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Beth
Newbie July 2018 Ontario

Alternatives to the usual head table

Beth, on April 9, 2018 at 14:13 Posted in Wedding reception 0 16
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Hi all,

I was wondering if any of you have (or are going to have) something other than the traditional head table setup. I'd like to be able to communicate with as many of the wedding party members as possible, when we are seated and just want to do something different.

I was thinking of doing four 8-person rectangular tables together (two columns of two, pushed together to form a bigger rectangular table - if that makes sense.). The two of us would sit at the head, and then there would be 6 members of the wedding party on each side, sitting face to face. Do you think that would be too large of a setup? I was also thinking of doing a "T" type shape, with one table along the top and then two single tables running down, but I worry that people may not be able to see my FH and I (a member of the wedding party might be blocking us from view, with that design).

Thoughts?

Thanks Smiley smile


16 Comments

Latest activity by Erin, on April 13, 2018 at 10:39
  • Erin
    Master September 2017 Ontario
    Erin ·
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    It is nice that you want to be able to talk to as many people as possible in your wedding party at dinner. I think your idea sounds great! We opted for a sweetheart table (just the two of us) and then placed everyone else at regular tables.

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  • Alexandra
    VIP November 2019 British Columbia
    Alexandra ·
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    Thanks! See we have 6 bridesmaids and 6 groomsman and we weren’t going to be able to get a big enough table in, and my mum wanted to sit with us as is tradition in England. So it just worked out perfectly that for table sizes we could do this and everyone gets to sit with their SOs
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  • Eimear
    Curious June 2018 British Columbia
    Eimear ·
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    I have been looking for something different and this is a great idea!!! must contact my venue to see if we could make something like this work. We don't like the idea of everyone side by side, it is hard to communicate with everyone and we don't like the sweetheart table idea either.

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  • Stephanie
    VIP May 2019 Ontario
    Stephanie ·
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    I have never thought of this idea and I LOVE IT!

    I kind of feel bad to have the bridal party Plus 1's have to sit on their own (although I know it's not a huge deal) but having the parents up beside you I think is SO CUTE!

    We've planned just a long line atm! Or we have liked the idea of us with our maid of honour/best man beside us on a higher stage and then the rest of the bridal party down a level in from of us!

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  • Candace
    VIP May 2019 Ontario
    Candace ·
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    We are doing a traditional head table but our friends just went to a wedding that had a really unique set up. They had a small wedding so my friend was saying the bride and the groom had a sweetheart table in the middle of the room and our rectangular tables all around them to make a large rectangle around them (they had square tables at one end so there was a gap) and then when they did the first dance they just moved their sweetheart table.
    The bride and groom were talking to most of the guests all throughout the reception part. I think they did speeches like that too.
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  • Alexandra
    VIP November 2019 British Columbia
    Alexandra ·
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    My fiancé and I are having a head table with us and our parents, then the bridesmaids, groomsmen and SO’s are sitting at two other tables right next to the head table
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  • Beth
    Newbie July 2018 Ontario
    Beth ·
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    I really like this! Thanks Smiley smile


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  • Beth
    Newbie July 2018 Ontario
    Beth ·
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    Thank you, everyone Smiley smile

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  • Bianca
    Master August 2019 Ontario
    Bianca ·
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    As long as there's enough room in your venue for your vision, I say go for it! It's your wedding and you and your FH should be comfortable. I've seen unconventional seating for the bride and groom before and it all worked out.

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  • Jocelyn
    Expert August 2018 Ontario
    Jocelyn ·
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    Im going for the sweetheart table & "kings table" (i think thats the term- please correct me if it isn't!) for the rest of the bridal party.
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  • Maegan
    Super July 2018 British Columbia
    Maegan ·
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    We arent doing a 'head table' at all... We wanted our wedding party to be able to sit with their SO (end up bein 16 people) so we will just have 2 rounds tables reserved (we dont have a seating plan) for the wedding party.
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  • Courtney
    Super July 2018 Ontario
    Courtney ·
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    We're doing a U-shaped table. I was adamant that our bridal party's plus ones and partners would sit with them so we have 16 people sitting with us hahah.

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  • Jessica
    Super March 2018 Ontario
    Jessica ·
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    I had a U-shaped table, because the venue would only allow that or a King's Table. I thought it was nice because I could see all my wedding party, and still converse with those at the end. I had 10 in my bridal party plus my husband and I, so there were 6 of us length wise facing my guests, and then 3 on each end of the U.

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  • Brittany
    British Columbia
    Brittany ·
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    Are you for sure wanting a head table to be sitting for talking/visiting? The last few weddings I went to, aside from eating and speeches, the bridal party wasn't ever at their table.

    We are doing a sweetheart table, because our 12 person bridal party (4 girls, 8 guys), is A) so lopsided we wouldn't be centered at the table, and B) all with partners outside of the bridal party, so we are doing 3 "Bridal Party" tables, so they can sit with their S.O.

    I like the idea of us having our own 2 person table, because it will allow us to have time to ourselves, just the two of us, between eating, speeches and having to greet/socialize with the rest of the guests.

    Depending on the shape of your room/placement of the dance floor and podium/etc, you could definitely just to a uniquely shaped table to allow for visiting for sure. I just find that people don't stay seated for very long, and if you are, something's going on where you're not talking anyways.

    If you still want the big head table, what about something like this:

    Angled Head TableAlternatives to the usual head table 1

    Then you are able to see them better, but they are still open to the rest of the room?

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  • Beth
    Newbie July 2018 Ontario
    Beth ·
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    Nice! Did the bride and groom seem to have enough room at the end of the table? That's why I was thinking perhaps two rows pushed together.


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  • Stacey
    Frequent user October 2019 Ontario
    Stacey ·
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    Last winter I went to a wedding where my FH was the best man, the head table was a big rectangular table allowing everyone to sit together. It was nice being able to sit with my FH since i only knew a handful of people there. It was similar to this set up below.

    Alternatives to the usual head table 2
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