The head table is wherever the bride and groom sit, and is, understandably, the focus of the reception. It is usually front and center in the room, and near the dance floor. The table is situated to allow guests a perfect view of you and your groom. While the tradition of a head table is still quite popular, there are now many options for seating the bride and groom.

The Bride and Groom

Rather than sitting at a traditional head table, what are our options? A very popular alternative is the sweetheart table, which is a table just for two. Many couples prefer this option because it lets them have a little time together to eat their meal and it also allows the attendants to sit with their spouses/significant others. You can also sit at a “regular” guest table with your families and/or wedding party.

The Head Table

Who should sit at the head table? Traditionally, the bride and groom, bridesmaids, and groomsmen sit at the head table. The bride and groom sit in the middle, with the groom on the bride's left, the best man next to the bride and the maid of honor next to the groom. The ushers and bridesmaids then sit on alternating sides of the bride and groom. Child attendants should sit at a regular table with their parents.

We're having a rather large wedding party. How should we handle the head table? A large head table is fine for a large wedding. Sometimes, two rows of tables, with one on a riser directly behind the other, can accommodate a large wedding party. Otherwise, you and your groom can sit at a sweetheart table and let your wedding party sit with their spouses, or you could sit with your honor attendants at the head table and seat the rest of your attendants together at guest tables.

The Families and Wedding Party

If we have a sweetheart table, where does the wedding party sit? Most of the time, the wedding party would sit at one or two guest tables designated for them. They could also sit with their spouses throughout the room. Sometimes, a long table is set up behind the sweetheart table and the wedding party can sit there.

My mother believes that parents should sit at the head table with the bride and groom, but I only want the wedding party at the head table. Is my mother right? The head table is usually reserved for the members of the wedding party; parents usually sit at separate tables with their families. There's no single correct seating arrangement for the parents, however. The bride and groom's parents can sit together, or each set of parents can host their own table with family and friends. The officiant and his spouse should be seated at one of the parent's tables.