“Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers, and singers of song.” —Pam Brown
Francis Ralph Potograpiya
“He never looks for praises.
He’s never one to boast.
He just goes on quietly working
For those he loves the most.
His dreams are seldom spoken.
His wants are very few,
And most of the time his worries
Will go unspoken, too.
He’s there –a firm foundation–
Through all our storms of life,
A sturdy hand to hold onto
In times of stress and strife.
A true friend we can turn to
When times are good or bad.
One of our greatest blessings,
The man that we call Dad.”
Wedding planning can be exhausting, and one of the hardest parts is the seating chart. After worrying about where and how your guests will be sitting, some couples forget to seat themselves!
Choosing whether you want to sit close to your bridal party and family or on your own throne as wedding royalty can be a tough choice. The decision between a Head Table and a Sweetheart Table comes down to preference and logistics, but if you and your honey aren’t particularly swayed in one direction over another, here’s some detailed information about both options to help you decide.
In Part One of this topic, we discussed all the perks of a Sweetheart Table over a Head Table. Now it’s time to fully explore the benefits of this grand feasting table design to see if it’s right for you!
Head Tables: For Your Knights and Ladies In Waiting
As mentioned before, Head Tables can come with their own difficulties, but with an appropriately sized bridal party, they can be a perfect fit! Medium to small-sized bridal parties (4-10 people total, including the Bride and Groom) are what Head Tables are literally built for.
Royalty kept only the most trusted people close to them at meals. Without getting too into the history, it was a matter of safety and propriety, which determined where guests were seated. So today, we seat those that the Bride and Groom want to honor closest to them for their friendship and loyalty in their lives. Usually the Best Man and Maid of Honor, these people have helped support the happy couple throughout their relationship and wedding planning mayhem. Placing them next to the newlyweds as a way to honor them give them the thanks they deserve seems only natural.
Family is an enormous part of weddings, and we wouldn’t want anybody to feel left out. Some couples stick everybody who was part of the processional of their ceremony at one table. Meaning the happy couple, the bridal party, all parents, and any other significant members all come together again, essentially creating an XXL Head Table. Here the love birds can be in the thick of all the fun, and surprisingly, it works out flawlessly! Their bridal party, full of people practically family to them already, is sometimes too big. It makes sense to be with them in the middle of the festivities. Your family and closest friends are all going to want to talk to you anyway; you might as well join them so everyone can be able to sit and chat!
Let’s say you don’t particularly care for the spotlight 100% of the time, and you want to be seated with your family. We suggest trying a Family Table. Introverted and family-focused couples love this option, especially when so much stimulation over the course of the day gets to be too much. The extra support you’ll receive surrounded by those already begging at the chance to help will be a relief. This option is also smart for pinching a few pennies since you won’t need to order extra tables and decorations!
Now that you have all the information, good and bad points, make a choice!
Just remember to be true to what you and your significant other want.
Thanks to all of the amazing photographers mentioned above, whose pictures we used to make this collaboration, and all the Florists who help inspire us with these beautiful arrangements!
Wedding planning can be exhausting, and one of the hardest parts is the seating chart. After worrying about where and how your guests will be sitting, some couples forget to seat themselves!
Choosing whether you want to sit close to your bridal party and family or on your own throne as wedding royalty can be a tough choice. The decision between a Head Table and a Sweetheart Table comes down to most couples’ preferences or logistics. If you and your hunny aren’t particularly swayed in one direction over another, here’s some detailed information about both options to help you decide.
Photographer: Plum and Oak Photography, Florist: Native Poppy.
Sweetheart Tables
A Sweetheart Table is exactly what it sounds like: a table meant for only the “Sweethearts,” aka the Bride and Groom. It will be one of the few designated places you and your significant other will be able to–frankly–escape the hordes of your adoring fans. There won’t be many moments over the course of the night where the two of you will be able to have private moments to yourselves, and having a designated seat away from the crowd might be exactly what you need.
Photographer: Elizabeth French Creative, Florals by a family member of the Bride.
