Stars are going to great lengths to make receptions more intimate. Mariska Hargitay, Billy Joel and Donald Trump sat guests at long, dramatic banquet tables rather than standard round ones. Why? You're two feet closer to the person across from you, which facilitates conversation, says New York City planner Elizabeth Allen, who oversaw NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson's nuptials (shown). Rectangular tables also allow room for more inventive centerpieces. The long and short of it: "They create a fun energy," Allen says.