A cocktail hour works when guests feel comfortable moving through it. Not directed, not crowded, not searching for somewhere to land. The seating arrangement is what creates that ease. Bistro tables and mixed seating give guests options. A standing surface to set down a drink. A barstool to pull up for a conversation. A lounge corner to settle into when the moment calls for it. At Southern Events, we’ve helped clients across Middle Tennessee build cocktail hour setups that feel effortless from the first guest to the last.

Why Mixed Seating Works Better Than Uniform Seating

What is the best seating arrangement for a cocktail hour?

A mix of standing-height surfaces, barstool seating, and at least one lounge grouping tends to work best. Uniform seating, every guest at a round table or every surface a bistro table without variation, creates a static environment. Guests sit down and stay put. The energy flattens. Mixed seating keeps the room dynamic because different seating types invite different behaviors. Standing surfaces encourage movement and short conversations. Barstools invite guests to settle in for longer ones. Lounge seating creates a destination for guests who want to step out of the main flow without leaving the space.

Do you need chairs at a cocktail hour?

Not at every table. One of the most common mixed seating approaches is leaving roughly half the bistro tables without barstools entirely. Those tables become natural standing points that encourage guests to circulate. The tables with barstools become gathering spots. The result is a room with built-in movement rather than one that has to be managed. Add a lounge grouping and the full range of guest behaviors is covered without over-furnishing the space.

Building the Mix: Bistro Tables and Barstools

The standing-height surface is the foundation of any cocktail hour. The bistro table you choose sets the tone for everything paired with it.

The Charleston Bistro Table with its gold base and marble top is a statement piece that needs very little around it. Pair it with Gold Chiavari Barstools for a formal, polished look, or contrast it with Black Chiavari Barstools for something more graphic and modern. Either way, drape a Regalia Velvet Linen on an adjacent cocktail table and the full setup has genuine depth.

The Hudson Outdoor Bistro Table has a clean industrial design that works just as well indoors. It pairs naturally with Acrylic Ghost Barstools for a minimal, contemporary look. Or, consider the Mid Century White for a slightly warmer, more sculptural feel. For outdoor cocktail hours, pair the Hudson with a Black Umbrella and Whiskey Barrel package for shade and a styled anchor that photographs well against an open-air backdrop.

The Palmer Bistro Table comes with its own matching Palmer Barstools, which is worth noting. A matched set reads as designed rather than assembled. The light wood finish suits garden-style events, indoor venue spaces, and organic palettes equally well. Dress a nearby cocktail table with a Bloom and Vine Sage Linen for a fresh, nature-inspired pairing that ties the full setup together.

For events that need flexibility in shape, our round and square bistro tables give you options. Square tables suit tighter floor plans and more structured layouts. Round tables encourage conversation from every angle. Both can be dressed with linens or left as standalone surfaces depending on the aesthetic. The Acrylic Casper Oval Back and Square Back Barstools pair cleanly with either shape and keep the focus on the table and linen rather than the seating.

For a warmer, more organic direction, the Cross Back Barstool and Fruitwood Chiavari Barstool both bring wood tones that suit barn venues, garden settings, and any cocktail hour with a natural, unhurried feel. Layer an Emilie Lace Linen over a solid color tablecloth beneath it and the table has texture and dimension that a single linen alone doesn’t achieve.

Adding a Lounge Element

Every cocktail hour benefits from at least one lounge grouping. It gives guests a destination beyond their assigned seat or the nearest bistro table. It softens the energy of the space. And it tends to become one of the most used areas of the entire event.

The lounge doesn’t need to be large. A sofa, two chairs, an accent table, and a rug are enough to define a corner and make it feel intentional. The Fern Velvet Sofa paired with Gloria Velvet Arm Chairs in mustard yellow creates a lounge grouping with genuine personality. Ground it with a vintage or cowhide rug and add a Gold Cordless Tabletop Lamp on a side table for warm ambient light that draws guests toward the corner. For a lighter, more neutral lounge direction, the Ashleigh Cream Sofa with pastel accent pillows and a Blue Cordless Tabletop Lamp keep the lounge feeling airy rather than heavy.

For clients who want a fully curated lounge without building one from scratch, our pre-styled lounge packages are worth exploring. Each one is a complete furniture grouping designed to work as a unit.

