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Just Said Yes April 2019

Table size for family style dinner?

Emma, on December 13, 2017 at 2:14 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 3

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So we're having a small wedding of about 50 and I want to big long tables so it feels more like a family event. I've been looking at family style food but what size tables should I look at renting? I've heard the regular 8'x30" aren't wide enough for plates and the platters in the middle.

I was looking at maybe having the platters raised up on wood planks sitting on wire baskets so it's like a little platform in the middle of the table for everything to sit on.

We wouldn't likely have big centrepieces just maybe some greenery under the platform and some tea lights. I just wonder if having 36" width tables would be enough.

Has anyone done family style that could help me out with what size they've used?

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3 Comments

Latest activity by Celia Milton, on December 13, 2017 at 5:08 PM

Devoted June 2020
WooPigSooie · on December 13, 2017 at 4:59 PM
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You want to have the food for 50 guests on platters in the middle of the tables? So people will be passing dishes around or reaching across each other? Personally I think that will turn into a big mess. Even if you get a 36” wide table that only leaves approx 1’ for the serving dishes and 1’ of space for each guest’s plates and drinks. I would feel claustrophobic. Why not just have a buffet? You can still do the long tables so that people are sitting across from each other, but that way people won’t be having conversations across the serving dishes.
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Champion August 2017
Mrsbdg · on December 13, 2017 at 5:01 PM
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I agree with @WooPig, buffet for an event of this size. 50 is not small.

All of that passing and reaching is going to end up with people spilling something at some point. You may be able to pass this off with 20-30 people at most.
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Celia Milton · on December 13, 2017 at 5:08 PM
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One of my very upscale venues outside of NYC ONLY does family style (and for the record, they are booked solid, years in advance...). They have farmhouse tables that are at least four feet across. For seating, you need two feet PP for each chair.

You'll probably need about 4-5 giant tables.

I love this idea, honestly, but you can't do one big long table.
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