Accurate furniture quantities prevent running short on the day or paying for surplus items. Use these figures as a starting point for your wedding hire order.
Accurate furniture quantities prevent running short on the day or paying for surplus items. Use these figures as a starting point for your wedding hire order.
Accurate furniture quantities prevent two problems: running short on the day, or paying for surplus items that spend the reception in a corner. Use these figures as a starting point, then adjust for your specific layout and venue dimensions.
Order one chair per guest attending the ceremony, plus 10% contingency. For 80 guests, order 88 to 90 chairs. For 150 guests, order 165.
The registrar's table needs at least 2 chairs at the front. Add a third if witnesses sit with the registrar rather than in the front row. These are in addition to the guest count.
Reserved seating for close family occupies the first 2 to 3 rows on each side. Mark these with ribbon, sash or seat cards on the aisle chairs. Count them in the total, not separately.
Row spacing: allow 45 to 50cm per chair width across each row. Allow 1.5m from the front of one row to the back of the row ahead, which lets guests stand and move without pressing into the row in front. Keep a central aisle of at least 1.2m, with 1.5m recommended.
Order one chair per guest attending the reception, plus 5 to 10% contingency. Use the upper end of that range if your guest list is still shifting.
Use these figures as a working guide. Actual capacity depends on chair width and the space between tables.
See Expo Hire's banqueting tables and trestle tables ranges for available sizes.
A traditional top table uses one long rectangular table. Six to eight people is standard; up to 14 for a large wedding party. Allow 1.5m clearance behind the top table for service access. A sweetheart table for two takes up less space and simplifies the seating plan.
One poseur table per 8 to 10 guests works as a starting point for cocktail hour seating. Space them in clusters of 2 to 3 rather than in a single row.
Use 0.7 square metres per guest as a working figure for the dance floor. Not every guest dances at once, but this allows for movement and a full floor during peak moments.
Allow at least 1.5m between table rows for service access. Leave 1m minimum on all sides of any table near a wall. Confirm fire egress routes with the venue before confirming the layout.
Reception chairs: 88 (80 guests + 10%)
Dining tables: 10 x 5ft round tables seating 8, or 8 x 6ft round tables seating 10
Top table: 1 x 6ft or 8ft trestle seating 6 to 8
Poseur tables (cocktail hour): 8 to 10
Dance floor: 40 sqm
Reception chairs: 165 (150 guests + 10%)
Dining tables: 15 x 6ft round tables seating 10, or 13 x 6ft round tables seating 12
Top table: 1 x 8ft trestle seating up to 12
Poseur tables (cocktail hour): 15 to 18
Dance floor: 70 sqm
These figures assume a separate ceremony space. If the ceremony and reception share a room, add ceremony chair quantities and factor in time and staffing for the room turnaround.
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