A Remote Island Getaway
This table acts as a liferaft in the sea of your enthusiastic family members and will become your perching place for those few precious moments that nobody needs you for anything. Plus, everything on the table only comes in two’s, so you can afford to decorate! Without worrying about making 100+ copies of everything and buying in bulk, you can customize your special space all you want. Make it look like the table of your wildest dreams! (Or your wildest Pinterest boards…)
Having your own table also grants your bridal party the freedom to mingle and pursue their own agendas throughout the night without feeling like they have to ask permission to leave the table. Most bridal party members will also be bringing a date, and they’ll want to be seated close to them. The Sweetheart Table keeps your honored friends out from under the spotlight and can entertain your other guests.
Speaking of bridal parties, have you considered the size of your whole crew? Plus their dates? If you plan on seating only the designated bridal party with you, hopefully, their “Plus Ones” know somebody else to sit and talk with at their tables…
In general, extensive bridal parties tend to look a bit excessive if they’re all seated away from the rest of your guests at a Head Table. A group of people over twelve thick is tough to seat properly, especially if they’re all looking out in the same direction since you wouldn’t want anybody’s back to the rest of your guests. That can mean your head table is now around eighteen feet long! (If you want to talk to the ones at either end, start practicing your smoke signals now.) In this situation, unfortunately, those whom you wanted closest to you can end up not being the most remote.
Photographer: Gipe Photography, Florals by the Bride and Groom.
Musical Chairs
Think back to other occasions where a large group of friends and family got together at a restaurant. One of the biggest seating issues is making others have to get up or scoot their seats in every time you need to get up. Honestly, at your wedding, you only get to sit and relax for a total of about 45 minutes, if you’re lucky, and the toasts are long. You’re going to want every second of that seated peace enjoyed.
This seat-shuffling issue is removed by having a Sweetheart Table. It also makes you seem more approachable to your guests. Nobody wants to cause an inconvenience by imposing themselves on someone else’s space. By removing additional bodies, a direct line of traffic can form between your excited guests to you. Thus, creating a quicker flow of interactions and a more time-efficient process for the event overall.
Sitting at a Sweetheart Table can also be the first gesture a couple can make together in their married lives. It can signify that they are a single united entity forging a future path of their own. Many couples choose this option for that reason and the privacy it allows as well. Whispering sweet nothings in the ear of your freshly wedded spouse, without worrying about an audience, can keep the romance alive on such a crazy day.
With all of this said, the idea of a Sweetheart Table doesn’t sit right with some couples. They want their bridal party right at their sides, or they love the thought of a Head Table’s ability to make a bigger design statement.
Keep an eye out for Part 2 coming next week, where we’ll explore the other side of this decision and all the Head Table benefits!
Whether you have tons of experience being part of a bridal party, or it’s your first time, we’ve collected all you need to know about the roles and duties that they come with. In general, the wedding party–meaning the people the happy couple chooses to stand up with them during the ceremony–is responsible for helping the happy couple plan, stay sane, and cheering them on during the big day. The wedding party’s most commonly known duties include taking photos with the bride and groom on the wedding day, planning special pre-wedding events like the bridal shower or bachelor/bachelorette parties, and helping the bride and groom get ready before the ceremony. They also usually have a special seat at the reception. We understand that every wedding is different depending on how involved family members are or how large the bridal party ends up being. So as a party member, always reach out to the happy couple to offer help!
General Bridal Party (Bridesmaids/Groomsmen/Maid of Honor/Best Man)
Each couple will customize their bridal party to fit their ideal group’s idea for their big day. It’s up to the party members to be available to help make the magic happen as smoothly as possible and offer their services in any way they can. Most couples tend to worry about burdening their friends with the planning details, but if you feel comfortable offering an extra hand anywhere, they’ll be forever grateful. Below, we’ve gathered the general responsibilities expected of all members of the bridal party.
Offer to help with wedding planning and pre-wedding events.
Be knowledgeable of, spread the news about, where the happy couple is registered, when and where the ceremony will be taking place, and where to send gifts.
Help choose wedding day attire and accessories if asked.
Help the Maid of Honor and Best Man with details to plan the bachelor/bachelorette party.
Pay for own wedding attire and travel expenses.
Attend any pre-wedding events. (Depending on if they’re co-ed or not.)
Purchase wedding day attire and accessories promptly as requested by the couple.
