Rectangular Tables
Photo by Caroline Lima Photography
Depending on the length, rectangular tables can seat anywhere from a larger group of 10 to a more intimate gathering of just four. “Typically I use an oversized rectangle table that is a 4’ x 8’ table,” shares Kelly. “For seated dinners, this offers more space for your charger, glassware, and more, while still allowing plenty of space for floral in the center of the table.” Perfect for an outdoor reception (with or without a tent) a rectangular table creates a sort of symmetry throughout the space.
On the downside, from a catering perspective, you could potentially run into a few hang-ups when it comes to large rectangular tables. “Depending on the style of service and how many servers you have, it may require more servers to be able to serve a large party at one table,” cautions Kelly. “Technically, you should serve an entire table at once, but if you have 40 people at one [long] table that means you would need 20 servers to be able to plate at one time. With an eight-top table, you only need four servers. I find it looks more natural to space out at a rectangular table, instead of putting four people per side and two on each end.”
If you want to keep social distancing a priority, you can leave the ends open and then seat two to three people per side depending on how comfortable they are with another person’s proximity.
