I am trying to make a seating arrangement for my wedding reception. We decided to have a head table with our bridal party. That alone is ten people. I was planning on having all my girls on my side and all the men on my hubby's side. Four of the people in our bridal party are bringing dates. We hardly know these people. I put them all at a table together with a couple singles, but then someone told me i need to seat these dates at the head table too. Is that right? If I can seat them elsewhere do i need to sit their table right next to the head table or can they be further away. I was trying to keep our family closest and like i said we hardly know these dates of our wedding party. Ahhhh! Help! What do I do?
2007-09-14 14:25:53 · 14 answers · asked by Katie O 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
we are having a head table and nine others. the head table and #1-4 is on one side of the dance floor. Table #'s 5-9 are on the opposite side of the dance floor if that helps at all.
2007-09-14 14:27:16 · update #1
You absolutely do NOT seat the dates at the head table. That is reserved for the bridal party only. You may seat the dates wherever you wish, but I would put them all at the same table. They will all have something in common to talk about, being the other halves, anyway. lol
It is up to you where you want to put their table. I've been the other half of a bridal party member several times. A few times close to the head table, and a few far away. The only time I was ever bothered was when my fiance was the best man, and I was seated at the last table (#50 - there were 500 people!) and I couldn't even see him from where I was. I probably wouldn't have cared as much if the bride didn't seat her bridesmaid's partners right next to the head table. It's best to keep them all together.
2007-09-14 14:31:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Ugh- the worst is when you are a date of a bridal party member and you are stuck at a table where you don't know a soul. For my wedding, we did a "mini" head table, where we had the bride, groom, best man (who didn't bring a date), and matron of honor (whose husband knew everyone there anyways, and was seated at the parent's table, since he was the brother in law of the bride). We put all the groomsmen and their dates at one table, and all the bridesmaids and their dates at another table. It worked out perfectly. The dates of the bridal party who did not know anyone were very appreciative, and the bridal party liked being able to sit with their dates.
In reading the above posts, I see that some are concerned about taking away the "specialness" from the bridal party if they are not seated at the head table. As a bridesmaid, I felt special when I was standing up during the ceremony, helping the bride, and during all the pictures. I didn't need to feel special at the reception when all I wanted was a glass of wine and food, because I hadn't eaten since 6am and would like to silently stuff myself without being on stage. In addition, at the bridal table you can only make conversation to the person to the immediate right and left of you. I didn't really have that much in common with the bride's 15 year old cousin on the left, or the bride's drunk sorority sister from Alabama on my right. I enjoyed sitting with my own friends/family, as weddings and funerals are the rare events when everyone gets together.
2007-09-14 22:32:48 · answer #2 · answered by dma 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your plan is correct having "your girls" on your side and "his guys" on his side down the head table; flower girl and ring boy a the ends (if old enough). This table is a semi-private party, per say.
The guests/spouses of these people should sit at a table on the floor with the other guests, in the middle, near the front/head table.
Typically the first tables (his side/her side) on the floor closest to the head table are the parents/immediate family.
Mind you, if some of the guests of people from the head table are immediate family, then I'd sit them with parents table. You can then fill in with single couples, close friends.
Good luck
2007-09-14 21:35:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, that person is wrong. Dates are hardly ever seated at the head table. I've only seen it done once and it was my best friends wedding. Everyone except for myself and one of the groomsmen were married to eachother in the wedding party so in keeping with the couples theme she had going at the head table she wanted our spouses to sit with us as well. I have seen more often the couple sitting at a sweetheart table and the bridal party seated with the guests at regular tables, but their dates sit at those tables with them, maybe thats what your friend was thinking of.
2007-09-14 21:32:14 · answer #4 · answered by kateqd30 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I choose to include the dates of my bridal party. Here's why...I went to a wedding and my husband was in the wedding party. I didn't know anybody there. The wedding was out of town, the groomsmen didn't even know the bridesmaids. These were all old college roommates. I felt so excluded and there was nothing for me to do and there was nothing I could do to help. I asked.
So at our wedding I took that into consideration. I chose to include the guests of those in the wedding party. This way, they got to sit with their Significant Other or Spouse instead of at a table with complete strangers. I had more people come up to me and thanking me for not separating them and they really felt included in the process.
It's your choice. If the wedding party and wedding guests all know each other, you can chose to not sit them together. However, if they are complete strangers, then perhaps it would be good to extend them that small courtesy.
2007-09-14 21:45:04 · answer #5 · answered by Erin 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We did something cool at my wedding. I always thought that the bridal table was okay but no one could talk to each other or sit by their partners or dates. So we took two of the round guest tables and sat them in front by the dance floor. I had five girls and five guys, but they were tables of eight so everyone was allowed to sit with their dates instead of the partner I set them up with. My husband and I joined my maid of honor, her fiance and the best man and his wife with his two other college buddies that were in the bridal party-all at one table. It was great! Good Luck and remember the wedding is just one day in the rest of your married life with this person.
2007-09-14 21:31:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If YOU want to seat the partners with the bridal party go ahead.
If you only want the bridal party, then seat them all together at a table close to the bridal party.
2007-09-14 21:41:21 · answer #7 · answered by Terri 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You said it yourself--the head table is for the wedding party. Everyone should be able to be understanding of that.
I think a table close to but not at the head table should be good enough.
2007-09-14 21:28:52 · answer #8 · answered by dkflwr 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dates of the bridal party get seated near the bar at the back of the room hon. Seriously. (it's where they'd want to be anyway...it's always uncomfortable attending someone's wedding that you don't know) The head tables always consist of family and close friends....people that know you VERY well and won't mind being in your wedding pictures. True bridesmaids would understand, but if you need to explain it to them, simply tell them you are doing this for their dates. Explain that you don't want to force them into any uncomfortable situations and that you want your family at those tables. If that fails, turn into bridezilla and play the "my special day" card.
2007-09-14 21:31:49 · answer #9 · answered by Hollynfaith 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
you do not need to seat them at the head table...they can be sat where ever you would like...it's your wedding and they are not part of the bridal party
2007-09-14 21:31:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