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Reception Question

sksitessksites
100 Comments
in North Carolina
So we're having heavy h'ordeurves for our reception and I was wondering if there's a "standard" or percentage to us for how many chairs/tables you should have for all your guests? In other words, for my estimated 130 people attending the reception, how many tables/chairs should I have (each table seats 10). Thanks girls!
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Re: Reception Question

  • pirategal03pirategal03 member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    The ratio of rears to chairs should be 1 to 1.  So if that 130 includes you and the wedding party and everyone, and a table seats 10, you need 13 tables and a seating chart.  Or 15 tables and no seating chart (it's recommended to have at least 10% more chairs than people if you don't assign seating).
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  • uneek1323uneek1323 member
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_north-carolina_reception-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:115Discussion:5c6e55b9-7cbb-43f9-a79b-1e0a2d855726Post:6a39120c-58d7-4b2d-9338-a71a1f9257a2">Re: Reception Question</a>:
    [QUOTE]<strong>The ratio of rears to chairs should be 1 to 1.</strong>  So if that 130 includes you and the wedding party and everyone, and a table seats 10, you need 13 tables and a seating chart.  Or 15 tables and no seating chart (it's recommended to to at least 10% more chairs than people if you don't assign seating).
    Posted by pirategal03[/QUOTE]
    LOL Love this!
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  • NcsuPsychNcsuPsych member
    2500 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Yup, exactly what Mary said. If I went to a reception and there wasnt a chair for me. . .Im not exactly sure how I would feel, however I know I wouldn't be happy / pleased
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  • pirategal03pirategal03 member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_north-carolina_reception-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:115Discussion:5c6e55b9-7cbb-43f9-a79b-1e0a2d855726Post:d7b9adcb-3775-48d1-b2c6-d916e83b725d">Re: Reception Question</a>:
    [QUOTE]Yup, exactly what Mary said. If I went to a reception and there wasnt a chair for me. . .Im not exactly sure how I would feel, however I know I wouldn't be happy / pleased
    Posted by NcsuPsych[/QUOTE]

    I'd take my gift and go home. 
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  • elcobbelcobb
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I think as long as you have room for a 1:1 chair/bottom ratio, go for it.
    I don't know if it was obvious, but we did not have that luxury, since I booked my reception venue prior to FMIL handing over the "that side of the family" guest list.  I was in a panic so we "borrowed" some of the 4-person tables from the cafe up the hall :)  We also used standing cocktail/cabaret tables, which I think is pretty handy if you're working with limited space.

    For heavy hors d'oeuvres, depending on how it's presented, you get a more "mingle-y" atmosphere, especially if you have dancing, so having a seat for everyone isn't as big of a deal, since it's unlikely everyone will be seated at the same time.

    EDIT: I am also of the very strong and largely unpopular opinion that seating charts are a horrid waste of time if you aren't having a formal dinner served at the reception.  As lousy as many of our guests were at RSVPing, I would have been pulling my hair out trying to arrange a seating chart, and frankly don't know when I would have even had the time! IMO: Don't bother.

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  • NcsuPsychNcsuPsych member
    2500 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I didn't have a seating chart either since we had a smaller wedding and most people knew each other. However I still strongly think that it should be 1:1. Standing cocktail tables are fine, but you still need a chair for every butt. :)
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Surprisingly, when we were booking our wedding, we interviewed five caterers and all of them said to do seating for 60-75%. We went along with this since we are having 300 people, because I was afraid the place was going to be too crowded with all the tables.

    However, now that our wedding is just 5 weeks away, I've changed my mind. We are going to do seating for at least 250, plus cocktail tables. It's more expensive, but I don't want our guests to be upset if they don't have a seat.
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