Sweetheart Table – Mother of the Bride

Will you have a “Sweetheart Table” or a “Head Table”? What is a “Sweetheart Table” you may ask. On my blog post,“Sweetheart Tables” (click on the link if you’re interested in reading), I talk about the pros and cons of a Sweetheart Table vs a Head Table, and show some beautiful pictures of decorating options. Below, you see a picture of KK and Tyler’s Sweetheart Table. I love the flowers embellishing the table. They lend a romantic air, while keeping a low profile so KK and Tyler could see their guests, and their guest them.

When my husband and I got married 31 + years ago, we had a head table. All of our attendants, (12), and parents were seated there. I think the table and chairs may have even been on risers. It was one BIG LONG table! Chatting was not easy, and I felt awkward. When daughter Maggie married Robert last spring, they had a head table with just their attendants, (12), seated at a big rectangular table. We had three main rooms for dining, which made for interesting dynamics. They were seated in the middle room. I think they enjoyed their meal. They mainly greeted and thanked guests after dinner.

I think KK and Tyler, (see above), sorry for the grainy photo – I enlarged it – were glad they chose the Sweetheart Table. I was very proud of them both. They nibbled a little, but greeted each table and thanked guests for their attendance. But they didn’t eat. I’m not really sure how to insure that a bride and groom DO partake of the food they so painstakingly researched and looked forward to. Maybe the trick is to eat a small meal after photos and before they make a grand entrance into the reception.

And a above, three pictures from our photographer, Hannah Colt, from Power Station Events. I think she just MAY be a genius!

Photos # 1 and 2, Debbie Stauble

Will you have a Sweetheart Table, or head table? So what’s a Sweetheart Table? Well, YOU may know the answer to that question, but to be honest, until I started planning weddings, I didn’t. A Sweetheart Table is a special table just for the bride and groom. The official definition of a Sweetheart Table, according to the wedding gurus at the knot, www.theknot.com, is as follows:

“A sweetheart table is a small table set up for just the bride and groom at the wedding reception. The happy couple sits together, facing their guests, with their wedding attendants and families at tables in close proximity. The advantage is that you get to spend time together and enable your wedding party to sit with family and friends. If you’re not comfortable with being the focal point at the wedding reception, you can have a head table. Your head table can be similar to the other reception tables or it can be a dais table (elevated), to stand out. The head table can consist of all the wedding attendants or include the parents, siblings, grandparents and anyone else who is very close to the bride and groom.”

Maggie and Rob had a head table, as did Kenny and I. I don’t think the newlyweds or Kenny and I would change our choice, but the Sweetheart Table offers perks too. KK and Tyler have chosen to have a Sweetheart Table. One thing their wedding coordinator told them, “Commit to taking a moment at the reception to be alone. Enjoy the happiness around you, enjoy the music, the dancing, the ambiance. It’s over so quickly”. I think a Sweetheart Table allows a couple to do this. Otherwise, your wedding table will effectively be no different to all those loud dinners you’re going to have with your kids in the future on your glass dining table and 6 chairs, in your big semi-detached house. Of course your guests will visit you at your own private little oasis, but hopefully you’ll have a couple of those “Special Moments”…