Family Reunion Seating and Rentals: Tables, Chairs and Shade for 50 to 150

A reunion is the widest age range you will ever feed and seat. There are great-grandparents who need a comfortable chair and shade, middle-aged cousins who talk for hours, teenagers who disappear, and toddlers who must always be in view. Good seating lets each group have its own space without cutting anyone off.

Seat by branch, not by table number

Instead of assigning seats, label tables by family branch: "Grandma Rose's family," "The Chicago cousins." People find their group and sit with them, and you can mix groups at the buffet and at activities.

Count seats and tables

Kids often eat first and then run off, so the 70 percent figure is a reasonable start. See how many chairs you need and how many tables for how to adjust.

Comfort for the oldest guests

Seat older relatives in a shaded spot that is close to the restrooms and the food. A chair with arms and a firm seat makes standing up much easier, and a cushion helps for a long afternoon. Cross-back chairs, estimated at $8 to $11, are sturdier than light folding chairs. Garden folding chairs, $5 to $7, work for the younger crowd and for overflow. Avoid placing chairs on uneven grass. If the ground is soft, read about chairs on grass, sand and gravel.

Organize the food

Reunions often combine a main dish with a big potluck. Set up two lines on one side of an 8-foot table to double throughput, and label dishes with allergens. Provide a separate table for desserts so that line moves independently. See buffet line flow for timing.

Chicago-area park notes

Many reunions happen in forest preserves and park district shelters in the Chicago area. Shelters usually need a reservation, and each district sets its own rules about tents, alcohol, grills and amplified sound. Ask what tables are already included at the shelter and whether outside tents are allowed, rather than assuming. Reserve early, since summer weekends fill up. If your reunion is at a backyard or a hall, check parking and accessibility for older relatives.

Activities that use the seating well

A reunion lasts four to six hours, and the seating has to work at different times of day. Early on, people cluster near the welcome table and the shade. Midday is the meal. Afternoon is the stretch where the lawn fills up and the tables empty out. Plan to move a few chairs and tables as the day shifts.

• Family tree wall: a poster or string line where relatives add names and photos. Put it by the welcome table.
• Story corner: two or three comfortable chairs and a microphone or recorder, so older relatives can share stories that the younger ones will want later.
• Games: bags, ladder toss and bocce keep teens and cousins busy. Mark the play area with cones so it stays away from the food line.
• Awards and announcements: a small table with a microphone, 15 minutes after the meal, for the oldest attendee, the longest travel and the newest baby.

Keep trash and recycling bins at every table cluster. A reunion with 100 people produces a lot of plates and cups, and a few extra bins make cleanup much easier. Ask two or three relatives from each branch to take a shift of tidying, so no single host is left with the work.

Plan your reunion

Book a free 15-minute seating call and we'll count seats for your group, or request a quote with your headcount and location.