Putting It Together: Three Combinations Worth Knowing

Organic and garden-inspired

Rent the Palmer Bistro Table with matching barstools, Bloom and Vine Sage linen on adjacent cocktail tables, and a Fern Velvet Sofa lounge grouping with a vintage rug and Gold Tabletop Lamp. This combination works beautifully for outdoor receptions, garden parties, and spring events across Middle Tennessee. Bulk it up with our Gold Hammered Coffee Tables.

Moody and modern

Grab the Hudson Bistro Table with Gold Chiavari Barstools and place the Regalia Velvet linen for contrast on a nearby cocktail table. Combine those with the equally stunning Bennett Leather Sofa and a pair of Gold Bamboo armchairs. Bold, contemporary, and versatile across indoor venues.

Warm and formal

Use the Charleston Bistro Table standalone, Emilie Lace linen layered over a solid cloth on cocktail tables, and a velvet lounge grouping with warm tabletop lighting. This style is suited to galas, large weddings, and formal seated events where the cocktail hour needs to match the reception in polish.

A Cocktail Hour Worth Lingering In

The best cocktail hours feel like the right people are in the right space with somewhere comfortable to land. Bistro tables and mixed seating are what create that quality! For events across Middle Tennessee, including Franklin and Nashville, Southern Events has the inventory and the experience to help you build something memorable. Browse our full cocktail hour inventory or reach out to our team to start planning your next celebration.

In recent times, our homes have become the epicenter of joyous occasions! Transforming into versatile spaces that host everything from intimate baby showers to lively al fresco birthday dinners. As we continue to celebrate life’s milestones in the comfort of our own homes, the desire to create inviting and cozy atmospheres has increased. That’s where Southern Events Rentals steps in! Offering an array of exquisite sofa rentals and lounge packages that can effortlessly elevate your casual at-home celebrations.

Modern Retro Velvet Sofa Rentals

Embrace the nostalgia and trendiness of the moment with our retro sofa rentals. Exuding opulence and charm with rich colors and sumptuous buttery velvet textures. Certainly a beautiful choice for all matters of celebrations, serving as a focal point at baby showers or weddings. Our Fern Velvet Sofa looks gorgeous framed by mustard-colored Gloria Velvet Armchairs and a Blue-Red Vintage Rug. Another option is the Jacqueline Velvet Sofa in a cozy burnt orange. Contrast this piece with a fun splash of color when you feature a set of Farrah Teal Velvet Chairs! Moreover, match a moody neutral theme with the Regent Black Velvet Sofa stars minimalist lines.

Coastal Chic Lounge Collections

Transport your event to the coastal charm of Martha’s Vineyard with our exquisite coastal chic-inspired lounges. Pieces that appear as if they were effortlessly plucked from a sun-soaked patio overlooking the Atlantic! Particularly the Charlotte Sofa and Chairs with matching side tables, an airy set with white cushions and latticed wood. It looks gorgeous paired with a Blush Rug! Additionally, the Ellison Sofa and Club Chairs have dark cushions and a sleek contemporary design.

Contemporary Neutral Event Lounges

Neutral event furniture serves as the epitome of sophistication, effortlessly elevating modern and minimalist events with its timeless allure. Consider the Henley Grey Velvet Tufted Sofa, with matching armchairs and a Gold Hammered Coffee Table. Meanwhile, for a garden party, we prefer the deep brown Bennett Leather Sofa. Create a complete lounge with elegant Adeline Dining Chairs and a Bellamy Beige Linen Bench.

Mix & Match our Event Furniture Rentals

Southern Events Rentals takes pride in offering a diverse and extensive range of in-stock event furniture rentals. Providing you the freedom to craft a wholly unique lounge experience tailored to your event’s vision. Specifically, sophisticated sofas and chic armchairs to versatile benches, accent tables, and stylish rugs. Our inventory encompasses everything you need to create a personalized and inviting atmosphere. Additionally, for those seeking inspiration, our Lounge Looks are an excellent starting point! These carefully curated collections showcase combinations of furniture pieces, the perfect launching pad for your creativity.

Southern Events Rentals offers a unique lounge to elevate every at-home celebration! Transform your backyard wedding anniversary, baby shower, or al fresco birthday dinner into a memorable and luxurious experience for you and your guests when you feature one of our sofa rentals or curated lounge packages. Reach out to secure your rentals today or work with a team member for guidance!

A new year and new design trends call for new event rentals! In 2023 we expect to see an increase in elevated events that showcase an attention to detail, big and small. Whether you’re planning a bold modern wedding, an intimate birthday bash, or a casual backyard soiree. To help you host a well-thought-out event that will leave a lasting impression on your guests, take a look at our new in-stock event rentals, from luxe linens to sleek serving ware and trendy event furniture.

