Cabaret tables

julieanne912

Not quite sure where this would go, so mods feel free to move wherever.

Our reception venue has a decent size deck out front.  We plan on putting the escort card table and the guest book table out on this deck as it leads into the main entrance to the barn (assuming weather cooperates, we'll have a plan B otherwise).

My caterer suggested renting some cabaret tables (tall "pub" style round tables) to add to the deck.  The cost of renting them is nominal, $9 per table and we'd do 4 of them.  We can either pick them up the morning of the wedding, and return them the Monday after, to avoid a delivery charge.  Otherwise the delivery charge is $60 (which is stupid considering the rental place is like 2 miles from the venue, but I digress).  The venue provides all the other tables/chairs so these would be the only outside rentals.

Picking them up and dropping off just adds to the list of things to do the morning of (we are doing all set up ourselves), and I'd assume we would need a truck (FI has one) versus fitting them in my SUV.   

So, do you all think they're necessary?  

beachyone15

Is cocktail hour happening outside? That's really the only reason I would think you might need them.

julieanne912

beachyone15 said:

Is cocktail hour happening outside? That's really the only reason I would think you might need them.

No, the food and bar for that will be inside.  

luckya23

How are you holding down your escort cards?  I was not allowed to have them due to the risk of them blowing away (outdoor venue).

You would also need linens for these tables?  My pub table linens were $9 each and then I bought overlays, which I think were $3.  All needed to be ironed, so it was a huge pain.

What time is your wedding?  We had our first look at noon and FI seemed to have plenty of time in the morning.  We had breakfast around 6:30 though.

I think it would be nice to have them, but not necessary.

lyndausvi

I really like high top tables.  It gives a place to put down your drink, plate, etc, especially around bar and decks. 

Since it's a barn setting I have a feeling people will be hanging outside. At least in my experience,  weather permitting people like to hang outside on decks and stuff.  They like the fresh air, they like to get away from the music if it's too loud, especially if they are non-dancers.

beachyone15

julieanne912 said:

beachyone15 said:

Is cocktail hour happening outside? That's really the only reason I would think you might need them.

No, the food and bar for that will be inside.  

Then it doesn't really sound like they will be used, so I'd probably skip them.

lyndausvi

Does your location have nice views?   I'm pretty sure you said you have OOT guests.   Guests like views, especially if you have some mountain views.    

julieanne912

luckya23 said:

How are you holding down your escort cards?  I was not allowed to have them due to the risk of them blowing away (outdoor venue).

You would also need linens for these tables?  My pub table linens were $9 each and then I bought overlays, which I think were $3.  All needed to be ironed, so it was a huge pain.

What time is your wedding?  We had our first look at noon and FI seemed to have plenty of time in the morning.  We had breakfast around 6:30 though.

I think it would be nice to have them, but not necessary.

Escort cards are going to be on clotheslines kind of thing with clothespins, so blowing away risk is low, sort of like this:

For "linens" I have a shitload of burlap (I know, I know) that they (caterer and MOH) said would be fine to drape over and tie around the base, or I do have extra large rectangle tablecloths that I can do the same way as well.  

Wedding isn't til 5 with a first look around 330 so FI would have time to pick them up, as they have to be picked up between 9 and 12.  It's more just the fact it's one.more.thing. we have to do that morning.  I also was trying to not involve FI in all of this, because he is staying at our house about 35 minutes away from the venue, and our plan was to have him and his BM get mostly ready there and then just come up around 2:00 to check into BMs hotel room so they could finish getting ready there.  If he had to come up earlier then we'd have to hope they could check in wayyy early to the hotel or he'd have to drive all the way back to the house.

julieanne912

lyndausvi said:

Does your location have nice views?   I'm pretty sure you said you have OOT guests.   Guests like views, especially if you have some mountain views.    

No views unfortunately... it faces the parking lot and then a busier road.  

We have some people that are smokers in our crowd so they could go out there to do that, but they could also set drinks on the deck railing (it's wide).  

Here's a pic of it to give an idea of the size of the deck... just noticed in this pic that they just set some chairs out there so that might be an option for people who want to hang out out there.  

lyndausvi

no view, busy street, large rail.  I would skip them.

julieanne912

lyndausvi said:

no view, busy street, large rail.  I would skip them.

Yeah I'm thinking so... I'm just under a month out and starting to feel really overwhelmed with it all so adding one more thing probably isn't a good idea at this point haha

Lulawife

I'm one more vote for skip them. If it's not an area where guests will hang out for a significant period of time or need the table space for hors d'oeuvre plates, they will likely just end up being empty glass holders. The venue I used to work for would always place high top tables in the hallway and most people would drop their glasses on them on the way to the bathroom and never come back for them. I always had to remind our staff to keep an eye on them so they could clear them before they looked sloppy. 

Maggie0829

I vote for skipping them to.

But if you did rent them you don't have to cover them if they are decent looking.  I had a bunch of high tops already in my reception area and we didn't cover them.