Attend the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
Offer the happy couple and their families help and emotional support on the day of the wedding.
At the reception, help make sure everything goes according to plan.
Being social and helping make guests feel welcome.
Getting the party started on the dance floor.
Decorating the getaway vehicle to help give the happy couple a proper send-off.
Attend the send-off or post-wedding brunch.
Maid of Honor
Being chosen as Maid of Honor (MOH) is an incredible honor. Essentially, the bride is asking you to be her go-to for anything she might need, from engagement to the final send-off. Not only are you head of the bridesmaids, but duties also include planning the bachelorette party and being the bride’s right-hand woman on the big day. The bride usually gives this role to a sister or her closest female friend. Before accepting this honor, check out the duties listed below that rest on your capable shoulders. (Anything we’ve italicized is uncommon, although considerate, duties to offer to the bride but can vary depending on the situation.)
Manage the bridesmaids and mediate any conflicts that may arise.
Maintain a level head throughout the bride’s wedding planning.
Oversee and keep track of pre-wedding expenses for the bridesmaids.
Help the bride shop for her wedding dress and bridesmaids’ dresses.
Coordinate any necessary bridesmaid fitting and ensure bridesmaids are getting their dresses and accessories on time.
Offer to address wedding invitations and assist with miscellaneous wedding projects.
Organize and host or co-host the bridal shower.
Organize and plan the bachelorette party.
Offer to help the bride pack for the honeymoon.
Make sure the bridesmaids all arrive at the wedding on time with everything they need.
Assist with the bride’s appearance during the ceremony and rehearsal. (Keep an eye out for smudged makeup or stray hairs and help her with her veil, dress, and arranging her train during the ceremony.)
Hold the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony.
Hold the groom’s ring during the ceremony if asked.
Sign the marriage certificate.
Give a toast to the happy couple at the reception.
Make sure the bride eats and drinks water.
Help transport wedding gifts from the reception.
Best Man
According tohistory, the best man was a groom’s kidnapping accomplice and willing to fight to the death for the bride’s honor. These days, kidnapping is thankfully off the agenda, but the best man still has many important responsibilities. Serving as the groom’s right-hand man throughout the wedding planning process hasn’t changed. He’s also in charge of wrangling the other groomsmen during wedding planning and on the big day. This role is usually filled by the groom’s brother or closest male friend. Below, we’ve listed some of the other duties that come with this title. (The duties in italics are optional and vary depending on the happy couple and their family’s traditions.)
Help manage groomsmen and mediate any conflicts that may arise.
Oversee and keep track of pre-wedding expenses for the groomsmen.
Coordinate suit or tuxedo fittings for all groomsmen and ushers.
Organize and plan the bachelor party.
Offer support to the groom and groomsmen during wedding planning and on the day of the wedding.
Help orchestrate toasts at the rehearsal dinner.
Make sure all groomsmen and ushers arrive at the wedding on time and with everything they need.
Hold the bride’s wedding ring during the ceremony if asked.
Sign the marriage certificate.
Give a toast to the happy couple at the reception.
Coordinate with the happy couple’s parents to ensure all service providers have received the necessary payment and tips.
Other Party Members
Parents of the Groom: The Engagement Party and Rehearsal Dinner are usually the groom’s parents’ responsibility in Western Cultures. Depending on the cultural traditions of each family, this may change.
Parents of the Bride: As mentioned above, in typical western culture, the bride’s parents are the designated Wedding Reception Hosts. Recently, we’ve seen more happy couples become their own reception hosts, so this tradition of “who pays for the wedding” can be adjusted accordingly.
Junior Bridesmaids and Groomsmen: Typically, junior bridal party members are do not attend the Bachelor/Bachelorette parties, but for young adults between 9-15, including them in the bridal party is a great way to get them involved in the big day. They usually stand up with the happy couple during the ceremony and are included in any engagement parties or co-ed bridal showers.
Ring Bearers and Flower Girls: This role is usually reserved for children between 4-8 years old, and responsibility for attendance and attire goes to their parents. It’s recommended to include them in the wedding rehearsal to get a little practice for the big day. Flower Girls traditionally walk right before the bride to scatter petals while ring bearers can be fit into the processional wherever the happy couple sees fit.
