Cocktail reception vs seated dinner for social distancing

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like walking around and socializing with the entire guest list is more of an exposure than being seated at a table with one or two other households.

If you do decide to go with a cocktail reception, it should be after dinner time, so I would plan for a ceremony around 7 pm or so. I would also make sure there is still sufficient seating for guests who don't want to be up and moving the entire time.

I understand your thinking. However if 25 people gather in one area because they are free to roam then that’s not social distancing. I say stick your plan and seat tables 6 ft part and place an empty seat between two different families.

Here's a third vote that being seated in family/household groups is probably way safer. I don't know that I'd do a cocktail hour at all unless it's outside

I had the same initial reaction also...a free roaming environment sounds a lot less controlled than a seated dinner with tables properly spaced out. I saw from your other post that you like the idea of long banquet tables, and I think that might be the idea you have to revisit instead.

We postponed our big reception, but we're having a small wedding this year and we're kind of doing this. But we'll be outside 100% of the time and there will only be 15 people, and everyone will still have assigned seats.


A cocktail reception makes you feel like you have more space because you're not limited to one area, but you would be having the same number of people in the same amount of space. Allowing people to roam would only make things less safe. The easiest solution would just be to have everyone seated by household. If your venue allows it, you can ask to use smaller tables so you don't end up with like 2 people at a table meant for 8.

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Thank you everyone for your thoughts and feedback! I should have clarified that the cocktail reception would be outside in a large space. I will readdress the seated dinner layout with your advice.

We changed our plans to do something like this. We’re having a small wedding outdoors, and after the ceremony we’ll do a champagne toast, the dances, and then let families spread out for a cocktail hour.


Being outside is 18x safer than being indoors, so I agree with you about this being a safer route. We’re keeping everything short and let guests know that it won’t be a “traditional” reception.

Ah I agree with pp! The idea is you don’t want them roaming around to socialize

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Even with a big area, your guests would still be up walking around and mingling with us. I would definitely have a seat dinner.

I was originally thinking this exact thing but my venue feels ok with smaller tables of 4 or so and maybe some small cocktail tables around. its definitely an idea!

View Quoted Comment In that case, here's what we're doing this year in case you're still interested in the cocktail reception concept:
We're having heavy appetizers in, "attractive individual containers." This way, everyone will be able to choose what they want to eat, but we didn't have to bring in any additional people to serve the food, but we don't have to worry about anyone touching anyone else's food. The appetizers will be set up in a separate "catering tent" next to the tent with the tables.
Each table will have 2-3 people. I made masks for everyone and we'll tell everyone to wear them when they're not seated, so no one will be breathing on anyone they don't live with/regularly spend time with. Each person will also be given a bottle of hand sanitizer.
If you have a large number of people, it would probably good to have the food separated into multiple stations to reduce the likelihood of lines forming.