at the table. This, in turn will make your head table larger and possibly distort your optimal design for your reception. You could opt for separate bridesmaids?? and groomsmen’s tables, but again—be sure to include their significant others.
Remember, your wedding is a celebration of your day, but should not be a sore note for your guests and bridal party.
Photo :: Michael Steighner