We are having a cocktail style reception & I'm not too sure how to set everything up.

First issue... I need to arrange table cloths etc & I'm not sure how many chairs & tables should I set up for about 100-120 guests? I still want it to look like a wedding but not like a sit down formal wedding.

Second issue... Since it's not a formal sit down where everyone has a place setting, what do I do with the bonboneries? Where do I put them so it doesn't look like they're just plonked on one talble?

A friend of mine who hires out chair covers etc said most cocktail weddings have eonough table space for about half the people that are there & a few chairs around the outside of the room. Where we are having ours, we have 2big double doors that lead out into the beer garden area outside where there are tables & chairs aswell. I just want enough inside but not too many that it looks crowded.

Us bride stress about the most little things LOL

Even though you're having a cocktail reception, I'd still ensure you have enough seating for most of your guests. Im assuming you're expecting them to hang around for a couple of hours and they will still be eating.

You could always have a mixture of formal tables/ chairs and also lounges (if your venue allows) as I've seen at other cocktail weddings. Otherwise keep the number of chairs you need for your guests but reduce the amount of tables you have.

As for bonbonieres, you could just have them on a seperate table and give the task of making sure all your guests receive one to one of your family members. They could either go around to the guests at a particular point during the reception (perhaps after speeches and the cake cutting) as opposed to chasing people as they leave.

We had a few tables around with centrepieces and candles for our cocktail reception, so that people could rest their drinks on them and the reception also put platters of food on there. The chairs weren't up againt the tables, but against the walls if people wanted to sit.

We had a wishing well in the corner on one table and the cake on another table in the opposite corner. The bonbonaires were set up around the wishing well. We had our mini champagne bottles arranged around the wishing well. I would set up the bonbonaires on either of the two tables (present or cake.)

Ive never been to a cocktail reception, so i have no idea what they will be like. Has anyone had theirs yet or been to one - i just dont want my guests to be dissapointed.

If your venue is small, cocktail receptions allow you to have more people. They're typically shorter than a sit-down meal, and they allow you to really circulate and enjoy the party. The most of the users are looking for the Cocktail receptions can be elegant and stylish, and allow your guests to really mingle and meet each other. They tend to be a bit more relaxed than a sit-down meal, and often feel like a great party.

Old topic and obviously spammers but in response to the OP

We had 130 people, we had 6 large tables and 6 small tables and enough chairs for everyone - chairs were arranged around the tables and in groups on the lawns (we had our reception in an outdoor pavillion and it was a beautiful day). Most people ended up sitting down at some stage. We didn't do bonbonneires, but we had a table set up for gifts. Food wise we had some roaming waiters but the bulk of the food went onto a buffet style table where people could load up a plate - make sure you get heaps of food - people are usually starving at a reception and have preconceptions that a cocktail wedding reception means hardly any food. We had heaps of food enough for a meal and more, just wanted the casual atmosphere of no place settings.

Best cocktail reception I've been to had small coffee table with chairs type settings scattered throughout the room as well as some taller tables for people to put their drinks on.

It meant you could sit and have a conversation when you wanted to or stand but still have a spot to put your drink and/or somewhere to put your food.

Depending on the type of food being served, tables of some sort are important!

Not enough seating at a cocktail reception is annoying - particularly as older family members tend to grab what there is so sometimes you're on your feet all night.