Sorry for the absence in the recaps everyone! I’m really hoping to have my full disc of pictures soon to show you but until then, some logistics!
Ah, the floor plan. With only 50 people, you would think that this would’ve been one of the easiest things about planning my reception. However, because of the food stations we had, the bar, and my requirement for a very large dance floor, it proved tougher than any of us imagined! Here is where we started, with 9 round tables.
As you can see, this left me with a VERY small dance floor, approximately 10 feet in length. Completely unacceptable! So I used trusty Photoshop and popped out this baby.
This nearly doubled my dance floor. However, my caterer was wary. He did not like how close to the kitchen doors and the food stations the tables in this floor plan are. Back to the drawing board…
Estate seating was an idea that my planner proposed and it intrigued me. But because our centerpieces are low and lush, I wasn’t sure if it would work. We started playing with table arrangements to see if things fit better. Version one had a placement of rectangular tables.
Then Kim pointed out, correctly, that the centerpieces I wanted would not work with single-wide rectangular tables. Argh!
Next up, some double-wide estate tables.
We’re getting there but still not perfect. So back we went to Kim’s first novel idea – two long double-wide estate tables.
I have to admit, I was a bit concerned about positioning and the room looking too geometric. But I think it turned out wonderfully. :)
Here is a little sneak peek of the reception – lots more on that to come soon!
Did you have any issues with deciding the layout of your reception?
Previously: Choosing My Venue, Out of Town Baskets, Do Not Disturb Signs, The Welcome Party (Part 1, Part 2), Lighting the Lawn and Porch, Bathroom Baskets, DIY Coat Check Tags, Ceremony Music, Our Same Day Edit Video, Getting Pretty, Portraits, The Ceremony, Cocktail Hour Decor, DIY Wine Glass Charms, Time Capsule Guest Book, Cocktail Hour Entertainment: Blackjack, Ceremony Readings
I am in the midst of reception layout disaster — I love the idea of estate seating, but with nearly 200 expected guests, its not practical. I am trying to figure out a unique layout instead of just rounds, but I’m having a hard time.
Also, any tips on good seating chart software I can download?
http://www.directoryforweddings.com/tools.aspx?id=25260
I love this website. It is so informative. You can download checklists and even a word program that will help with your seating chart. It helped me a bunch considering I have a guest list of 175 and I’m doing everything myself.
God Bless
I love how the table layout turned out! I can’t wait to see all of the photos from the reception!
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OMG, I am crushing your table so bad. That is exactly what I want. It feels so classy and intimate. We hope to have the same layout in our space but will figure out the logistics closer to our wedding date (06/12/10).
Beautiful table. But I had never heard the term ‘estate tables’. Makes me imagine elk heads all around.
The candlelight makes it so warm and inviting!
Okay….so I am officially a stalker of your reception! :) Do you happen to remember the dimensions of your reception space? Our space layout is really similar and we will only be having 30 guests and I planned to have the same seating arrangement. Thanks!
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Hi Ashlee! 32′ x 64′ – the stage was 18′ x 9′. So usable area was 32 width and about 54 length. Our tables were each 24′ long (three 8′ tables pushed together) and in terms of width were actually two tables, a regular 8′ and a 8′ schoolboy, which is about half of the width of a regular table.
I hope this helps and thank you for the sweet words, it made my day!
can you tell us what program you used to create the floor plan?
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I love your reception idea! My wedding is in 12 days and I am scrambling to find an indoor layout since the weather has taken a turn for the worse. And my outdoor wedding has now turned into an indoor wedding.
I have a question with the two long estate tables where did you and your husband sit? Since I do not see a sweetheart table anywhere.
A reply would be greatly appreciated thank you!!
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Hi Leah! We actually sat at the end closest to the dance floor of one of the tables. Hope that helps and best of luck for your last minute prep and your wedding!!
I am inlove with these pictures – they have been my decor inspiration! I am creating the same thing – two long tables (with 24 guests at each table). Where I am getting married offers 6 foot rectangular tables, or 5 foot square tables which I have to pay extra for. I was wondering – when you pushed two tables together to allow them to be wide enough – did you find the centerpieces sat okay on them? That would create a line between the two under the table cloth – I am wondering if there was any issue with that. I would rather use the 6 foot tables so I don’t have to pay extra (they are 29″ wide, so 2 together would make it just under 5 feet wide), whereas pushing the 5 foot squares together you just get one solid table. Thanks so much for any help!
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Hi Alana! We actually used one regular-size table and a smaller extender table, and oversized linens. We didn’t notice any lines and the centerpieces sat great. :) I hope this helps!