Seating a Church or Community Event

Church suppers, fellowship hall lunches, fundraisers, school events and community festivals share a problem: nobody knows how many people will turn up, and the volunteers setting up have plenty else to do. Renting the seating takes one big job off the list.

Guess high

Start from last year's turnout if you have it, then add a margin. A few extra chairs cost little. Running out in front of a full hall is the one people remember. For anything open to the public, or a memorial reception where you can't know who will come, leave extra room. The counting guide has the ratios.

Know what each table is for

Guest tables take one six-foot table for every six to eight people. The food needs a long run of tables with room for a line to form beside it rather than through the seating. Most events also want a table by the entrance for sign-in, tickets or donations, and a serving table if volunteers are handing out food. A raffle or display table is one more.

Fit the room

Halls come with fixed things: a stage, a kitchen pass-through, doors you can't block. Walk the room and note them. Long rows suit a supper where everyone knows each other, and clusters suit a fundraiser where people mingle. Our seating arrangement guide goes through both.

Delivery and the building

Halls have their own rules and schedules. Find out when the building opens and who lets us in, whether there's a loading door, a ramp, an elevator or a flight of stairs, whether anything else is on in the room beforehand, and where the chairs and tables should be left and stacked afterwards. Pass this on when you request a quote and we'll plan the delivery window around the building. We deliver to churches, halls and community venues regularly (FAQ).

Helpers and money

Setup and teardown are quick with enough hands and slow without them. Decide who sets up, who stacks at the end, and who the one person is that we talk to on the day. If you want us to set the room out, say so ahead so it's in the price (FAQ on setup).

There's no minimum order. A 50% non-refundable deposit holds the date and the balance is due before delivery or pickup. Every quote is itemized, and the post on what rental costs explains what's in it.