How to choose tables for your party hire

March 29, 2018

The arrangement of your reception space is important for both practical and aesthetic reasons. Are you organising an event where tables and chairs are not available at your venue or required for your home event? There are several things that needs to be considered when deciding what type of tables you should have at your event.

The first question you need to answer is how many people you require to seat or cater for at your event, to calculate how many tables will be needed for hire.

For example, if you’re hosting 60+ people for a meal or banquet style event, long trestle tables lined together look great. Trestle tables lined up are the best way to make the most of a smaller space. Long table arrangements are also an easy solution for seating many guests in an organised fashion whilst still maximising floor space in a single area.

The type of table you choose will determine the seating style for the duration of your event (it will be quite difficult to change the table arrangement half way through).

Consider how many guests you would like to have grouped at each table, and the mood you are hoping to create. Round banquet tables are great for social events where you want to encourage guests interacting with each other. This is a popular choice for corporate round tables, and also for special social occasions such as weddings and birthdays.

Long table seating can feel more formal, but is also effective if you want guests to face and look down one direction, usually the front of the room. If you don’t have a lot of guests, this can also look great as one single long table for the entire room.

If you’re planning a cocktail event and hadn’t considered hiring tables, you should re-add it to your list. Hiring tall bar tables for a cocktail event is important for a few reasons,

Just because your guests will be standing, doesn’t mean they won’t want somewhere to rest their glass or plate
The last thing you want is empty glassware scattered al over the floor or in random pot plants – Your guests will need somewhere to dispose of their empty glasses
Cocktail tables / high tables provide a good place to congregate and socialise with other guests. It can also break up any awkwardness that might be felt to be standing for an entire event.

After choosing your tables, you’ll need to consider next how you want to decorate these. Before buying any ornaments, or display arrangements, make sure to pick your table linen and dressage to ensure that everything suits.

And once you’ve made your decision on the table arrangements and types that you are hosting with, of course you’ll then have to move on to choosing the chairs you’d like to match!