Table for Two, please

As many of you know, Leo and I are planners. That and the fact that we still have more than a year before W-day means we’re taking our sweet time to plan this shindig.

So our next step was to meet with the coordinator at Cobblestone Hall, our reception venue, which we did a few weeks ago. (Incidentally, I think she was a bit surprised at my lack of caterer and florist decisions.)

Cobblestone Hall sets you up with two contracts. The first books your date and the venue itself. The second includes your dishes, linens, tables, chairs and more, which they handle instead of handing off to a separate company.

We chose from among four options for dish sets, two options for glassware and three options for utensils. We chose a fabric type for the linens and we looked at the layout  of the tables. DJ over here, cake table over there. It was all fairly standard and I think the entire meeting took about 25 minutes.

The only thing that threw me off was the head table. One thing I always dislike about seating at weddings is that the bride and groom often sit together at a long table, flanked by groomsmen on one side and bridesmaids on the other. Those stuck … er, chosen, to sit at this table can only chat with the person next to them. The dates of the groomsmen and bridesmaids are left without their significant others’ company for the meal. It seems odd.

So our planner suggested we do a “sweetheart table,” which means Leo and I will eat alone. Our family and friends can sit at round tables nearby, groomsmen with their dates, bridesmaids with theirs and parents together — or whatever we want.

I dislike the idea of just the two of us. I know some couples go and have the meal by themselves somewhere else before the reception so they can enjoy a moment and take a deep breath. At the reception they are free to mingle without the worry of food. But I’d rather stick with the group and celebrate with my friends and family.

The advantage of the sweetheart table is that we’re still with everyone, just sitting by ourselves. We might actually get five minutes to scarf down some of the delicious catering and enjoy the fact that we are now married.

Hmmm … that and the good photo opportunity sealed the deal. So table for two, please!