seating issue

Re: seating issue

• Maggie0829 member

  

  October 2014

  Knottie63817254 said:

  I'm having my reception out at a winery. The plan was to have 130 people (our max for the room is about 125) and a small tent outside for "spill over guests". Well, our count is going to be about 140 people and the more I think about have people split up into 2 different areas seems so weird. 
  
  I know some people will want to party a little harder then other, who would rather sit and talk but I just feel like we should all be together for the beginning of the reception. 
  
  Help! How do I remedy where people should sit or at least how to make everyone feel involved?
  
  Thanks

  Please tell me invites have not gone out.  It is beyond rude to sit "spill over guests" in a separate area because you over invited for your reception space.

  
  

  Your gut feeling is correct.  Everyone should be seated in one room together.  If not, those few guests who have to sit elsewhere will feel like you really don't care about them.

  
  

  How many people can fit in the tent area?  Does your location have any other larger rooms available?

  
  

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• STARMOON44 member

  

  October 2014

  Put the dance floor in the tent and seat everyone inside. Put everyone in the tent and dance inside. Invite 20 fewer guests. Build an addition onto the winery.
  
  FYI your beginning of the reception comment makes it seem like you main priority is having everyone watch your entrance.

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• Maggie0829 member

  

  October 2014

  STARMOON44 said:

  Put the dance floor in the tent and seat everyone inside. Put everyone in the tent and dance inside. Invite 20 fewer guests. Build an addition onto the winery. FYI your beginning of the reception comment makes it seem like you main priority is having everyone watch your entrance.

  I like the bolded option the best

  
  

  But moving the dance floor is a really good idea and would be an easy solution to your problem.

  
  

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• lyndausvi mod

  

  October 2014

  The obvious answer is not to over invite for the capacity of the room.   I'm hoping that ship has not sailed.   

  
  

   If invites have already gone out it's hard to say without seeing/knowing the layout of the room in relation to the where they tent will be.     For example, can you move the dancing out to the tent freeing up space in the room for more tables?

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  

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• atlastmrsg member

  

  October 2014

  Before you over invite, you need to see the winery's room capacity (some buildings have two--one with tables/chairs, one just standing room).  If you are over the room capacity at 120, you could be in violation of local law/regulations.  Depending on how stringently the winery follows rules like fire marshal regulations, they may be the one turning people away.  

  
  

  If the true capacity is 120, you can't have more guests than that.  It's simple.  Invite more than that, and winery could turn them away or be fined.  Both would be really tacky and unpleasant for guests.  Not to mention, it's not fun trying to squeeze shoulder to shoulder in a space with people, especially while trying to juggle appetizers/etc. and a cocktail.

  
  

  Cut. Down. Your. List.

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• Maggie0829 member

  

  October 2014

  And don't forget that you have to include you and your FI and any vendors (such as DJ, photographer, catering staff, etc) into your headcount for your room because the capacity is not just for guests, but all bodies that need to be in the room.

  
  

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• southernbelle0915 mod

  

  October 2014

  I don't understand how you planned on 130 but 140 are showing up? Did people add to their RSVPs? If so, you should follow up and say "I'm sorry the invitation was only for you. We cannot accommodate additional guests." 

  
  

  Or did you over-invite thinking only 130 would attend? If so, this is a great lesson for lurkers on why you MUST plan on 100% attendance. If you have less, lucky you - money saved. 

  
  

  Everyone needs to sit in the same area. Talk to the winery about alternate set up options - maybe you need to have a couple long banquet tables instead of rounds, maybe you eliminate your sweetheart table and sit with your parents, maybe you move ALL auxiliary tables outside, maybe you move the bar outside to the tent, etc. In the tented "spillover" area, this is where you can have your dance floor, your auxiliary tables, your vendor table, etc. But all wedding guests should sit in the same room.

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• peachy13 member

  

  October 2014

  I'm having about 200 guests at my wedding. The main reception/dining room can cozily seat about 150 WITH a DJ/dance floor. Without dance floor, everyone can sit together. We are making the room adjacent to the dining room the party room: dance floor, DJ, uplighting, photobooth, extra bar... it's not really my ideal vision but it beats making some of my guests sit in a different room. Plus once dinner is done, most of my friends probably won't even come out of the party room.

  
  

  Oh, and one time I was at a wedding where I didn't make the cut to sit in the main dining area and had to be in this little room with like 30 other people. AWFUL.

  
  
  
  

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• tammym1001 member

  

  October 2014

  I went to a wedding where DH and I had to sit outside. They left the doors open so we could hear what was going on inside, but we pretty much sat outside with about 10 other people and talked to each other. We left early and my friend was upset that we weren't staying to party. Well sorry, but we drove 2 1/2 hours to your wedding to sit around and talk to strangers and miss everything. We weren't really in the mood to stay and party after that. Keep that in mind if you decide to sit people outside. They will be bored and upset.

  
  

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• jenijoyk member

  

  October 2014

  I would be freaking out. I am already freaking out because three of my tables are separated from the other 10 tables with a row of waist- to shoulder-high plants and I feel terrible about it. Tip for others: when you ask your venue "What is the capacity of this courtyard?" And they say "150." Then ask a follow up question like, "Where EXACTLY do the tables for 150 go, like EXACTLY?"

  Also, I am considering sneaking in on Friday night with a machete and cutting down some plants.

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• cambryn member

  

  October 2014

  If invitations have gone out, and you can't move the dance floor- have you considered seating yourself and the wedding party outside? If you're going to separate anyone from the party, do it to yourself and not random guests. You all will be mingling and dancing anyways, beyond eating, yes? 

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