Head Table for Large BP and Possibly 1s?

I was just at a wedding that had a head table with the whole BP up there and their +1s at a table off to the side together. It was actually really awkward. We're having a sweetheart table for this reason. Not everyone wants to be stuck front and center with you. No offense, but IMO this is way outdated and creates an uncomfortable atmosphere.

We're doing a sweetheart table. I think it's so strange when there's a head table and all the poor dates have to awkwardly sit at a table with each other. Even stranger when the head table has the BPs plus ones, because then it's a table with a bunch of people who don't mean anything to you.

I concur you could do a sweetheart table and sit the bp at tables near you with their plus 1.

Is it an all or nothing with the BPs' 1s?

Personally, I believe the bridal party should always be given a plus one

Should I give them all the option to sit with their 1?

Yes.

What if they all want to sit with plus 1s and then we are left with a sweatheart table (which isn't something I would personally enjoy)?

If they want to sit with their SO, let them. It's your first meal as husband and wife. Don't miss this moment.

We're doing a king's table for us, bp, & plus ones whether they are bringing a date we haven't met or a spouse

KitandKaboodle - Sorry I should clarify they all do have plus ones I was asking if we had the head table would it be like all of them or non of them (so no saying your fiance can sit with us or your wife, but not extendin that to everyone).

Lawmom, what is the setup like for that? How many people will be at your table then?

@Alexis I call head tables the last supper table...they always make me think about Jesus(whom I love dearly)

I would look into having a king's table. We are doing that and I was torn on having it for the BP or family, and in the end we are doing family and will have about 24 people including FH and I sitting there. Here is a picture of the type of layout you could have:

Amy, yah I think that is the route we are going to go. I want to be celebrating with our BP not awkwardly having all the attention on us eating by ourselves. Thanks ladies!

Following this... we have a 10 person BP plus us and parents... then plus ones on top of that! Ack! I do not know if my venue has room for a kings table but it is on my list of questions for next weekend!

Exactly! i want to be around the people we love and have a meal with them, not off to the side. Good luck!

I have a HUGE BP thanks to my ridiculously popular FH. He's been in most of these guys' weddings and refused to go any lower than 8 GMs. Ughhhh, 16 people. I agreed to it, but no ring bearer/flower girl and no ushers. The guys have to do double duty.

We are doing a sweetheart table. 1. Our venue is smallish and the huge table would take up alot of room. 2. Most of his guys are married (3 of their wives are BMs though) and all my girls are taken. I'm just seating the BP and their spouses at tables together. People will know they are BP!

At my brother's wedding, they had a sweetheart table. The bridal party were seated at round tables on each side of the sweetheart. We were able to sit with our plus ones and since it wasn't a true head table, it didn't seem awkward to have the plus ones intermingled. Maybe you could do something similar.

We have a large bridal party, too. We're doing a table with us and the BM and his girlfriend and MOH and her boyfriend--the rest of the BP and their dates will be at other nearby tables.

The 'king table' thing always seems awkward and it takes up a lot of space. most of my couples do a sweetheart with rounds nearby so their BP can sit with their guests (and yes, they all get a +1)

Personally, I DESPISE a sweetheart table. We're having a head table...there are two married couples in our BP, 1 not bringing a guest, and the other's plus ones all have close friends invited to the wedding so they will be sat with them

That's a very good question! I was wondering that myself. Then found out our BP doesn't care to sit with their husbands. The husbands will have to be watching their kids. We only have 2 moh and 2 bms though. Our Mohs/sisters are married, our 2 bms are under the age of 18. I like the kings table idea! I couldn't imagine taking someone away from their plus 1 at a wedding, but they told ME that they were fine with not having them... I didn't even ask them. I have also seen a headtable with the bp facing the crowd and the plus ones on the opposite side with back to the crowd. I love the kings table idea too!

We are doing a head table... we have a huge wedding party (also because of my FH- he wouldn't stop asking people!). We have my MOH, his BM and then 5 bridesmaids, 5 groomsmen, jr bridesmain, jr groomsmen, 2 flower girls and 2 ring bearers. SO... there are 20 of us all together. The adults will be sitting at the head table and we have a separate table for the 6 kids (one other will be joining them as we only have 7 kids coming to the wedding). We have considered alternating our wedding party at the head table so that the couples can sit together for dinner. But honestly, after dinner most people are up and about anyways.

I agree with the Last Supper thing. WHY do we still do head tables? Because generations past did. All of my girls chose to have Sweetheart tables so their BP could be with their SOs/plus one/spouse. The wedding party is tied up all day with getting ready, pictures, wedding, etc. What a thoughtful gesture to seat them with their loved one for dinner. They have been apart almost all day!

We have 12 at our head table. Our actual bridal party is just us, my MOH and FHs bestwoman, our kids who are Jr. groomsmen. It is technically a "family" table. The ushers are MOHs and BWs husband/boyfriend. They also each have two kids who are our FHs and RBs so they will be sitting at the head table with us as well. Their kids will be sitting at the ends so if they get antsy or anything we won't have gaps. Also I work in banquets and have seen so many different style head tables. If you 100% want plus 1s for your bridal party, you could rent a stage if your budget allows it. You and FH could be at the top. Or you could do a sweet heart table and have the bridal party "scattered" through out the room. I've also seen it where there was no head table, the bride & groom were sitting at a normal table with their parents and had their bridal party at tables around them.