Stylish Serving Ware + Linens

Modern event tables are bigger and brighter than ever. But rather than featuring intricate serving ware, centerpieces serve as the focal point. Such as large floral arrangements and bold textured linens. Meanwhile, chargers, china, and flatware are sleek and simple. Together, these details lend a perfect balance between minimalism and maximalism! This aesthetic is easy to achieve with our new serving ware & linens. Create a moody neutral table starring our Sahara Runner in White, topped with a Glass Charger with Black Rim and Noir Matte Black Flatware. For a more chic design, try our Sierra Runner in Rose with Georgia China and Fresno Matte Gold Flatware.

Pro Tip: Add a fun splash of color with our velvet napkins in timeless colors like Driftwood or Magnolia.

Trendy Lounge Furniture

If you’ve read any of our blogs then you know we love a stylish event lounge! They are a simple but effective way to elevate any event, from corporate cocktail hours to weddings or backyard parties. To help our clients create one-of-a-kind areas that encourage guests to sit, sip and mingle, we’re adding new furniture to our inventory. Including accent tables, plush sofas, and armchairs. Some of our favorite additions are the Marine Navy Velvet Chair and Grey Tufted Ottoman. Both of which look stunning paired with a Hammered Coffee Table, in Pewter or Gold. To stay on top of the trends we have also updated our lounge packages – be sure to take a look to see if any of these curated collections align with your upcoming event.

On-Theme Event Bars

If there is one item that every event needs, it’s a bar! These versatile pieces aren’t just for serving drinks, but can also be used for displaying food, decor, and more. That’s why this year we are adding a new variety of bars to our inventory that will align with current design trends and event themes. Take our Chelsea Marble Top Bar, a luxe piece fitting for modern retro events or chic cocktail parties. Meanwhile, staple pieces like the Harpeth 8ft Bar can be customized with signage, for weddings or corporate galas! Or create an elegant dessert or champagne tower using White 6-Tier Serving Tower.

Want to feature these new event rentals at an upcoming holiday party in Nashville? Send our team a message at info@southerneventsonline.com for help selecting the perfect pieces for your gathering, big or small! And be sure to keep an eye out for new additions to our catalog – more is coming soon.

Regardless of the type of event you host, a lounge area (or several) are essential – encouraging guests to sit, sip and mingle. And at Southern Events, we’re making it easier than ever to create a lounge area that is timeless and cozy, with stylish rentals featuring luxe textures, neutral colors, and organic shapes. Take a look at our new natural luxe lounge furniture perfect for your next Middle Tennessee event, from galas to weddings!

Hammered Side & Coffee Tables

Our Hammered Side and Coffee Tables are a gorgeous centerpiece for any lounge area, especially for a cocktail hour. A classic shape and a muted metallic color, they pair well with most any color furniture. We offer both the side and coffee tables in both a beautiful Gold and Pewter color!

Leather Ottoman

We love a cozy ottoman and our Caramel Leather Ottoman is a must-have! A rich chocolatey brown, this stunning leather piece will complement most any furniture. It pairs especially well without Gloria Velvet Armchairs – and always looks stunning atop a cowhide rug.

Grey Tufted Ottoman

If you want to lend a slightly more chic look to your natural luxe lounge furniture set up, opt for our Grey Tufted Ottoman. This super cozy piece features beautiful tufted details in a classic grey color. It’s the perfect piece to use if your other furniture is especially vibrant or colorful.

Charleston Bistro

One of our favorite new pieces, the Charleston Bistro is oh so elegant! It features a stunning gold metallic base and a marble top. It’s essential for a luxe cocktail hour, especially if you’re working with limited space and don’t have enough room for a full lounge area.

Fern & Jaqueline Sofas

The epitome of natural luxe lounge furniture, our velvet sofas will be your new favorites! They feature rich natural colors and ultra-soft textures that will make it hard for your guests to leave. They also feature beautiful tufting – Fern Velvet with classic, and Jaqueline with vertical.

Bamboo Arm Chair

A unique statement piece, our Bamboo Arm Chairs are as comfy as they are stylish. A muted gold, this high back chair features beautiful bamboo details throughout. We recommend pairing it with either our Fern Velvet or Jaqueline Sofas!

Want to secure one of several pieces of our natural luxe lounge furniture for your next event? Contact our team today, at info@southerneventsonline.com! Or, if you aren’t up to designing your own lounge area, take a look at our stylish Lounge Packages with options for every style.

