question re: chairs at the cocktail hour (Im renting chivalri chairs for recep)

kplessing

Hi all
I HATE the ugly brown conference center- like chairs that they have at my venue- and so I want to rent nicer chairs for the reception. However, it just occured to me that they will probably use their ugly chairs for the cocktail hour, right?  I REALLY dont want to have to rent chairs for the 1 hour cocktail hour in addition to the reception chairs.
In addition to that- if you have 200 ppl at the wedding, how many chairs do you set up for cocktail hour? I would hope that most ppl would walk around and mingle, but of course I know I need to have chairs, too.
Thanks.

trix1223

You're overthinking the chairs thing, IMO.  Once your reception starts, you won't see the chairs because people will be sitting in them.  Suit jackets will be put over the back.  Wraps or sweaters will be hung on them.  Purses or camera bags will covering them.

The wedding industry would have you believe that things like chairs are critical to the success of your wedding.  But the truth is, they're just not.  Try this:  what were the chairs like at the last 6 weddings you attended?  Chances are you can't remember, because frankly, it just doesn't matter.

Your guests will remember 2 things about chairs:  if they had one, and if they were comfortable.  I can say without reservation that I have NO IDEA what the chairs looked like at our own son and DIL's wedding, and our DD and SIL's wedding.

Good luck.

cac7777

I'm one of those weird people who has always noticed the chairs at receptions, even before I knew that there WAS such a thing as chiavari chairs. Maybe I'm in my own little camp about this, but I've been to some weddings where the couple spent loads on centerpieces and lighting but then just used the tatty old chairs the venue provided, and IMO, it ruined the whole aesthetic... Sort of like a woman who buys a gorgeous designer sheath dress but then doesn't bother to wear spanx underneath. You can see it was expensive, but the look is not polished. 

NOW, that said, chiavari chairs are expensive. I don't think an hour-long cocktail hour is worth the rental costs, especially since I'm assuming that the big chunk of your decoration budget went toward decorating the reception venue, not the cocktail hour venue. If I were you, I wouldn't stress about bringing in the extra chairs.

 

cmp1986

Usually they only have a handful of chairs. I wouldn't even worry about the chairs at the cocktail hour. It's only for an hour and I personally don't think it's worth renting chairs for just an hour. Most people won't even notice the chairs at the cocktail hour. Also you could see if your venue would supply chair covers.

LuluP82

I've been to weddings where for cocktail hour, there were just cocktail tables, no chairs. I thought it was okay, because it wasn't that long, and because there was somewhere to put my stuff. I went to one wedding where they had nothing for cocktail hour (no tables, no chairs) and that sucked, because I always have a clutch and a wrap and it's hard enough to have a drink in your hand and eat at the same time without having to hold your purse and wrap. For our reception, we had couches and such for the cocktail hour, for a lounge feel. You could also do chair covers for the ugly chairs? Could the reception venue reuse some of the chivari chairs without it being totally noticeable? We had the same chairs moved over from the ceremony to the dinner, but they were in separate places and the cocktail hour was in between, so it wasn't noticeable (but saved a fortune). The venue also transformed the ceremony room into the cocktail hour lounge in 10 minutes while we had the receiving line. Still have NO IDEA how they did that. Check with your venue-- sometimes they can do wonders.

bsn1752

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_question-re-chairs-cocktail-hour-im-renting-chivalri-chairs-recep?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:4b3bd6f7-9597-4953-b102-38eac3aa5167Post:bc0f830e-59b6-4534-bbda-e57e3fc0efd5">Re: question re: chairs at the cocktail hour (Im renting chivalri chairs for recep)</a>:
[QUOTE]Usually they only have a handful of chairs. I wouldn't even worry about the chairs at the cocktail hour. It's only for an hour and I personally don't think it's worth renting chairs for just an hour. Most people won't even notice the chairs at the cocktail hour. Also you could see if your venue would supply chair covers.
Posted by cmp1986[/QUOTE]

Hi there - can you please resize your siggy pic?  It's very large.