Filling a Large Event Space for Small Wedding Parties

Depending on the size of your wedding guest list, you might get worried that you have too much space to work with. There are several clever and fun things you can do to make a big event space feel larger. Check out a few of our favorite ideas below.

  1. Set up a ‘small bites’ food station to take up space in the venue

    ‘Small Bites’ food stations will encourage your guests to move around the venue so that the space feels more filled. If you’re hosting your event at The Parlor at The Pontchartrain, the team at Jack Rose can help you out with this. They offer an array of delicious appetizers. Such as pimento cheese crostini and crab ravigote. You are sure to find small bites that your wedding guests will love. Setting up tables all around the room will help maximize the space and spark the flow as guests mingle and maneuver their way to each station.

  2. Put up a decor wall

    Lavishly decorated walls can be an excellent addition to your wedding decor. To utilize the wall, you can add a do-it-yourself polaroid station in front of your decorated wall to encourage your wedding guests to take photos. This is the perfect activity for those who may want to take a break from dancing. You can also offer a digital option so that people can have the photos sent directly to their phone (to post afterward about how much fun they had!)

  3. Set up a ‘signature cocktail table’

    The team at Hot Tin is happy to work with you to curate a signature cocktail for your event. You can also put on the table a brief description of the significance of the drinks to serve as a conversation starter! For an event that includes many children or abstaining adults, consider having a separate table with sparkling and flat water, as well as a spirit-free version of your signature drink. Adding these small tables will encourage movement in the room, thereby making the venue feel more lively and full.

  4. Table set up

    Consider mixing up the floor plan at your wedding and set up round and rectangular tables. This sort of layout won’t “pack” in an efficient way, so you will end up utilizing more of your space without it feeling forced or clunky. Make sure to space the chairs at every table so everyone has plenty of room. You may also consider adding pieces of tableware to help fill up space on your tables – for example, large charger plates or intricate centerpieces. If your bridesmaids are carrying flowers down the aisle at your wedding ceremony, you can use them as floral centerpieces during the reception. Just have your florist place vases on the tables, and give your girls a heads up before the day starts. 

    Following these ideas will completely transform the look and feel of the venue’s environment. Making the room feel full will help create an unforgettable night for you and all of your guests.