Table to chair to guest ratio?

50 guests ratio can half seated tables and half stand up tables for those who feel comfortable talking and eating. The elderly would like to sit and the younger generation would be standing more. This would allow the space for lawn games to be spread out.

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More than plenty. The idea is to not overwhelm the space with tables. And plus, it's only an hour or so, people can live if they have to have something in the hand for a moment. I would personally go five cruisers for just 50 people and at max 20 chairs. Knock it down to 10 if you can based on your guest list. Unless they're a senior, have health/mobility issues, or dealing with a baby, no one should be sitting during a cocktail hour. In my opinion, seated guests for a cocktail hour is a huge buzz kill.

View quoted message It's okay! I wasn't very clear in the initial post! 😂

View quoted message Ohhhhhh sorry, I got mixed up. That makes way more sense.

Hi Hank,


Thanks for your reply! Cruisers are for cocktail hour. Guests will have their own chairs at assigned tables for reception. Cocktail hour is taking place outside (20x30 tent) while the space is being switched over. So ten cruisers for 50 guests should be plenty?

View quoted message Ohh no no, this isn't for the reception - everyone will have their own chair for that at their assigned tables! This is for cocktail hour.

I think guests appreciate the "home base" of a chair even if they barely sit in it. If you've got 50 guests I would get 50 chairs so that there is somewhere for people to hang suit coats and purses, and to return to when their dancing feet get tired. Plus if you're having any kind of spectating at the reception (speeches, shoe game, etc) people will want a place to sit for the duration.

Are the cruisers for your reception or cocktail hour?

It'll also depend on the space. Personally when I set up for events, I have one cruiser per ten people but that depends on how much space there is.