ideas for seating

jumpstart50

hey ladies!!
FI and I are having a New Year's Eve wedding and reception. The reception will be more like a big party with passed hors dourves. I don't want the entire room to be filled with those big round tables since we aren't serving an actual meal, but I want every guest to have somewhere to sit for more traditional moments like our first dance. I'm thinking about having a combination of some lounge furniture and some smaller tables, but I'm worried the space will look crowded. The reception is on a tented roof on the top of a hotel overlookin the city and the whole space is basically in the shape of a square.
And ideas on how to make sure everyone has a seat without using those big round tables? I'm having trouble imagining how all of the furniture should be placed around the room.

danieliza1127

Start by asking your venue what they have available.  Unless you have a really big budget, you don't want to have to spend extra money renting tables and furniture from somewhere else.  That will be a huge expense.  We had an hors d'oeuvres reception but we went ahead and used the venues round tables because that's what they had.  People were still up and mingling pretty much the whole night after dinner was over, but they still had a home base to leave their purses and wraps and things like that.

Another idea would be the taller cocktail tables.  Set it up like a bar or night club with the seating just varied around the room.  Really use the venue's ideas, ask to see pictures of what other weddings there have looked like.

danyl87

I agree about asking your venue.  I do think that if worse comes to worse, using the round tables wouldn't be too bad.  People will still want to sit down around other people and talk or relax a little.  I do think that the higher tables like they have at bars and clubs would look nice, but those will run a pretty penny to rent and won't seat many people..so you'd have to rent a lot of them.  The furniture would LOOK good..but it would only leave people carrying around purses..etc all night.  If you have seating furniture I would make sure to have some sort of place that people could store their belongings.  Good luck with everything!

jumpstart50

Thanks ladies!! I'll be sure to look at some more pictures of events they've had. I'm sure we'll come up with something!

saxon87

Your reception ideas sound a lot like what I am wanting to do. Passed hors dourves, and a couple food stations. I chose not to do sit down courses, 1) because its not us and 2) we wanted it to be more of a party celebration atmosphere. ANYWAY, I too am trying to decide on seating that breaks the mold on reception seating. I am doing lounge furniture, cocktail tables as well, and i will probably have to use some big round tables but i am toying with the idea of renting square tables instead of round. They fit close to the same amount of people and its just different and a little more modern than the standard round. So...yea if you think of anything else let me know too

barryc0371

The first time I attended a wedding reception without assigned seating I was shocked!  I couldn't believe they did not have a seat for each person.  As the night progressed, I realized that it was not necessary.  Unless there is a sit down dinner, I don't think that you need a seat for every person.  I have been to several receptions since that first one, that didn't have seating for everyone, and it has yet to be a problem.  Purses and coats are set on avaiable chairs and tables, and noone had any arguments over "that's my seat"... and nothing was lost.  If you are still concerned, see if you venue offers a coat and purse check service. 

barryc0371

The first time I attended a wedding reception without assigned seating I was shocked!  I couldn't believe they did not have a seat for each person.  As the night progressed, I realized that it was not necessary.  Unless there is a sit down dinner, I don't think that you need a seat for every person.  I have been to several receptions since that first one, that didn't have seating for everyone, and it has yet to be a problem.  Purses and coats are set on avaiable chairs and tables, and noone had any arguments over "that's my seat"... and nothing was lost.  If you are still concerned, see if you venue offers a coat and purse check service.