Serpentine and Crescent Tables: Sizes, Layouts and Uses

Straight banquet tables get a little dull for a buffet line or a dessert wall. Curved tables solve that. They are not hard to use, but they are easy to order wrong, because there is no single universal size. This guide explains the shapes, what each one does well and how to map them on your floor plan for a Chicago-area venue.

Serpentine tables

A serpentine table is a gentle S-curve, usually about 5 to 6 feet long, and made to join. One piece looks like a wave. Two or three chained together make a snake. Rental companies stock them with different widths, so confirm how deep they are, because that decides whether you can fit chafing dishes or only platters.

Good uses:

• Buffet lines. Curves slow the line down and let you stagger dishes. See buffet table layouts.
• Dessert and candy displays. Joined sections give you several levels of visual interest.
• Bars. A curved bar encourages guests to spread out instead of crowding one end.

Skip them for seated guests. Curved tops are awkward for plates and chairs.

Crescent and half-moon tables

A crescent (or half-moon, half-round) table is a semicircle. Some rental companies stock a half of a 60-inch round, others a narrower curve. Two give you a full circle when pushed together. Crescents work in three ways.

For the head-table version, see head table setups.

How to size a curved layout

Linens and skirting

A rectangular cloth will not drape neatly over a curve. Rental companies use fitted spandex covers or pleated skirting with a top cloth. Ask what they stock for curved shapes before you pick colors, and see our guide to pleated skirting for head tables and buffets.

Chicago planning notes

Many Chicago banquet halls own straight tables only. If your hall is serving food from a buffet, ask whether they will let a rental company bring curved pieces and whether their staff will arrange them. Hotels and some event spaces require outside rentals to arrive on a schedule, so build the delivery window with your venue. This is part of what a seating call covers.

Chairs on crescents

Because only the outer edge is used, chair style is visible from the room. A row of gold infinity chairs or ghost chairs looks great against a curved line. Compare options on our chairs page.

Common mistakes with curved tables

Curved pieces fail in predictable ways, and most are avoidable with one question to the rental company.

• Ordering by length alone. Two serpentine sections of the same length can have very different depth. A shallow top fits platters but not a chafing dish with fuel, so ask for the depth in inches before you plan the menu.
• Forgetting the gap. Where two curved sections meet there is a seam. Cover it with a runner, a floral piece or a sign.
• Planning food on both sides. A serpentine buffet works best with the line on one side and servers behind. Curves make a double-sided line confusing.
• Ignoring caterer needs. Ask your caterer where hot boxes, extension cords and sneeze guards will go. Heat sources near fitted spandex are a hazard, so use cloth that is rated for it or keep fuel cans on a tray.
• No walkway test. Mark the curve with tape on the floor at your walkthrough. Walk it with a plate in your hand.

A simple planning checklist

1. Decide whether you need food service, display or seating.
2. Get exact dimensions of every curved piece you plan to rent.
3. Draw the curve on your floor plan at scale, with 4 to 5 feet in front for the line.
4. Choose fitted or skirted linens that suit curves.
5. Ask your venue whether outside rentals can be set up in the room before doors open.

Chicago venues often have set load-in windows, and a curved buffet takes longer to set than a straight one because the sections need to be lined up and levelled. Build in extra time on delivery day.

Plan curved tables with your venue

Book a free 15-minute seating call to map curved tables onto your venue, or request a quote.