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  6. 28 Ideas for Sitting Pretty at Your Head Table
Martha Stewart Weddings

28 Ideas for Sitting Pretty at Your Head Table

emily-platt-contributor-0616.jpg
By Emily Platt
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head table
Credit: Heather Payne

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

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head table
Credit: Heather Payne
Get the Best Wedding Reception Ideas

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

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: Stacey Hedman

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

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Hanging Shapes

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: Brooke Beasley Photography

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

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Destination Details

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: Stoffer Photography

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

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A Lush Garland

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: Jillian Rose Photography

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

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Labeled Chairs

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: Sposto Photography

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

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Tall Centerpieces

head table
Credit: 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

head table metal bench
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: 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

wedding tablescape
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: Lyndsay Undseth Photography

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

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Different Chairs

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: 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

wedding reception tablescape
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: 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

head table
Credit: Betsi Ewing

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

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 29
    2 of 29 Trailing Greenery
    3 of 29 Chandeliers
    4 of 29 Hanging Shapes
    5 of 29 Pops of Color
    6 of 29 Mixed Lighting
    7 of 29 Destination Details
    8 of 29 A Loveseat
    9 of 29 Overhead Greenery
    10 of 29 Boho Touches
    11 of 29 Hanging Tea Lights
    12 of 29 A Lush Garland
    13 of 29 String Lights
    14 of 29 Labeled Chairs
    15 of 29 Overhead Flowers
    16 of 29 Tall Centerpieces
    17 of 29 Special Seating
    18 of 29 A Unique Table
    19 of 29 Paper Cranes
    20 of 29 Big Lights
    21 of 29 A Lace Runner
    22 of 29 Name Tags
    23 of 29 Different Chairs
    24 of 29 A Scroll Runner
    25 of 29 A Floral Installation
    26 of 29 Weighted Balloons
    27 of 29 Chair Flowers
    28 of 29 Marquee Letters
    29 of 29 Cascading Vines

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    28 Ideas for Sitting Pretty at Your Head Table
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