Ratio of guests to chairs, party at my house

SoEnamored

Hi ladies,  I am having an 80s themed 30th b-day party.  I've invited about 45 people, so far we have about 25 confirmed guests.  The party will take place on the main floor of our house, about 1,000 square feet and on the deck if the weather cooperates.  We will have a taco bar for food, sitting warm through the dinner hours for people to grab a plate as they please. 

I want to make sure that people are both comfortable (have a seat if needed) and are also sort of forced to stand up to promote mingling.  So, I don't want to have a chair for everyone, plus there's not enough room for that much seating.  How much seating do you think I should have, at a minimum?

Thank you!

grahamsm3

I like to have seating on a 1:1 ratio. I hate not having a seat or feeling like I have to give up my seat because I'm done eating and someone else is just starting to eat. Also, if everyone will be eating the initial taco at the same time - tacos are not a standing up food.

But, then maybe I feel that way because the parties I go to are sit around a talk parties. 

 

cclilac12

We do whatever will fit/whatever we have - sometimes it works out to 1:1, other times it's more like 3:1. People make do, and will sit on the floor, if necessary

vjcjenn1

unless its a formal dinner party, you don't need a seat for everyone...as long as you allow people to spread out and sit where they may, and you have food out continuously so people can wait to eat if they want to wait for a seat...I say just put out as many chairs as you have...

For outdoor parties in the summer, I suggest people bring their own chairs...most people usually have one of those fold out chairs that you carry in a bag

katarczyna

vjcjenn1:

unless its a formal dinner party, you don't need a seat for everyone...as long as you allow people to spread out and sit where they may, and you have food out continuously so people can wait to eat if they want to wait for a seat...I say just put out as many chairs as you have...

For outdoor parties in the summer, I suggest people bring their own chairs...most people usually have one of those fold out chairs that you carry in a bag

I agree with this. Though you can also look into renting chairs, or getting some inexpensive folding chairs from IKEA. 

When we host or go to friends' events, DH and I rarely sit and we don't mind. 

SoEnamored

Thanks, all.  I will just fill the first floor with as many chairs as I can without it looking stupid.

SBS0628

If you don't want to fill the space with chairs, you could look into renting belly bars for the main floor/patio. People can stand and eat at those comfortably.