rishi's Profile

Thanks to everyone for the comments. I feel much better. After considering the comments, this is where my girlfriend and I stand:

1. There's no fire code issue, thank god. Westside Loft advertises itself as being able to accomodate 300 people for cocktails and the manager of the facility assured me that 260 people wouldn't create any legal problems. Only logistical ones.

2. As for logistics, the manager claimed that the most space efficient shape for tables is round. When I suggested the cool-skinny-long table idea, he said that 10 person rounds will actually maximize space. I did a quick internet search and found this site (http://www.dinette.com/Page.bok?template=advice) which claims that "It's a little known fact that round tables often fit the most number of people while taking up the smallest amount of physical space." Do people think that's true? Would 12 person rounds be even more space efficient? Either way, very interesting.

3. Rachel is on our wavelength. We actually did rent the rooftop space for cocktails. Thus, we're having the ceremony in the smaller large room (to borrow Julianna's lingo), cocktail hour upstairs, and were planning to have the dinner and dancing in the bigger large room.

4. The problem, of course, is that 260 people is 40 people more than Westside Loft recommends fitting in the larger room. Thus, the issue is whether we should try to squeeze everyone into the larger room and use the other room for dancing and drinks or we should put people on both sides of the loft. That would give everyone more breathing room but it would really separate people. The biggest problem with that (in my opinion) is that people on one side of the room won't be able to see the speeches and dances from their seats. Maybe that's a plus. After all, who wants to pretend they're paying attention to the speeches. What do you guys think? Cram and dance in the other room or spread out and obstruct views for some people?

Thanks again for everyone's help.