How many should I seat??

[Deleted User]

I'm planning to do passed/heavy hor dourves for our reception and will definitely be providing standing height tables, and some casual seating. How much seating should I have for a group of 76?? I want people to mingle and have fun but I don't want to force people to stay standing! 

Roughly half of the group is family (only 8 or so that are over the age of 60) and the rest are friends.

Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance!

danieliza1127

Really, you should have a seat for every butt.  If you limit seats, people will grab them and then never move all night for fear of losing it.

missy68

Doesn't matter if they are friends or family, 35 or 65. Everyone should have a seat.

You need to have 76 seats, if you've invited 76 people.

MyNameIsNot

76. 

squirrly

76

banana468

I'd have seating for 90.

pristinedemon

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_many-should-seat?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:c177132a-99da-4167-b416-0ba4586a28f8Post:636e8ab7-370d-4295-97e5-ed946b2d2ae9">Re: How many should I seat??</a>:
[QUOTE]I went to a wedding where there was seating for about 30% of the guests. Oh and that seating was assigned.  We had to stand the whole time and left earlier than usual.  Actually, we left right after they started opening gifts at the freaking reception .   This was by far the worst wedding I've ever been to.
Posted by cougarette[/QUOTE]

Holy hell.

Mrs.B6302007

76 trombones led the big parade....


I like the idea of at least 85 seats

sarabellam

> 76, for the aforementioned reasons. Yes, I am a math geek.

lyndausvi

I go against popular opinion and say 80% of your guests list.  But that is only if it's a true cocktail hour with passed foods, no forks and knifes needed for the food .  If you need forks and knifes... forget it, you need seats and tables for everyone. 

Most people on this board are women.  Woman love to sit to socialize (thus the thinking).  Most men (not all) like to socialize standing up. Having high tops is a great idea because people will use them to set drinks down while eating, but they do not need to sit.

  I have worked many cocktail parties and you see a lot of empty seats because people are mingling. Now they may sit for a moment or two, but I've never witnessed a cocktail party were 100% of the guests sat at the same time.  They are normally standing up talking by the bar.

mags0607

I was very surprised when looking at venues, how many of them did not have seating for 100% of the guests. I have been to many weddings where the seating was limited, and it always makes me feel a little uncomfortable, so I recommend having seats for 80+ people.