Cocktail Style Reception - Everyone seated at a table?

You need tables.

People check their shoes? Is that a thing?

I would want to have a seat and a table.

That would be pretty rude to be seated at a wall with a ledge while your family all sat there all comfy at tables. All I can imagine is sitting there thinking how you didn't give a shit about the rest of us. If you don't want those guests there then don't invite them.

I definitely think there needs to be a seat and a convenient table/place to put food and drink for every guest. This is especially true if some people are going to have traditional table set up while others are forced to make it work. I would be annoyed to be playing a balancing act with my food and drink while others relax at a normal table.

It's seems it would be a bit crowed.

How will guests know who gets a seat?

Can I change the venue?

Every guest needs a seat

This is what I'm imagining with not enough tables for every e

This just doesn't seem appealing because even though there are enough seats for everyone apparently there aren't enough tables for everyone. I hate regular cocktail hours where there isn't anywhere for me to put my drink while I eat or I have to put my plate in my lap to eat. I'd hate it for an entire reception, sorry. And it feels weird to put my drink on a ledge or some random high top to go dancing. I'd really rethink the seating part of this.

Maybe I've been to too many weddings, but I think it sounds great.

You need a seat for every ass.

ETA: if you really think it's okay to have no tables/chairs for some guests, why assign/reserve special tables for your BP/family? What's considered okay for everyone else should be considered okay for your family and BP.

I think having a mix of seat8ng is fine if it's just cocktails and apps. Couches with coffee tables, pub tables with stools, bar stools, etc. As long as there is enough for everyone - but every seat should have a corresponding table to place drink or plate as needed.

Just another obstacle for people with invisible disabilities.

Preferential proper seating for your nearest and dearest while everyone else balances drinks on a ledge doesn't seem fair.

Who is going to check their shoes at a bar? What if someone breaks a glass?

Doesn't the whole idea of a cocktail party reception involve the guests standing up and mingling for the majority of the time? Why would all guests need a seat when the majority would be standing for periods of time?

If you don't have seating, many people won't stay long

No, in my opinion you don't need seating for everyone. We had a cocktail style event for our engagement party and plan to do the same for our wedding. Before the engagement party I was SO paranoid about seating (and we had over 90 people) and it was 100% fine. People mingled, moved seats, and GASP ate off their laps. It was such a fun event and did not have all the formalities that come with a sit down dinner. We plan to do the same for out wedding and there will be large tables, small tables, lounge areas, outdoor deck seating, so many options. The whole concept of a cocktail reception is being up and about the whole time.

You make sense. Unlike so many posts I agree with this - to keep a party alive you do not have full seating especially when the food does not require seating.
At the end of the day there is always a seat for who really needs it. If everyone is sitting it’s formal and it’s probably boring

View Quoted Comment Not sure why you bumped a six year plus old thread but OP is probably long gone. For the benefit of anyone reading, though, what you say can apply to an open house or very limited duration cocktail party, but not an hours long wedding reception. What happens is that people who get coveted seats won’t move from them and people with invisible disabilities are screwed. In my experience these things never end well.

View Quoted Comment We can agree to disagree :

View Quoted Comment Agree with this. From weddings we have attended that were old school cake, coffee and finger sandwiches or baked from frozen Costco apps for 2hours minimum to 3 hours max, when there is no seating for everyone and only a small percentage do get to sit, guests leave early, often before cake is served. Those who are lucky to find a lone chair, have it equally difficult because they can either balance the plate and drink on their lap with no free hand to eat with or the drink gets kicked over on the floor. And invisible disabilities are treated as if they don’t exist when a limited number of chairs are set out instead of tables with chairs for all guests. In the situation where there is enough seats and tables for all, guests choose to stay longer than expected.