Final Notes
The responsibilities we’ve listed usually come pretty naturally since you’re there to support your friends in their love story. So enjoy the day, and always remember to offer your help wherever you can! Being part of this big day is a ton of fun! Planning a wedding isn’t for the faint of heart, and your friends will be forever thankful that you’re there to lean on.
Plus, a bit of fun gift inspiration to get you started.
Not every couple answers the question of who gets a gift the same. With all the mayhem of wedding planning, it’s important to remember the little people who were there for you each step of the way. It’s best if you start with a list of the wedding party and family who’ve been instrumental in planning your wedding or offered support. Mark down gift ideas by each name to thank them for being there through the dress shopping, celebrations, and planning help. If you aren’t sure where to start, browse sites with tons of options, like The Knot Wedding Shop or Amazon.
Maid Of Honor
Bridesmaid wrangler, fashion expert, bachelorette planner, and the person whom you’ve bestowed the highest honor in your party. The gift you give your maid of honor should reflect the starring role she’s played in your life. If you decide on something traditional, like jewelry or a silver compact, personalize the gift with her name or perhaps a phrase or joke meaningful to your relationship.
Olive and Piper Primrose Studs
Buy on OliveAndPiper.com
These chic, oversized earrings are great for your MOH to wear as a sparkly statement piece with their bridesmaid ensemble. They’re also versatile enough to be worn after the wedding to add some sparkle to a little black dress.
Best Man
He’s helped keep you from drowning in wedding planning details, don’t forget to show home much you care! Gift him something the two of you can do together, such as a day at the golf course, or consider a tried-and-true gift, like a personalized pocket watch or pen.
Cooler Chair
Buy on TheKnotShop.com
If your BM is less into the flashy stuff and more about getting out in nature, check out this nifty cooler! Beachgoers, tailgaters, and campers alike will make great use of this chair-cooler combo, and it’ll be part of many gatherings in the future.
The Bridal Party
Your bridesmaids and groomsmen are your ride-or-die crew, so we know you’ll want to find something they’ll love. Some engaged couples like to go ultra-personal and give each person on their wedding party list an entirely different gift. It’s a great idea for super small bridal parties, but for those groups of 20+, you can find something in “bulk.”
They’ll appreciate whatever you give them, so don’t stress about it! These days you can add customizations like nicknames, astrological signs, and monograms to just about anything. So, when in doubt, go for something utilitarian you know they’ll be able to use, like a customized champagne flute or beer mug. There’s always the jewelry-for-the-wedding-day route as well, but if you head down that road, try to write them each a sincere note to make your gift truly meaningful.
Bloody Mary Gift Set
Buy on Mouth.com
Help your Bridal Party out by thinking about their morning on the day after your wedding. A hangover kit or this fun Bloody Mary kit sounds like heaven after a wild night of celebrating.
Personalized Yoga Mat
Buy on PersonalizationMall.com
If you’re looking for a wedding gift for bridesmaids who never miss a yoga class, how about new yoga mats? Have them personalized with their names or a cute quote.
Family Members
Your family–parents and grandparents especially–have been your #1 fans since the very beginning. No matter who’s paying for your wedding, it’s essential (and customary) to present both sets of parents and grandparents with a gift. Some couples also include siblings, stepsiblings, stepparents, and anyone else they dub as significant to this list of VIF (Very Important Family). A night out at their favorite restaurant, a monthly service, or a sweet framed favorite photo are all great options, and they’ll feel touched you thought of them with everything else going on.
Candlelighters, Church Ushers, Ceremony Readers, and guest book attendants tend to either be close friends (that aren’t in your wedding party) or younger cousins, nieces or nephews. If you’re close to your officiant, or you have a friend playing guitar for the ceremony, get something for them as well. A book, a nice bottle of wine, or a small piece of jewelry are all viable choices for anyone who’s a non-vendor playing a special part in your day.
Flower Girls and Ring Bearers
This might be their very first wedding! For any kid under the age of 10, we recommend gifting them something that’ll keep them occupied during “boring” moments of a rehearsal dinner and reception. Think sticker books or crafts (like bracelet makers or coloring kits). You could even put together a fun goodie-bag for them, including parent-approved snacks!
