FYI - square footage info for suites (very helpful!)

ginamarie1985

Hey ladies, I don't post much, but I must confess that I have been a nervous wreck lately with all of the talk going on about the sizes of suites for receptions and such, as I have had the Vista booked for 6 months and ecpecting 60 guests, and our budget is just too strapped to get a bigger suite!

SO..I decided to tackle the problem head on, and I have spent the past hour googling and researching square footage suggestions for parties/events.

I have looked at dozens of tent-rental websites, party planning guides, and articles, and most everyone in the indstry agrees that you need between 8-20 sq feet of space per person, depending on what type of party it is.  Here is an example of one I found:

1. A cocktail party with space for half the guests to be seated at tables and half of the guests standing - 10-12 Sq. Ft. per person
2. A cocktail party with space for half the guests to be seated, half the guests to be standing, a bar or beverage area, a buffet and a dance floor. - 12-13 Sq. Ft. per person
3. A dinner party with full seating and space for a bar or beverage area and a buffet - 12-13 Sq. Ft. per person
4. A dinner party with space for full seating , a bar or beverage area, a buffet and a dance floor - 15-16 Sq. Ft. per person

Some sites have suggested nmbers a little higher than these, but for cocktail parties they all average about 12-15 sq feet per person.
For those interested in the Vista suite (I only did calculations for that one), it has a parlor area of 1035 sq ft.  Even if you dived this by the maximum amount for *seated dinner receptions*, which is 20 ft, you would fit 51 guests.  Obviously we are all going for more of a cocktail party, which based on all the research I have done, the Vista should accomodate well over 60 guests.

I just thought this would be helpful for some of you, as it calmed me down quite a bit and I feel much better about the suite now. Please, if you are concerned about soace, do your own research, google "square footage needed for reception/cocktail party", and find the numbers you are comfortable with.  And remember, these websites are from party planning professionals!! (that made me feel a lot better).
 Happy planning everyone

mrsfranklintobe

thanks so much for this info. I have been concerned also about the size needed.

dvohnout

don't stress. we had 60 guests in the Vista suite and it was great!

Natrasha

I would trust past experience, like dvohnout, but also keep in mind... most cocktail parties won't have couches or beds or toilets included in the party space. The square footage listed of a suite includes all of this space too.

ginamarie1985

@dvhonout - thanks, I know you and I have emailed before about it, I was just letting myself get influenced by everyone on the board insisting on bigger suites lately.  I trusted you, I just wanted some math to make me feel better

@natrasha - That is why I only counted the "parlor area" square footage in the calculations (the square footage of the entire suite is much larger).  Yes that area does include couches and chairs, but that is why I also went with much higher recommendations closer to sit-down dinner receptions, which include round tables.  However, I don't know how many other suites provide both numbers (parlor area and total area) like the Vista did, so that would make it harder to figure out if that info isn't available. 
Like I said before, it was just a suggestion for others to research the numbers themselves and find suggestions they feel are most suitable to their particular suite/furniature/type of party.  Its just may be helpful info for gilrs who can't see the suites themselves.