Your Complete Guide to Wedding Chair Hire
When planning your wedding day, one of the first practical considerations you’ll face is seating arrangements. Figuring out wedding chair hire options early will ultimately save you stress, money, and last-minute chaos. Picking the right chairs for your ceremony and reception will help set the tone, aesthetics, and comfort for your guests. In this guide, we will explain exactly which chair styles to consider, whether hiring or buying is better, as well as expert styling tips to help you make informed decisions for your wedding.
Why Chair Choice Matters
Wedding chairs offer more than just a place for guests to sit. They play a crucial role in the aesthetics and guest comfort, as well as influencing the layout flexibility and overall quality of your event. A beautiful chair that complements your theme helps elevate all other elements of your wedding. Since wedding chairs are often hired rather than purchased, choosing the right ones presents an opportunity, not a burden.
Popular wedding chairs
When considering wedding chair hire, you want to find options that balance style, comfort, and practicality. At Tables and More, we offer many different choices just for that! Here are our top selections and tips for making the right choice:
1. Limewash Chiavari Chairs
These chairs are elegant, neutral, and photograph beautifully. Chiavaris suit most color palettes and formal weddings. Plus, if you’re looking for a classic, clean look, Chiavaris are a strong choice.
2. Oak Cross-Back Chairs
Oak cross-backs are ideal for rustic, barn, or countryside weddings. Their wooden tones add warmth and texture to your venue, and they pair beautifully with floral decor.
3. Wooden Folding Chairs
Wooden folding chairs combine practicality with style. They fold for easy transport and can be dressed up with a tie-on seat pad or sashes for extra comfort or visual appeal.
4. Samsonite Chairs
Samsonites are reliable and budget-friendly. They do exactly what you’d expect. They are best suited for large numbers, secondary seating, or less formal parts of the wedding where aesthetics matter less but functionality is key.
When choosing among styles, consider your overall theme, the venue’s style, how long guests will be seated, and how easily the chairs can be moved if the setup or layout needs to change.
Hiring vs buying - let's end the debate!
Many couples ask whether hiring or buying wedding chairs makes more sense. In most wedding scenarios, hiring is the smarter option. Here’s why:
- Lower upfront cost: You pay only for the chairs during your event, which means the purchase cost is smaller, and you don’t have to worry about storage or maintenance fees.
- Access to premium designs: You can use high-end chairs like Chiavaris chairs or Oak cross-backs without splurging on buying them.
- Flexibility: If plans change (guest numbers, layout, venue), it’s easier to adjust hire orders than to sell or rent out your own chairs.
- Reduced logistics headache: Hire companies (like us) handle cleaning, repairs, and maintenance, so you don’t have to. This reduces stress and allows you to focus on what matters most.
That said, if you host multiple weddings or events annually and have ample storage, buying might make more sense. However, for most couples, hiring is more practical and less risky.
Logistics & Practical Considerations
Getting the chair hire process right logistically is just as important as ensuring it matches your aesthetic. Keep these key factors in mind:
- Book early: Wedding seasons are busy, and availability fills quickly. Booking your chairs early ensures better availability and possibly better prices.
- Delivery & collection windows: Coordinate with your venue about delivery and pickup times. Most venues allow delivery on Thursday or Friday and collection on Monday or Tuesday for weekend weddings.
- Self-collection options: If you’re local and have a sufficiently large vehicle, consider picking up and returning your chairs to save on delivery costs.
- Set up, labor & layout: Assign enough helpers to arrange the chairs according to your seating plan, and ensure there’s enough space for all your chairs.
- Damage policy: Understand your hiring company’s policies on damages or loss, and the process should any breakages that occur. Be transparent and call immediately if you notice damage. You can view ours here.
Wedding chair styling tips
Once you’ve decided on a chair type, add some extra touches to integrate them into your wedding theme:
- For Oak cross-backs or Wooden folding chairs, add a tie-on seat pad for extra comfort and style.
- Use sashes or ribbons to match your color palette and dress up plain chairs.
- Decorate aisle chairs with small florals or greenery for a special touch.
- For reception seating, mix styles, such as Chiavaris chairs at head tables and wooden folding chairs at guest tables, to manage costs while maintaining aesthetics.
- Use lighting (spotlights or fairy lights) to highlight the chairs as visual focal points, rather than just functional seating.
Next Steps for Wedding Chair Hire
Choosing to hire wedding chairs early is a smart move when planning. Selecting the right style, understanding logistics, and adding final touches will make your seating both functional and part of your wedding experience.
If you’re ready to browse styles, check out our chair collections or review our sizing and layout guides to plan what you’ll need. When prepared, send an inquiry through our contact page to request a quote. Start early — enquire today — and make your wedding seating spectacular.
