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Expert September 2018

Should i have a table for the wedding party?

Jody, on August 16, 2018 at 10:26 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 12
Because our wedding is smal (50 people) and it’s a cocktail reception as opposed to a sit down dinner, I wasn’t planning to do any kind of assigned seating or tables, other than a sweetheart table for myself and FH.

But now Im thinking maybe I should have a table for the wedding party??? Would it be okay to mark one table “reserved for wedding party” and do open seating for everyone else? Would that be awkward? Then of course I start thinking about MIL and her husband, I hadn’t planned on any kind of parents table (because it’s just them and my dad) but I don’t want FHs mom feeling left out of heaven forbid offended!

Whats the consensus?

12 Comments

Latest activity by Jody, on August 17, 2018 at 4:31 PM
  • Tracey & Dr. Julian
    Devoted August 2019
    Tracey & Dr. Julian ·
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    I recently went to a wedding that had open seating but had two tables reserved for the wedding party. It was decorated differently than the other tables and did not have a sign. Everyone attempted to sit there. But was told verbally they can’t. I would advise you put a pretty reserved sign on the table. So people are aware.
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  • Kay
    Super November 2018
    Kay ·
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    If you aren't serving a meal, I would avoid doing any assigned seating. It's rude to chose for some and not everyone. Also, the sweat heart table seems random, why are you going to be sitting, just the two of you, as all your guests stand and mingle?

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  • J
    Expert September 2018
    Jody ·
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    Lol, oh come on! You think I would sit and make my guests stand??? There will be tables and seating for all, plus a few tall bar tables to stand at. I just wasn’t sure if I should reserve one of the seated tables for the wedding party.
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  • Kay
    Super November 2018
    Kay ·
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    I assume some guests would be sitting but it would be kind of weird to sit by yourselves while people are not formally sitting, as in everyone not sitting all at the same time. Most people say you barely even get to eat or sit at your own wedding and that's when there is an actual meal served, so just seems unlikely and would look odd that you are off sitting on your own whilst so many are mingling...why would everyone sit down at the same time or necessarily all if they are just eating appetizers?

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  • J
    Expert September 2018
    Jody ·
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    Thats one thing I’m worried about, which makes me think it might just be better to leave it all open seating.
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  • J
    Expert September 2018
    Jody ·
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    Its pretty heavy apps (buffet and pass around) so I am assuming they will sit to eat, as will we at some point, but you’re right, maybe not all at the same time. I just thought a sweetheart table might be nice so we could have a place to sit, catch our breath, grab a bite. But maybe we should just skip it and do it 100 percent open seating.
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  • Kay
    Super November 2018
    Kay ·
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    Hmmmm I see, you will have a buffet. That definitely means more people will sit and probably a big bulk once the buffet opens. That would make the sweetheart table not stand out as much but then there is that pressure of who to sit with. I think since you are having food that will require people to sit, you can do the sweet heart table and in reality you probably wont sit there long but it allows you to actually make sure to eat something and have a moment together.

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  • J
    Expert September 2018
    Jody ·
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    Yes, and I definitely want to make sure we eat something!
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  • AQuixoticBride
    VIP July 2018
    AQuixoticBride ·
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    I had the same set up at our wedding. There was a table reserved for us and we were served our food as opposed to going through the stations. So we were able to eat together before mingling with everyone. I did reserve a table for our parents with a small sign. I just wanted my parents to be close to us and my parents to have dedicated seating there because they are 80 and 94. But, we did not reserve tables for the wedding party. There was nothing awkward about it.
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  • J
    Expert September 2018
    Jody ·
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    Okay good, that’s kind of what we were thinking. And the only reason we thought about doing a wedding party table is because our wedding party is almost all family. But if I did that I might have to do something for Fmil, who prob wouldn’t want to sit with the wedding party (family issues and drama, lol) so maybe I’ll just keep all seating open. It’s not a huge venue so not like the wedding party would end up at some distant table.
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  • Amy
    Devoted July 2018
    Amy ·
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    My BILs did something similar at their wedding, they had a sweetheart table that was decorated a bit more than the other tables and open seating for everyone else (they had a food truck catering so things were pretty laid back structure-wise). They sat at their table during the speeches, etc and it worked out great! With the more laid-back vibe the unassigned seating was perfect, it was nice they had a specific spot for themselves (even if they weren't sitting there for too much of the night) but it definitely wasn't necessary to reserve spots for anyone else as everyone moved around so much.

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  • J
    Expert September 2018
    Jody ·
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    Okay, good to know! Ours is definitely not super formal, we want more of a fun party vibe. But I did want a table for FH and I so we could at least take breaks and maybe be able to eat! I was just concerned that completely open seating for guests might feel odd. It’s a smallish venue and small wedding party, so hopefully it will be fine!
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