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28 Ideas for Sitting Pretty at Your Head Table

By Emily Platt

October 11, 2017

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Heather Payne

Mark your special seating with creative décor, including installations, centerpieces, and table runners.

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Heather Payne

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Sweetheart tables seat just the happy couple, while head tables seat the newlyweds and their VIPs. This may include the wedding party, family members, children of any parents included, and—if there's room—dates. While the specifics will differ based on your personal situation, one thing remains the same when it comes to sweetheart and head tables: If you choose to have special seating, you'll want the space to stand out.

To make their designated table a focal point, brides and grooms turn to different strategies based on their reception venue and the design of their event. Some choose to sit in unique chairs, some opt to give their table an incredible backdrop, and some decorate their furniture with flowers and other accents. Whether you want to spruce up your sweetheart or head table with centerpieces, overhead installments, pretty signage, or something else entirely, we're here to provide you with great inspiration. Couples have used everything from rugs and runners to candles and garlands to separate themselves from the rest of their guests, and we've got the photo evidence to prove it.

Ahead is a roundup of creative ideas for making your sweetheart or head table pop. There are décor options for every kind of wedding, including formal fêtes, casual celebrations, indoor affairs, and outdoor parties. We've found examples for bohemian, romantic, whimsical, and elegant weddings, among others. We've also included options in various color schemes, meaning there's truly something for everyone. Click through and get inspired before planning your own sweetheart or head table.

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Trailing Greenery

Christie Graham Photography

Romantic greenery fell from the ceiling behind this head table. The leaves were placed in front of a white curtain.

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Chandeliers

Stacey Hedman

Chandeliers were hung above this head table for an elegant look.

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Hanging Shapes

Christie Graham Photography

See More Geometric Wedding Ideas

Gorgeous, dreamy shapes were strung from the ceiling to mark the head table at this reception.

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Pops of Color

Leila Brewster Photography

Big blooms and a verdant garland sat atop a bright pink runner on this head table.

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Mixed Lighting

Brooke Beasley Photography

Mix unique lights for a stunning, glowing effect, as seen at this wedding.

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Destination Details

Kathleen Geiberger Art

Go Inside This Tropical Wedding

This wedding was held in Hawaii, so leis on the bride and groom's chairs were fitting.

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A Loveseat

Rebecca Yale Photography

Newlyweds can sit comfortably on a sofa or loveseat, like this wedding's bride and groom chose to do.

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Overhead Greenery

A.J. Dunlap Photography

Get More Ideas for Hanging Wedding Décor

Petal & Oak crafted this amazing installation, featuring overflowing greenery in a hanging wooden box.

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Boho Touches

Ace & Whim

Go Inside This Bright Wedding

At this celebration, Dang Fine Rentals put a custom wooden structure behind the sweetheart table. Laser-cut lyrics by Happily Ever Etched also decorated the area.

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Hanging Tea Lights

Stoffer Photography

Unique glass orbs were hung above this head table. Each one held a tea light.

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A Lush Garland

Julie Kay Kelly

See More Wedding Garlands

A cascading garland in classic colors makes for a gorgeous centerpiece on a head table.

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String Lights

Jillian Rose Photography

At this wedding, string lights were hung vertically behind the head table.

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Labeled Chairs

Krista A. Jones Photography

Get More Ideas for Decorating Wedding Chairs

Calligraphed wooden boards were placed on the backs of this couple's chairs, which were also decorated with leaves.

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Overhead Flowers

Sposto Photography

Flower boxes hung above this head table, giving it an enchanted, woodsy feel.

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Tall Centerpieces

Rustic White Photography

See More Tall Wedding Centerpieces

Towering structures held sprawling blooms in white, pink, and yellow on this flower-filled head table.

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Special Seating

Nikki Nicole Photography

These new spouses sat on a special bench to face their guests from their sweetheart table.

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A Unique Table

Katie Parra Photography

Clutch Events planned this head table, which was a wooden, one-of-a-kind piece. En Fleur designed the accompanying garland.

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Paper Cranes

Shewanders

Go Inside This Sunny Wedding

"In keeping with Japanese tradition, my family and friends made 1,000 origami cranes for good luck," this bride shared. "At my bachelorette party, each girl made a gold crane, so those ones represent my closest pals," she added. The decorations looked lovely behind the head table at her wedding.

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Big Lights

Melissa Oholendt

Hanging installations weren't the only markers of this head table. The couple's initials looked over the seating from the reception venue's wall.

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A Lace Runner

Jessica Antola

Go Inside This Natural Wedding

The head table at this wedding—a rustic, farmhouse piece—was topped with a delicate lace runner. The detail was a surprise gift for the bride.

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Name Tags

Lyndsay Undseth Photography

Put your name on your special seating with customized wooden labels.

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Different Chairs

onelove photography

At this wedding, the bride and groom's chairs differed from the rest of the seats at the head table. The area was decorated with a fun tablecloth, a macramé runner, and a garland.

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A Scroll Runner

Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography

This bride asked calligrapher Spurlé Gul Studios to pen her favorite poem on each end of her head table's runner. The romantic look was further decorated with flowers from Sweet Root Village.

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A Floral Installation

Kristen Kilpatrick

Go Inside This Colorful Wedding

R. Jack Balthazar placed a homey rug beneath this beautiful head table. Garland-laced brass-and-leather chandeliers hung above the seating area, while flowers, foliage, candles, and fruit made up the centerpieces.

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Weighted Balloons

Bowtie and Belle

Get More Ideas for Wedding Balloons

Surround your head table with weighted balloons to make it stand out.

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Chair Flowers

Rachel Solomon

At this wedding, the newlyweds' chairs were decorated with gorgeous flowers. Bloom + Blueprint planned and provided the florals.

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Marquee Letters

onelove photography

See More Marquee Letters at Weddings

This adorable sweetheart table had the couple's initials placed at its base.

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Cascading Vines

Betsi Ewing

Vines trailed from above behind this wedding's head table. Blooms were also attached.

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28 Ideas for Sitting Pretty at Your Head Table

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Trailing Greenery

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Chandeliers

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Hanging Shapes

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Pops of Color

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Mixed Lighting

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Destination Details

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A Loveseat

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Overhead Greenery

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Boho Touches

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Hanging Tea Lights

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A Lush Garland

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String Lights

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Labeled Chairs

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Overhead Flowers

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Tall Centerpieces

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Special Seating

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A Unique Table

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Paper Cranes

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Big Lights

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A Lace Runner

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Name Tags

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Different Chairs

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A Scroll Runner

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A Floral Installation

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Weighted Balloons

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