Sit-down dinners are on the wane these days, as more party hosts ditch the big round tables in favor of themed food stations, high-tops, plush couches and ottomans. Lounge furniture has been a popular option at kids’ parties for several years, but now it’s becoming more common for the adults as well. “Nobody wants to go down a long buffet table anymore,” says Shelley Belk, director of events at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda. “This way they keep moving, and it makes for a more fun and vibrant atmosphere.” Michelle Solomon of CGF Events says her clients also appreciate another advantage to this setup: No worries about table arrangements when party guests drop in and out at the last minute. “The final numbers can be changing right up to the day of the event,” she says. “This takes a lot of the stress off.”