Bloomsbury “I’m a Flower Girl” Activity and Sticker Book
Buy on Amazon.com
Kids love gifts, and parents always appreciate something that will keep them occupied for a few minutes. This interactive activity book helps kiddos to understand what a wedding is all about.
Finally, Gifts for Each Other
With all of the surprises you’re planning for your friends and family (and the gifts you’re most likely receiving from others), don’t forget the most important person of all: your partner. These gifts won’t need extravagance; sweet and simple love notes on a busy wedding day mean the world. Whatever your budget or gift, you can never go wrong by including a secret engraved message to commemorate the day.
Always a Bridesmaid? Always best dressed! Let’s all take a moment to thank the Gods of wedding fashion for finally cutting the poor bridesmaids some slack!
Gone are the terrifying patterns, unnecessary frills, and–honestly–UGLY bridesmaids’ dresses that condemned sisters, friends, and cousins to entire days trapped in sympathetic awkwardness.
These days, Brides have changed their tune and don’t seem to be purposely trying to torment their Bridesmaids...in most cases.
(To each their own.)
The dresses tend to be slimmer, more romantic in style, and flowy. They’re cut for a much more flattering fit, subtly textured or patterned, even personally chosen by the Bridesmaids according to a loose set of guidelines set by the Bride. There’s a much more flexible understanding that not all bodies fit the same dress, which allows for so much more fun in the wedding ensemble planning!
Dress length has strayed away from the shorter cocktail style, opting for floor-length skirts that add a higher level of sophistication and can be tailored to be shorter later if desired. A big trend that came about a few years ago and has stuck around was the varying shades or textures of a single color. This creates a cohesive look instead of a copy-paste mentality and adds depth to photos, transforming a wall of fabric into defined individual people.
The new rule of thumb seems to be: if it looks good with the bouquet, it goes! In some cases, the Bride can choose to have her Bridesmaids in several different colors or varying dress styles that still fit within her idea for the event. This allows the group to personalize their dress and choose which shade and cut compliment them better.
There are so many colors, cuts, textures that can all be combined to fit a Bride’s vision for her big day! Ideally, everyone understands that what the Bride wants should be all that matters. This is why we will always appreciate the Brides who factor in their Bridesmaids’ feelings to their final decisions.
Groomsmen
We have to be honest; groomsmen get the easy part of this whole wardrobe process. A classic suit is hard to beat, and when a group of sharp suits gets together, there’s timeless magic that arises.
Whether the suits are a traditional black, shades of gray, handsome blues–or even the newest craze in shades of green, the variation of suit style over the years has been minimal. The old saying rings true here. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?
Recently, we’ve seen more Bridal parties incorporate Bridesmen and Groomswomen in the mix. We’re all for it, and these party members offer a whole new range of wedding ensemble possibilities to consider! We’ve seen suits in the same shade as the bridesmaids’ dresses, dresses that match the groomsmen, tailored women’s suits to match the groomsmen, and options in between.
If you’re lucky enough to be in this position, feel free to play around with the possibilities and see what overall look the happy couple is aiming for. It’s still a somewhat undefined area, so dare to write the rules!
Once your wedding ceremony is over, it’s party time! Kick off your reception with the perfect party-ready wedding entrance and song. Our Event Coordination team will direct you and your bridal party; all you have to do is decide what style of Grand Entrance you want.
Like everything else at your wedding, which gets announced first at your reception is simply up to you. Generally, the wedding party is absent for a while after the ceremony. They’re all with the photographer while the guests are at the reception, eating hors ‘devours.
As the wedding party re-emerges, you can have your professional DJ announce special pairs, the groomsmen, bridesmaids, and/or the wedding couple. The order is usually very similar to the recessional, meaning whoever paired up to follow the Bride and Groom back down the aisle after the vows can be introduced together again. Typically the second-to-last people introduced are the Best Man and Maid of Honor. In the grand finale, everyone stands, and the happy couple is announced.
Sometimes couples keep it simple and only announce themselves, leaving the bridal party extra time to socialize during cocktail hour. Other times, they choose to introduce all the bridesmaids and groomsmen together. It’s all entirely your choice as a couple.
