Chairs on the beach

karenwjackm

Hi all,
I've kind of had one idea for all of our planning about whether to have chairs for the ceremony.  We are getting married on the beach and having a very short ceremony (15 minutes).  I was planning to have a few chairs for the parents and eldery grandparents (there aren't any other elderly people), but have everyone else just stand up during the ceremony.  We would have an aisle marked with medium sized rocks (we're using a lot of rocks in our decor) alternating with vases of sea-grass and flowers so people can see where not to stand.  I have been second-guessing this decision, but do not have a lot of extra money lying around for chair rental.  What do you think?
And please be nice in your response.

twilight.rose

You must have chairs for all of your guests. You can't know what medical issues, etc. people may have that prevent them from standing for a period of time (even 10-15 minutes.)

Also, people will be in heels, juggling bags, cameras, etc. and need a place to sit and/or lay down their things. Standing on the beach in high heels for more than a moment is not an overly pleasant experience. You need to obtain more chairs.

JZags

I am getting married in a beach town and am debating on whether to actually get married on the beach or another outdoor area over looking the bay or something because of a similar reason. The beach town only allows 75 chairs on the beach for a wedding and I've been very stressed about my other 50 guests having to stand. I've researched this alot and both my wedding planner and people I've spoke with have said that some brides provide large beach blankets for guests to sit on with big pillows scattered around, but that most just have the remaining guests stand. I can't get past this and don't know that I really want my guests standing but I would first check to see how many chairs the city/town allows to be on the beach for a wedding and go from there. Like PP said, it's hard to know if anyone will have an issue with standing even though they aren't elderly due to an injury or something like that. Maybe look into the beach blanket and pillow idea and have a big basket or area marked off on the beach where people can put their shoes so they aren't walking in the sand in their heels and dress shoes.
I've heard this standing for a beach ceremony thing is quite common though. Also, simple chairs, in the area I'm being married in, aren't as expensive as you may think. You may find that you can actually fit it in the budget if you price a bunch of places.
Good Luck!

trix1223

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_chairs-beach?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:0693defe-9e49-4832-9f78-05d33e455ae7Post:56e4cd4e-cfc0-41a4-a89e-acf1f653fda0">Chairs on the beach</a>:
[QUOTE]Hi all, I've kind of had one idea for all of our planning about whether to have chairs for the ceremony.  We are getting married on the beach and having a very short ceremony (15 minutes).  I was planning to have a few chairs for the parents and eldery grandparents (there aren't any other elderly people), but have everyone else just stand up during the ceremony.  We would have an aisle marked with medium sized rocks (we're using a lot of rocks in our decor) alternating with vases of sea-grass and flowers so people can see where not to stand.  I have been second-guessing this decision, but do not have a lot of extra money lying around for chair rental.  What do you think? A<strong>nd please be nice in your response.</strong>
Posted by karenwjackm[/QUOTE]

That's YOUR timeline at the ceremony venue.  But let's talk about a guest's timeline:

Guests typically begin arriving 20-30 minutes before the ceremony start time.  I'm a church organist, and it's the very, very rare ceremony that begins on time.   Let's be conservative and say your wedding begins 10 minutes late.  So now, your guests have been standing already for 30-40 minutes, and the ceremony hasn't even started yet.

Now, let's add in your 15 minute ceremony, and the time it takes for the guests to leave the ceremony site.  You have just had your guests standing, in one place, for up to an hour.

They are holding handbags, wraps, cameras.  People are dressed up.  And standing in one place, on sand, holding "stuff" for an hour.  Put yourself in the position of a guest at your wedding.  Go try it.  Stand in one place, holding "stuff", on the beach and don't move for an hour.

Now, let's talk about your 5'2" aunt who ends up standing behind your FI's 6'3" frat brother.  Your aunt misses the whole ceremony because she's standing behind someone much taller.

Finally, the seating idea for "elderly" grandparents~my DD had serious surgery in January.  Had your wedding been a couple of weeks after her surgery, while she would have outwardly looked fine, she would never have been able to stand for 20 minutes, much less an hour.  My 89 year old dad will NEVER sit if there's a lady standing.  He's just not made that way.

As for cushions or blankets on the beach~when I'm dressed up?  Getting up and down would be difficult and awkward at best.

A chair for every guest is really a must.

Was that nice enough?

JZags

Awesome points Trix!  After writing my first reply to this thread I ended up finding a private area on the beach that allows for 150 chairs (YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!!). You had some excellent reasons to have seating for everyone and helped make up my mind at least.
OP, if you tell me where your wedding is, I could help you find some rental places in the area. You can seriously get chairs for about $1.50-$2.00 a piece. Depending on how many guests you have you could possibly make this work. Good luck!

JenO24

im doing a beach ceremony and getting a chair for every butt thats attending.

trix is 100% right, just b/c the ceremony is 10-15 mins long your guests arrive prior to that and will have objects their carrying...imagine if you were a guest to a wedding where you coudln't sit at all i know id be pissed off

MairePoppy

Trix - you covered that so nicely. I think you should save that post for future use, along with the bridesmaids duties bulletin. It will come up again and your answer is perfect. Thanks.

jmkes

If you feel like your guests would likely appreciate having chairs to sit in, then rent some.

I've been to 2 beach weddings in Hawaii and neither one had chairs.  No one minded at all, but both of these weddings had a small amount of guests (about 25 or so.)  If you are having a larger number of guests then chairs would be nice to have.  Ladies shouldn't leave their nice heels on because walking to the actual ceremony site would get sand all in your shoes.  Plus it's not safe to walk on sand in heels anyway - insert sprained ankle here.  Trix does have a good point:  I wouldn't want to sit on a blanket or pillow in a dress.  You're just asking for a money shot when you try to stand up.

JenO24

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_chairs-beach?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:0693defe-9e49-4832-9f78-05d33e455ae7Post:881a6f79-eecd-45da-9d07-06319375637a">Re: Chairs on the beach</a>:
[QUOTE] You're just asking for a money shot when you try to stand up.
Posted by jmkes[/QUOTE]

i literally started laughing out loud when i read this...im sure my coworkers are assessing the situation as, "its what we thought, shes crazy!"

trix1223

maire:  done.  Thanks for the suggestion. 

Roxygrl2002

Are you able to borrow chairs from someone instead of renting them if your budget does not allow for them? Perhaps the reception venue has some you could borrow as well? Every guest should have a seat for your wedding. Even though it is short, you don't want them thinking 'how much longer do I have to stand here?' while you're up there enjoying your moment.