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…)

Photographer: By Amy Lynn Photography, Florist: KO Floral Designs.

No Need to Have Your Friends on a Leash!

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.

Photographer: Jordan Galindo, Florist: Layered Vintage.

It’s All About The Numbers.

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.

Photographer: Shelly Anderson Photography, Florist: I Do Flowers For You.

Sentiments and Symbolism

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.

Photographer: Lauren Scotti Photography, Florist: Siren Floral Co.

Still Can’t Decide?

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!

We got together with some of our favorite preferred vendors

and asked them to unleash some of their most exciting ideas on our brand new venue!

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography

This indoor/outdoor Leo Carrillo Event Venue is going to be utilized during our slow season from about the middle of November to the middle of March.

It offers an enclosed space perfect for the changeable Carlsbad Winter weather.

Photographer: True Photography

The indoor space is highly versatile and can be flipped throughout the event for whatever we need

from ceremony to dining, and finally to dancing.

Photographer: True Photography

Customize your own space!

Let your imagination be your guide and reach out to our amazing coordinators as to which rental vendors can help achieve your dream design.

Photographer: True Photography

The Bridal Suite, where the bride and entourage can relax before the ceremony, is through the iconic turquoise doors.

Photographer: True Photography

The room is spacious with high ceilings of gorgeous refurbished exposed beams.

Photographer: True Photography. Lounge Furniture: Adore Folklore Rentals

Furniture such as couches, lounges, mirrors, or even designer chairs can be brought in to style this room however you like.

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography. Florals: Simply Adina Floral Design

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography. Lounge Furniture: Adore Folklore Rentals

Photographer: True Photography

Vintage barn windows can be opened to view the main floor, where the ceremony and dining area will be, from above.

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography

Guests will enter the main floor either through the front door below and to the right of the Bridal Suite or through the broad corral side entrance.

Wheelchair access is on the opposite end, closest to the top of where the aisle would be.

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography

The room is bright, airy, and rustic with original exposed stone and brick, beautiful wooden beams, and crisp white walls.

Photographer: True Photography

It has so much of the historic character that we love here at the Ranch with just a touch of modernity to make it feel fresh and clean.

Photographer: True Photography

It’s cheerful, welcoming, and most importantly a blank canvas just waiting to be filled by an artistic

dream-event manifestation.

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography

One of our preferred vendors, Simply Adina Floral Design, used all the open space available to create this majestic bo-ho flower arch.

Photographer: True Photography

Photographer: True Photography

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography

Photographer: True Photography

Photographer: True Photography

Outdoor dining is also a possibility and has endless layout potential because there’s so much space to work with!

Photographer: True Photography

And yes, there are still peacocks!

Photographer: True Photography

Photographer: True Photography

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography. Farm Tables: Adore Folklore Rentals

Photographer: True Photography. Florals: Simply Adina Floral Design

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography. Place Settings, Cutlery, and Glassware: Hostess Haven Rentals

Each of the repurposed corrals can easily fit a dining table or even a full bar!

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography. Table and Chairs: Adore Folklore Rentals

Photographer: True Photography

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography

Photographer: True Photography. Florals: Simply Adina Floral Design

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography. Bar Front and Shelves: Adore Folklore Rentals

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography. Goblets: Hostess Haven Rentals

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography

Our collaboration with Adore Folklore, Hostess Haven, Simply Adina Floral Design, and Personal Touch Dining

transported us to this Modern Blushing Bohemian Wonderland,

but your options are limitless!

A huge round of applause goes to all of our incredible vendors and photographers!!

You all absolutely outdid yourselves and we are so thankful for all your hard work!

The Stables at Leo Carrillo Ranch are Coordinated, Managed, and Catered by Personal Touch Dining.

Links!

Holly Ireland Photography

True Photography

Adore Folklore Rentals

Hostess Haven Rentals

Personal Touch Dining