Wedding entrance songs are not the same as processional songs. Processional songs play during the wedding ceremony. Entrance songs happen when the wedding party is announced at the wedding reception, usually at the end of cocktail hour. Nothing is off-limits during the grand entrance, so be sure to choose a song that sets the tone for the evening.
Does the entrance song have to be boring? Absolutely Not.
The time for the traditional “Wedding March” is over. This is your party, so jazz it up however you’d like. Lighten the mood with something humorous or play a country wedding entrance song that both you and your spouse love. You can make it as upbeat or as traditional as you like.
Generally, the wedding party’s best entrance song has a good beat and lyrics that people will recognize. Try to stay away from songs that distract from the love message or talk about cheating. (It seems like an obvious rule, but you’d be surprised what comes up.)
The short answer is as many as you like. But, generally, one song is long enough for up to 9 introductions. That could be the parents, grandparents, one to five sets of the wedding party, the best man and maid of honor, and the newlyweds.
(Get ready to do a little math.)
The average song is 3 minutes long. It can take 20 seconds for a couple to prepare and get from the entrance to their seats or the dance floor. As you increase the number of introductions, add on another song. A 3-minute song at 20 seconds per introduction roughly equals 9 introductions per song depending on how wild each one turns out.
The Bridal Party is the Bride and Groom’s entourage chosen specifically because of their proven support of the happy couple. According to history, their duties have included anything from kidnapping to providing the bride with a dowry if the parents were disproving of the marriage. Here’s a couple of fun historical facts behind the wedding Wedding Posse– oops! Party**
Photo: True Photography
“Bridesmaids and groomsmen had to dress just like the bride and groom to confuse vengeful spirit presences (or real-life jealous suitors) who might try to harm the newlyweds.”
This tradition seems to have changed only recently! Nowadays, there is usually subtle differentiation between the Groom and his Groomsmen, but the Bridesmaids leave the white to the Bride. We’re seeing a larger variety in color, style, and texture in bridesmaids’ dresses as each wedding season passes. It just depends on the Bride’s preference!
Photo: Shelly Anderson
“In a time in which ‘marriage by capture’ was practiced, close friends of the groom would assist him in taking the bride from her family. They’d form a small army to fight off angry relatives so that he could escape with her.”
Thankfully this doesn’t happen anymore! Imagine women being kidnapped left and right out from under their family’s nose! (Talk about awkward table conversation at Thanksgiving…)
We understand why the need for the most important people by your side remains. Choosing the ones to support you, be that shoulder to cry on when you need it, can share in good times with you, are all top factors to your bridal party. At the Ranch, we’ve witnessed it all.
Photo: Maryanne McGuire Photography
“Ancient Roman law required 10 witnesses to be present at a wedding, which is considered a precursor to the bridal party tradition.”
Today, Bridal Parties can be as small as two people and as large as 30–as long as the MOH and Best Man have some good organizational skills! We say the more, the merrier, it adds a little energy to the event as a whole, and you know the dance floor will never be empty.
Photo by Audrey Rynberg Photography
“The tradition of the ‘best man’ is thought to have originated with the Germanic Goths of the 16th century.”
“He was the ‘best man’ for, specifically, the job of stealing the bride from her neighboring community or disapproving family, and he was probably the best swordsman, too.”
Consider this, gentlemen: is your Best Man willing to fight to the death for your love?
Photo by True Photography
“In some early traditions, the groomsmen were called Bride’s Knights because they helped protect her—and her dowry, and her virginity—or because they assisted in her kidnapping.”
Photo by Muse Moments Photography
Kidnapping seems to have been pretty prevalent back in the day, but it’s not just the Groomsmen who are known to get into some mischief during the Bachelor/Bachelorette parties anymore. (Hollywood made a few movies about all that.) Although we would never promote kidnapping, we’re sure some good clean inner-party fun is still had.
Photo by True Photography
Thanks to all these fun Bridal Parties and the awesome photographers who captured them at their best!
We love seeing what each unique group is like and how the clients we’ve gotten to know so well fit into the crazy mix.
Photo by Jordan Galindo
As always, big thanks go out to the staff at Personal Touch Dining, who Coordinate, Manage, and cater to all these wonderful events!
To learn more about weddings traditions and their origins, check out these two articles:
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