Cocktail Hour Seating

I like offering mixed--- we went to some that had cocktail tables that you just stood at, various chairs throughout to sit and then couches and armchairs with coffee tables. I wouldn't think you'd have chairs for every single guest since it's cocktail hour and meant for people to mingle

It sounds perfect to me! Mine has a mix of sofas, chairs, high top tables/chairs. There's definitely not a seat for everyone but I'm guessing people will move around.

No need to rent bar stools for highboys. Highboys are meant for people to stand at and are high because you are standing and give you a place to put down your drink, plate, purse, etc. having a couple of cocktail tables with chairs is s good idea for guests who may not be able to stand for an hour. I think the set up you described will be fine.

Yes, most cocktail hours I've been to had a mix. Some low tables or seating areas with some high top tables should be fine. I'm going to do a couple outdoor conversation sets with high top tables, and high top tables with chairs.

I'm renting hightops and stools for the cocktail hour. I was a little worried about numbers as well but ultimately just looked at the space and how many tables would look right.
Our wedding, cocktail hour and reception will all be at the same location. Barring inclement weather we're having the ceremony under a tree, the cocktail hour on the patio and dinnet under the shelter. With everything being so near, I imagine anyone who needs to sit can find one by just walking into another section.

View Quoted Comment Agree completely with this! I was going to say the same thing. Cocktails tables are perfect for just standing. I wouldn't add barstools so long as you have the other seating options.

We have high top tables around the bar, but the hour is taking place in the same room as our reception, so people can sit at their tables, too.

I've never seen a cocktail hour without a mix of high top tables and regular height tables. Totally normal. That's what we had. The high top tables did not have chairs around them, but the regular height ones did. Then there was lounge furniture outside for people to sit on as well.

What's a hydration station?

I love the idea of doing a mix! My back sometimes will hurt if I’m standing in heals for too long so I would be ecstatic to find some seating!

View Quoted Comment

Hydration station is just water station, infused and non.

I just went to visit my venue again this past weekend. My cocktail hour will be very similar to yours in a lot of ways, and my venue provides high top tables (no bar stools with them), and some regular height tables and chairs. I have attached a picture of part of the set up.

Cocktail Hour Space

We are going to have some seating but mostly high tops with no barstools until everyone moves to the reception room where there are a mix of high tops with bar stools, larger tables and lounge seating.

I'm using a separate room for my cocktail hour with high bar tables. I'm using the venues folding chairs (using spandex chair covers) along the wall, so as not to incurr additional expense in renting bar stools if some guest want to sit down in that room.......but really they can flow back into the main reception area and sit at their seats again or go outside on the patio, which will also have 2 add'l bar tables.

My cocktail hour will be in the same room as the ceremony. I'm not entirely sure how the plan on doing that. That is on my list of things to discuss with my venue this Saturday at our final meeting.