Party Hints
Table selection and seating capacity

Cocktail tables (pedestal) 42" Height (also called Cruisers!)

  • 30 round   Seats 2 to 4

Banquet Tables

  •  4' x 30" Seats 4 to 6
  •  6’ x 30”  Seats 6 to 8
  •  8’ x 30” Seats 8 to 10

Round Tables  

  • 48” Seats 4 to 6
  • 60” Seats 8 to 10
  • 72" Seats 10 to 12
  • Patio Tables  Seats 4
     
Party seating and space information

Cocktail parties

  • Standing

5-6 sq. ft. per person

  • Partial Seating

8 sq. ft. per person

Receptions

  • Partial Seating

8 sq. ft. per person

Dinners

  • Oblong Tables

8 sq. ft. per person
  • Round Tables of 10

10 sq. ft per person
  • Round. Tables
    of 6, 8 or 12

12 sq. ft per person

Cathedral Seating

  • Rows

6 sq. ft. per person

Dance Area
2-4 sq. ft. per person

Seating arrangements

The following formulas and dimensions allow for chair aisles and passage aisles. Increase allowances to accommodate wide traffic aisle(s), columns, service doors and unique room shapes.

Banquet style

For 24” service space behind 18” chair depth:

  • Round Table guidelines
    • Allow 54” between tables for chair space and food service
    • Divide the room area in square feet by 10 for maximum seating
    • Add an additional 2 sq. ft. per person for increased comfort
  • Oblong Table guidelines
    • Allow 60” between tables for back-to-back seating
    • Divide the room area in square feet by 8 for maximum seating
    • Add an additional 2 square feet per person for increased comfort
  • Classroom Style guidelines
    • Allow 36” between tables for seating on one side of table only
    • Increase allowance for two-sided seating or food service
    • Divide the student seating area in square feet by 8
  • Theatre or Ceremony Style guidelines
    • Allow 36” between rows of chairs
    • Increase allowance for maximum comfort
    • Divide audience seating area in square feet by 8
Other rental items for your party, reception, banquet or business meeting
  • Portable bar
  • Food warmers
  • Table Skirting for the head table and buffet tables
  • Dance Floor
  • Special lighting (Disco Ball)

 

 Guests and Menu Planning
For the Cocktail Party make finger foods and beverages accessible and keep them coming!  You don't want food and beverage lines to intersect either; snaking lines make for snarling guests.  A sit-down dinner is a perfectly feasible idea, but a buffet frees up the host or hostess from serving and portioning chores.
 

There are many ways to arrange chafing dishes or platters for a buffet.  Most people place them on a long table against an unobstructed wall in the traditional format.  For large parties  the same dishes are on either side of the buffet table, so that there are two lines in what is called a mirrored format.  This is ideal for large parties.

Split buffets or stations are another option: salads on one table, hot stuff on another. Or you can have themed buffet stations; cheese sticks and pasta on the Italian buffet station and chicken lo mein on the Asian one.  It's a matter of personal preference and allows a lot more mingling.
 

Ensure that you have lots of plates and glassware. For buffets include extra plates and cutlery for big eaters.  Glassware should be calculated to 2.5 glasses per person which allows people to have wine at dinner and a soda or water afterwards.  Renting dishware, glassware and cutlery saves the headaches of trying to 'borrow' from friends and family.

 

Buffet and bar tablecloths  should hang to the floor, so that the under-table region can be used to store liquor bottles and rental boxes.   Also available are table skirts in a variety of colours which give the tables a professional look.

 

 The INSIDERS Party

For some, there's no place like home when it comes to throwing parties.  Homes have warmth and charm, so don't start rearranging the furniture - leave the majority of things as they are.  If you feel there isn't enough space, your home is simply not big enough.  
 

The other option is to hold your special event at a community hall.  There are many to choose from in the GTA area -each with a different character.  Double check to make sure that the hall has all that you need.  If you must have round tables and the hall only has rectangular - rent the tables that you need.  Also consider that the dishes that the hall provides may require washing before you use them and also need to be washed after your event.  Rent the dishes that you need and save alot of time.

 

 The OUTSIDERS Party

Virtually no one wants to be cooped up in the house on a beautiful day.  So if the weather is suitable, take your affair outdoors for a little fun.
 

The first rule of Barbecuing 101 is not to set up your grill near the dining tables or under the tent.  The best place is in a corner of the yard, where the least amount of traffic will be present.  You can also set up a buffet table beside the grill for plates, salads and condiments.  If you plan to serve a large crowd remember to rent a large BBQ - you may think that everyone will eat at different times but you may be surprised with a long line up waiting for food.

 

Cocktail tables, or 36 inch rounds, allow people to talk and move around more freely.  However, if you're planning a sit-down affair, use 60 inch round tables, which are designed for 10 people or less.  

If you're fretting about the weather, you can  rent a tent.  If you do , make sure it is  located near the house and is large enough to accommodate all of your needs.  Determine the number of people, whether there will be a head table, dance floor,  buffet area and a bar area.  Remember that the disc jockey needs space too.