subject: Folding Tables: The Essential Party Season Equipment [print this page] Well December has arrived and in addition to all this snow the party season is now upon us. Work Christmas parties, friends Christmas parties, family Christmas parties, Christmas day dinner, Boxing Day dinner and don't forget New Years Eve! Phew, that is a lot of parties and they need a vast array of equipment and take a lot of preparation. You are likely to find that your most useful equipment is also the least expected. Folding tables are invaluable whether you are hosting a party in your home or you need to pack them into your car and take them to a venue you have hired.
If you prefer the more traditional dinner party then you will probably need a few folding tables and folding chairs to fit everyone around the table for dinner. You may need to buy or hire extra wine glasses and table cloths. You will have to get polishing with the silver dinnerware, napkin holders and candelabras. That is before you have even thought about food and drink!
If a buffet party is more your style then you will need a couple of folding tables set up to hold the food. You will probably also need a table with the drinks on it and somewhere for people to put their drinks whilst they are dancing and chatting. It is also always good to have a few chairs dotted around for people, although they can of course sit on the sofa too. This style of party can be considerably easier to prepare for as you can leave a tray of cutlery, a stack of plates and a pile of napkins for everyone to help themselves to whatever they would like, rather than having to set the table and polish starter, main course and desert cutlery.
The easiest option is to simply not provide dinner. No, that is not the same as not doing food, just not a full meal. You can set up a single folding table with some crisps, nuts and other nibbles and then provide canapes. Whether these are homemade or shop-bought your guests will love a nice warm snack after a few drinks. You can do a quick circuit of the room and then leave the tray on the table for people to help themselves. You will also need another couple of folding tables as a drinks station/bar area and a place where people can leave their drinks and empty glasses. Some extra seats around the room will also be needed but the requirement to polish any amount of cutlery has been removed completely, which is always nice!
