Its no secret that I like the sweetheart table versus the head table with all the bridal attendants or sponsors. I think it highlights the couple-of-honor, and for a decorator, it allows us to create a nice focal point in the room.

Photo by Flickr’s mdunn

But there are some instances in which it won’t be effective. Above, you’ve got a lovely little sweetheart table, but its sort of swallowed by that fabulous view. In a case like this, a slightly larger table probably would have filled out the space more.

Photo by Flickr’s Mr_Matt

And, ohhh, this lovely, fun-looking couple. If their champagne glasses and utensils hadn’t been on the table, its altogether possible they might have mistaken this tiny little sweetheart table for a seat. I can’t imagine trying to eat off a table this little. I probably would have made a mess of myself. One plus is that probably most of the guests could see her gorgeous dress the whole reception!

Photo by Flickr’s thecavendars

Heehee. A heart-shaped sweetheart table. It’s a bit overkill, but hey! If you’ve got a heart-shaped table, by all means, you should use it. This table is probably not literally heart-shaped, however — it’s possibly one of those round tables that have leaves that drop down. Or something like that. Anyway, if you’re going to use a table like this, you probably might as well push your flowers to the very tip of the “heart” rather than put it in the middle. Maybe from the top it looks like a heart, but from their seats, no one else is going to see it.

Photo by Flickr’s maggiemgill60462

I can’t see the rest of the room, but I kind of love the way this table looks. It’s fun, colorful and cheery. I love the pop of the orange overlay, the whimsy of the different colored ribbons underneath. I almost would have preferred another color other than orange for those Gerber daisies — maybe yellow — to make them stand out against the orange tablecloth overlay. And then candles! Excellent.

Photo by Flickr’s mrs_stephenson

Out of all these set ups, I think I love this one the best. This set up feels like an intimate dinner — fireplace crackling behind you, two luxurious armchairs, tall, lit candles. The one thing I might change is maybe make the flower arrangement a little smaller, but even that doesn’t matter too much. What a gorgeous set up.