We are talking reception layout, and looking at the pros and cons that come with the two main styles that we often see!
Banquet Style
There’s a certain air of royalty that comes with banqueting of tables. It’s slightly reminiscent of something you’d see in a period drama, but here are some reasons why this style has stood the test of time and made it into modern wedding plans.
PROS
- Banqueting tables create a real sense of community and togetherness. By eliminating small clusters, opportunities are created for more people to get to know one another!
- There can be a little bit of a stigma surrounding the “tables at the back”. Some people can feel as though the back tables (furthest from the top table) are left for the odd single friends, exes (if you dare) and 3rd cousins that your parents made you invite! Having a banquet layout can help those seated further away to feel a part of all the action and usually minimises the obstacles of other people in the way!
CONS
- Although there is increased freedom as far as how many guests you can fit to a table, it can at times feel a little cramped. With someone directly in front of you (at a much shorter distance than you would get with a round table) and someone either side of you too, it can feel a little claustrophobic!
- As mentioned above, there is an increased sense of togetherness and everyone being on the same table essentially. This may not be ideal if you are trying to keep certain people away from one another (Family drama. We all have it.)
The Classic Round
The all time wedding classic. Round tables have been a staple go-to at weddings, and whether your wedding will be traditional or totally unique, it’s likely that round tables will be fit for purpose.
PROS
- With round tables your centrepieces can really be, well… central. There can be difficulty in getting the symmetry right for centrepieces, and with a banquet style (or other rectangular layouts) you are restricted to thin centrepieces that won’t impose on the dining space. Round tables allow for a lot more flexibility with your design!
- Round tables have the tendency to elevate the event! There is a certain formality that comes with round tables and especially if you are going down a traditional route, there can be a magical ballroom imagery that accompanies round tables.
CONS
- Although common to weddings, if you are using a venue that is not necessarily a wedding venue in its own right, you may have to hire these tables independently. This can add to the cost of the venue, and of course there’s the inconvenience of table delivery and coordinating the pick up.
- Tablecloths are also a little trickier when it comes to round tables. Whereas in some DIY situations, it may be fairly easy to borrow/ fashion simple rectangular tablecloths of your own, it’s a little harder to do this with round tables and once again, it’ll probably be a hire job.
Now that we have seen the heavyweights of table layout battle it out, we have a couple of honourable mentions that are definitely worth considering.
MIX IT UP
Why only stick to one of these styles when you can have both? It may take a little extra work when trying to figure out the space in the venue, but we LOVE how it can look to mix these two styles together.
REINVENT A CLASSIC
Why don’t you try banquet style layout that does not necessarily span the whole length of the room? This can create the illusion of one long table and the pros that come with it, but you can navigate the room more easily and move around slightly more when these banquet style tables are in slightly smaller clusters.
NO TABLES
This suggestion is VERY dependent on the overall theme of your wedding, but why have tables at all? Some wedding themes will lend to a more bohemian vibe, and this should carry through all aspects of the wedding including the dining experience. You could go for a picnic situation with blankets and cushions to sit on! It would be wise to warn guests of this though, as some (probably most) dresses are not designed for floor seating.
As with most things that we discuss on Threshold, the table layout can really have an effect on the general aesthetics of the wedding, and therefore influence the mood (threshold buzzword) that you are going for.
But again, as always, flexibility and adaptability are key. Make it work for you and your guests!*
*A couple of last minute pointers when planning:
- Practice sitting down and standing up on the chairs when laying out the tables. Is there enough space for people to get up and move around comfortably?
- Do you need to make room for a dance floor space following dinner? Who is helping you to move the tables, and is this going to be totally impractical because of the layout you are considering?
- When thinking about where people will be sitting- do not forget the table legs! If you can avoid it, try not to seat your guests right in the way of uncomfortable table legs.
