Here’s an email question from a reader who isn’t a bride-to-be, but still has a good point for engaged couples to consider:
Dear Divas,
In just a few weeks, I’ll be traveling to attend a wedding with my boyfriend in his hometown. He is a groomsman in the wedding party, so I’m sure we’ll be separated the entire time even though I won’t know anyone else there. He really wants me to come meet all of his friends from home, and I’m okay with sitting alone for the most part, but I’m curious—have you heard of anything the bride and groom could do to make it easier for the wedding party to engage with their own dates?
Thanks,
The Significant Other
…
Dear S.O.,
We completely understand your dilemma—in fact, many wedding party members debate over whether or not they should even invite dates just because they know they’ll spend so little time together. We think the best way to survive is to smile, be your friendly self and make new friends.
For those of you who are planning your weddings, however, this is a nice detail to consider. Many of the people in your wedding party will be inviting dates—have you thought about where they will sit?
One great option is to have a sweetheart table where just you and your new spouse will sit instead of a head table for the entire bridal party. This setup encourages guests to come by and chat with you while also letting your bridesmaids and groomsmen sit where they please. Plus, you can often steal a private moment in the middle of the chaos.
If you’re tied to the idea of a head table, consider letting all of the dates sit together at one table or have your parents sit with you at the head table to free up your bridesmaids and groomsmen to sit with their dates.
Remember—whatever seating arrangement you choose, it’s always nice to ask your wedding party for their opinions first!
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Personally, I like the idea. We’ve done flowers for a few receptions with sweetheart tables, especially smaller, more intimate weddings. I’m pretty sure most couples plan seating arrangements with their guests in mind, but it’s pretty difficult for most couples to break from tradition.