Head Table Setups: Long, U-Shape and E-Shape Layouts Explained

A head table sets the tone for the room. It also decides whether the wedding party is in the photos, facing toast listeners and out of the dance floor's way. Here are the layouts and how to size them.

Straight head table

All guests sit on the guest-facing side. Plan 24 inches per person.

Seat the couple in the center, with parents and the wedding party on either side. Put the table on a riser or stage if the room is large, so guests in the back can see.

U-shape

A U wraps around the head, with guests on the outside and sometimes the inside. It is the usual setup for meetings and banquets. At a wedding, it is a good fit for a small party that wants to talk across the table.

• Seats 12 to 18 depending on arm length.
• Needs a clear center of at least 8 feet for servers.
• Works best in rooms that are square or wide.

E-shape

An E has a long spine with three arms. It handles many guests at one table block, such as a corporate board dinner or a large family.

• Good for 24 or more.
• Needs a deep room.
• Servers walk between the arms, so leave 8 feet.

Head table or sweetheart table?

Read sweetheart table sizes if you want just two seats.

Dress the front

Guests see only the front of a head table, so spend effort there. A pleated skirt or fitted cover on the front, a floor-length cloth on the back and a floral runner on top look finished. See pleated skirting.

Seating the party

• Couple in the center.
• Maid of honor and best man beside them.
• Partners next to the wedding party, if the party is small. Many couples add partners to the table.
• Parents at a separate family table if the table is crowded.

Leave chairs on one side only, and leave a chair gap near the ends for photos. Spacing chairs 28 inches apart looks less cramped than 24.

Chairs

At a straight head table every chair shows, so matching style matters. Choose cross-back chairs for a natural look or gold infinity chairs for a formal one. Browse the chair catalog.

Chicago tips

Ballroom stages in downtown Chicago hotels vary. Ask your venue if a stage or riser is allowed and whether their staff will set it up. For outdoor tents, make sure the ground is level and a skirt is wind-proof.

Photo and toast planning

A head table is where most toasts are filmed. Think about your toast plan before the layout is final.

• Microphone position. The toast giver should stand at the end or in front, not behind someone at the table.
• Lighting. Face the table toward the room's best light, not a bright window.
• Backdrop. A plain wall or draped fabric looks cleaner than a window or an exit sign. Ask your venue about fixed exit signs, which cannot be covered.
• Clear floor in front. Leave a gap for the photographer and a little extra for the dance floor.

Common mistakes

• Sitting on both sides of a straight table. Half the party turns their back on the room.
• A table too short for the party. Squeezing 12 into 16 feet makes elbows collide.
• No skirt or cloth in front. Guests see table legs and chair backs. A skirt or a floor-length cloth fixes it.
• Forgetting the dance floor. Place the head table so it does not take the best dance floor space.
• Using a head table when the party is large. For more than 14 people, consider two long tables or placing the party at rounds with their families.

How the layout changes by room type

In a long banquet room, a straight head table at the short end feels natural. In a square ballroom, a U can fit in a corner. In a tent, the head table usually sits against the back wall away from the entrance. Ask your venue for a floor plan and mark the head table first, then fit the guest tables around it.

Plan your head table

Book a free 15-minute seating call and we will size the head table for your room, or request a quote.