Furniture with sleek features, straight lines, and smooth and shiny surfaces – hello modern event lounges! Modern furniture design often focuses on simple geometric shapes rather than heavy or excessive ornamentation. The following event lounge packages are free of busy lines and color schemes, which lend a simple, elegant and refined look.

Chic & Sleek

White, blue velvet and gold are a gorgeous trio in this chic and sleek modern lounge package. It features our stunning Marine Velvet Sofa, with its rich color and geometric tufts. The slender legs of the Rory Navy Velvet Chair complement the Rhodes Coffee and Side Tables. The stark white tops are a beautiful contrast next to the surrounding sea of navy.

Classic Black & White

If you are looking to make a statement, this black and white event lounge is a bold choice. The sleek Black & White Stripe Cabana Benches, striking and sharp, pulls from the Regent Black Velvet Sofa. This pattern adds a unique punch of character to the otherwise plain lounge area. Meanwhile, the Rhodes Coffee Table and Rhodes Side Table add a subtle but luxe gold accent into the mix.

Modern Glam

Featuring black and white, this modern glam lounge is sleek and a little flashy. Blocky furniture, like the Santorini Off-White Sofa and Santorini Off-White Loveseat, appears visually sharp yet is cozy – promise.  It pairs perfectly with our white Siros Coffee Table. The cylindrical shape of the Echo Silver Mirror Side Table provides a bit of relief from the geometric dominated space, while a Black-Silver Rug ties it all together. (Learn why rugs are essential for creating a functional space!)

Simplistic

Primarily functional, this simplistic modern event lounge setup features neutral tones with a touch of gold. The Regent Black Velvet Sofa is clean but inviting, with its plush velvet cushions. One of the most popular modern furniture designs, the White Eiffel Arm Chair will tempt all of your guests, with its unique shape. Each piece is subtly connected, via solid colors and geometric angles, such as the legs of the Rhodes Coffee Table.

Contemporary

With a mix of unique shapes and textures, this social area will be a big draw. It consists of the Mercer White Leather Couch, Mercer White Leather Ottomans, Acrylic Ghost Arm Chairs and a Nickel Grey Bench. This package is the definition of contemporary, with simple geometric shapes and smooth surfaces. We are especially fond of acrylic elements, such as the armchairs and bench legs, which are sleek and stylish.

Loving these sleek and modern event lounge designs? See more options event lounge packages or contact our team today to book one for your wedding or event!

Company Retreats and Corporate Summits are an important and exciting part of any company’s culture. Whether you’re having a creative brainstorming summit with a small team, or a large conference with hundreds of attendees, Southern has great rentals and a huge quantity of everything you need!

Staging

Whoever is speaking at your company’s next event, you’ll want them to have a stage to share from. And if you’re looking at a creative location, sometimes it’s not obvious where exactly to have someone deliver their presentation. We provide staging for all kinds of venues, whether indoor or outdoor, to make it easy for all attendees to be able to hear and see.

Pipe and Draping

Add elegance and grandeur to your event with pipe and draping – a bonus when you add it in your company colors! We love how pipe and draping instantly elevates the design of any event, and when you’ve planned a large conference in a neutral space, it easily adds personality and reflects your company culture.

Lounge Furniture Packages

Lounges are the perfect way to break up an oversized space or provide your colleagues with a comfier place to mix and mingle. Create a professional looking lounge area with one of our many Lounge Packages – all of which can be added on seamlessly to any event’s design.

Photos by Phindy Studios

Red Carpets

Rolling out the Red Carpet is a fun way to express gratitude to your team to show them how much you appreciate their work. We love how much fun guests have when they walk down – such a fun added touch!

Folding Screens and Stanchions

Folding Screens and Stanchions are another great way to break up a massive room design and control foot traffic. Think about different stations being set up (check in station, information station, etc) and how you’ll want to create good foot traffic flow and obvious signage. Prevent long lines from overwhelming with stanchions placed strategically, and have folding screens act as the backdrop to various stations creating a “room within a room” look without setting up a wall.

Unique Stage Seating

Looking for a way bring beautiful design to your company event? We love how our Bennett Sofa, Eiffel Chairs, Adeline Chairs, or other Vintage Chairs look on stage, or placed throughout key points.

Whatever corporate event your company is throwing next, Southern can help! Send us a shout at info@southerneventsonline.com and we’ll show you all the ways we can upgrade your next Nashville, Franklin, or Middle TN event.