Standing Reception for Micro-wedding?

If you mean like a cocktail reception where guests can move about freely, but seating will be available, that's fine as long as it's during a non-meal time. If you mean everyone will literally be standing for the reception, I don't think that's okay.

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Agree with Caytlyn

Also agree with Caytlyn. If you're just doing a cocktail hour-only thing after the ceremony, you might be able to get away with no seating for a short amount of time, but I think seating should be made available to your guests regardless.

We are doing a typical cocktail hour followed by a formal (seated) dinner. At my venue, generally people just mill around during cocktail hour, but I asked if seats could be made available - particularly for our older guests.

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Agree with this!

I will say though if there’s gonna be any older folks then it might be nice to have some seats available if they need

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They will have some seats but the caterer says its a standing reception.

Agree with others that seating should be available for reception. It also makes it awkward for people to eat their meal (if it’s not finger foods) without seating and tables.

I am 38 and in pretty good shape and I know I would not want to have to stand for hours on end. I would still suggest having seating for everyone. I truly prefer not to stand while eating. If you do not want to take the guests out to a restaurant (maybe there are some restaurants in our area that are more expensive and not formal but nice like a mom and pop Italian restaurant?) can you rent some tables and chairs for your venue?

Would some seating would be available? If so I think it would be fine but if not I don't think people would want to stand the whole time

Everyone should have a seat, standing for long periods of time is extremely uncomfortable or even painful for many people, especially while dressed up and eating. Most people I know would be looking to leave as soon as possible if there were no seats. I would verify with the caterer what exactly they mean by a standing reception. Are they just referring to how the food is served (food stations or heavy passed apps instead of seated dinner or buffet)? Providing seating should not have any effect on the way the food is served.

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I should clarify!! There will be ceremony chairs at the park! everyone will be able to sit down. Food will be passed around by the caterer. We just won't have a seated dinner service.

View Quoted Comment This is fine. You do need to provide seats, but you do not need to provide a seated dinner. This is more commonly called a "cocktail reception," and if you're also serving drinks, that's how I would recommend explaining it to your guests because you'll get a lot of complaints if people think they have to stand.

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Okay yes!!! We're having a cocktail reception!!!

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Will you only be serving passed apps? Because if they will have plates or glasses they will need somewhere to set their items.