Depending on who you ask, the sweetheart table is either a great piece of wedding reception décor, a wonderful respite for newlyweds or a horrible tradition that puts the happy couple in an uncomfortable display. Understanding its purposes is important when you’re deciding whether to follow it for your own nuptials. Like many other customs, you can take a flexible approach and adapt it to better fit your own needs.
Sweetheart Table Basics
Information about the sweetheart table’s origins is hard to find. Wedding planner and Huffington Post columnist Sandy Malone argues against the trend, opining that it “went out in the 1980s.” However, the basic idea behind the custom is that it allows the newly married couple to have a private space to sit exclusively with each other during the wedding reception. Often, the table is elaborately ornamented to either complement or match the reception’s décor scheme. As The Knot points out, the table’s placement usually has the couple facing all their guests and can make them a visual focal point during the festivities.
Some Pros and Cons to Consider
As Malone reveals in her June 2014 Huffington Post piece, more couples favor the inclusion of a head table in their reception seating, since it permits them to sit with their parents and wedding party. However, Inside Weddings points out that sweetheart tables offer several advantages:
- They allow you to spend time alone with your new spouse.
- Your wedding party members can better mingle with each other and attendees.
- You’ll have more incentive to leave the table and spend time with your guests.
Meanwhile, The Knot writer Maggie Seaver explains that they can also open up possible solutions to common reception seating challenges, such as dealing with divorced parents. On the other hand, Seaver cautions readers that a separate sweetheart table can inadvertently discourage guests from stopping by to chat during your afterparty. Moreover, introverted newlyweds could experience more anxiety sitting at a sweetheart table, especially if it’s placed in a prominent location that makes them the center of attention.
Tips for Placing and Decorating Your Table
Brides contributor Jaimie Mackey describes several ideas for sweetheart table décor in a September 2016 article. With that said, there’s a huge range of ideas to help you craft a unique look and feel for your own. The primary goal is to give yours a few (or many) extra touches that distinguish it from the other tables in your venue, and how you pull that off is entirely up to you.
If you’re uncomfortable with the extra attention you might receive with a sweetheart table, you could try placing it in a slightly more secluded part of the dining area. Alternatively, BridalPulse’s Emma Arendoski suggests combining the two concepts of a head table with a sweetheart table by placing the latter at the end of the former, with two seats right next to each other for the happy couple to sit at the end. This will permit you to mingle with your parents and wedding party while giving you an excuse to use a few standout décor ideas for the smaller table. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll need to make your floor plan carefully, ensuring that there’s enough room for traffic to flow around the combined tables.
Small Details Create Your Event’s Atmosphere
The purpose of your wedding is to publicly declare your love for one another, but you also want to ensure that you and your guests are comfortable. Selecting a sweetheart table or a head table is up to you, but considering the advantages of both options as well as carefully planning your seating and décor choices will help you weave the right atmosphere for your special day.
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