Tables, Chairs & Linens

1)    How big of a Reception Site do I need for a party of 200 guests?

        First, identify what will be in that room: bar area, food tables, seating   at tables for guests, head table, dancefloor, band or Disc Jockey, etc.   Then     follow this table of guidelines:  

2)    How many people can fit around an 8' banquet table?

        8 to 10.    Four chairs on each side and one chair at each end. More seating capacity information:

3)    How much space should I leave between chairs set up for a meeting?

        At least 36" from the front edge of one chair, measured backwards to the  front edge of the chair behind it.  Be sure to place the chairs at least 2" apart, side-by-side, to allow for "elbow room".

4)    How close can I place tables and their chairs and still allow enough    room for the waiters to serve us easily or guests to walk behind?

        Aside from main traffic aisles, allow 54" between round tables for chair  and service space and 60" between rectangular tables, where seating is back-to-back. This permits 24" "walk-behind" space behind the chairs.

5)    I want to use 60" Round tables for my sit down dinner, but I under-    stand that they use up a lot of room space?

        Yes, although stylishly a more attractive look to a room, round tables     give you less seating per square foot than rectangular tables.    Here's a  Rule of Thumb:

        For a Sit Down Dinner: When using 8' rectangular tables, divide the    room seating area (sq. ft.) by 8. When using 60" round tables, divide the       room area (sq. ft.) by 12. (These figures are for maximum seating. If space     is available for more comfortable seating, allow an additional 2 sq. ft. per   person.)

        For Theater Style seating:   Divide "spectator" seating area (sq. ft.) by 6.

        ROUND TABLES: To maximize the amount of round tables you can use in a room, place   them so that a round table in one row fits between two round tables of the  next row back:

              O    O    O     O             

   O    O     O    O

        For an Informal Buffet dinner: Set up seating and tables for half of  your guests only, with additional chairs around perimeter for more seating.

Table Linen Questions:

1)    What size tablecloth fits a 60" Round table?

        The answer depends on the look you are trying to achieve. For a casual  event, you might select a 90" diameter tablecloth which will drape over the   edge 15".   For a formal event, you might want a 120" diameter tablecloth, as  it will drape to the floor.   Use the following chart to find the right tablecloth  for you:

2)    How much skirting would I need to encircle an 8' banquet table?

        You will need 22 feet of skirting to go all around an 8' banquet table, but  do you need to?   If this is a food table that will be up against a wall or a head   table, you won't need to skirt the backside, as it will be hidden.  The following  chart will help:

NOTE: Banquet tables placed end-to-end will require different measuring; measure along table edges visible to guests.