Introducing the sweetheart table! As you have been told many times before, your wedding day will blissfully fly by. Our real wedding couples, who all seem to be singing from the same song sheet, provide us with incredible advice on a daily basis, ensuring that couples make time for one another on their very special wedding day. With that being said, we couldn't think of a more enjoyable way, than during your wedding reception whilst enjoying your scrumptious wedding meal! Why not think of sitting back and enjoying every moment with your spouse while savouring every feeling, smile, and laugh from the room full of loved ones around you before dancing the night away? While this option is not for everyone, we have done a deep dive into the intimate seating trend to give you a full round-up of everything you should know before considering if this option is for you. Keep reading...

What is a Wedding Sweetheart Table?

The sweetheart table is just what you may imagine, a table, just for two, at the top of the room that allows the newlyweds to sit together and enjoy their wedding meal in their own company. Of course, as with anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to forgoing the top table at your wedding in favour of a much more intimate setup. We have broken them down for you below:

The Pros:

1. It simplifies seating plans! The top table usually hosts the newlyweds, their parents and the best man and maid of honour but sometimes it can be difficult to know where to draw the line if you're a close family with a lot of family members! You don't want to upset anyone by not including them and you don't want to make anyone uncomfortable by separating them from their spouse/partner. The sweetheart table option cuts out a huge chunk of the stress of figuring out who sits where, allowing your bridal party to sit with their partners which means nobody is left out and in turn, everyone feels more comfortable.
2. It gives you quality time together. You only get one wedding day (all going well!) so it makes sense you want to soak up as much of it as possible with your partner. The formalities of the long-awaited day mean quality time with your other half to have a natter and a giggle are few and far between the ceremony, photographs and catching up with everyone in between are special moments but they don't allow for proper one-on-one time. So sitting together to enjoy your wedding meal, looking out at a room full of the people that mean the world to you is a very special and unique opportunity. You can focus on each other and take in those emotional speeches together before hitting the dance floor later in the night to party with the gang!
3. You'll be more approachable for loved ones to come over and say hi. You rarely get the chance to have all the people you love together in the same room and chances are, try as you might be doing the rounds, you won't get to have a word with everyone in attendance. The good news is, that the sweetheart table makes you more approachable, giving your guests a chance to come to you without any worry of interrupting anything at the busy top table. It cuts out some of the work for you which is winning in our eyes!
4. It creates a cost-effective focal point. A sweetheart table allows you to get your creative juices flowing to create a spectacular seating arrangement that becomes the true focal point of the room. Go all out with candles, flowers, twinkling fairy lights - whatever you please and create a true photo moment for your wedding album. Your budget may not stretch to do this with all the tables in the room but with the sweetheart table being much smaller by nature, you can have some fun with the decor!

Cons:

1. Having less quality time with loved ones. Part of the magic of the wedding day is getting the chance to share these precious moments with your loved ones and your besties. Sitting apart means you'll get less time with them throughout the evening which may not be ideal if you don't get to see them very often or if they live abroad for example. You don't want to have any regrets so suss out the situation and honour the option that is most important to you and your partner!
2. All eyes will be on you! We know, we know, it's your wedding day and all eyes are on you already but if you're a couple who feels uncomfortable in the spotlight, you may feel a bit too exposed sitting alone at the top of the room where you're in plain view for the entire occasion. It's OK to want to blend into the crowd somewhat and let your hair down after the ceremony - it's your day, and you deserve it! The sweetheart table can feel more formal so if you feel your best surrounded by your people, the head table is the best option for you.

Looking for more ideas and planning tips for your wedding day? We have everything you need to know from speech inspiration to ceremony readings.