Maggie, could you do 3 or 4 small round tables in addition to the picnic tables in case there are some that didn't want to use the picnic table(if they had to 'lift' their legs to seat themselves?) You could use a lg. round white cloth on them. And on the bows, you could put the fresh cut flowers with a little greenery in a vile with water in the knot for a nice touch.you can get viles from a florist & just push it down into the bow knot. As far as the men..if you are going for a "Ladies Garden Party", & if it was at noonish, etc., then just have the women as they would most likely enjoy it more & would like the dress-up idea. I know I would!! You could ask a friend or two that you would be inviting their idea on that. Will there be a lot of children? One option is to have just the ladies, but I wouldn't worry about the kids keeping clean..they are 'washable' and after all it is an outside affair. You are very organized to be starting your planning so early!

I have to laugh...I grew up in a family of 8 (6 kids, 2 adults). We had two benches, for the kids and my parents sat in chairs at the ends of the table. We never gave it a second thought. However, our benches were not against walls. When the middle person got up, they just turned on the bench and got out the "back" - no one ever had to get up for the middle person to move! I don't actually remember them being uncomfortable (or comfortable) - they were what we had. When we had friends over, they wanted to sit on the benches as well - more for the novelty, I suspect. My parents did eventually change out the benches for chairs when they got a new kitchen table (we had no DR table at the time), but I was in my mid teens and almost "out the door" (college), so I don't remember that much about the benches vs chairs back then. Fast forward to today - I'm not as limber as I once was, so I don't think I'd like that seating for adults. I do know, however, that I do not like booth seating at restaurants - I always opt for a table if it's an option. For me, it has more to do with how the tables with booths are generally fixed and are usually too high for me and much too close - plus there's usually not enough room for the legs of two people sitting across from each other in a booth. (While I'm 5'10", all my height is in my legs. My body length would need to be at least 3" or 4" longer to be in proportion with my legs!) I think banquettes can be usable - but they need to be designed carefully.

seagrass_gw I hope to be able to fit them in too. It's usually completely empty in the spring and summer, except for rain coats. It's also currently holding the dog's leash. The cord bugs me too. I'm going to create a hook and pull for it, with the pull being stored in one of the closets. But that will be another day. party_music50 There isn't any room for a bench. The hallway is literally only as wide as the front door. I'm planning on putting a runner down and artwork above the doorway to pull your eye up as part of the makeover. You are correct about putting the cabinets where the bench is. That cabinet area space is about 76" long and 26" deep. The actual space right there is squarish, with the doorway on the left going into the kitchen and another door around the corner going into the bathroom.

Thanks for asking. No its not completed yet. Hope its not much longer. Everytime I turn around my son is asking mom you sure you don't want it built this way or that....no just an old fashioned picnic table and bench style. I did find a wonderful cream and pale green linen runner for it on sale at Target. Its from Joanna Gaines (Fixer Upper) line of home goods. I'm searching flea markets for a nice centerpiece. Maybe something to fill with apples. I got my vintage wood chair out of storage and need to decide on a color to paint it. I don't want it white like the table and benches. I could do almost any color since my walls are a creamy white wallpaper. Anyway hopefully in the next few weeks the table will be done. I can't wait.