Moving chairs from ceremony to reception

rachelwaters

Hey there,

I am having my wedding--ceremony, reception, all of it--in my sister's back yard.

It's huge, with plenty of room.  I'm expecting 150+ guests, and my question is this:  After the ceremony, should I have guests move their chairs to the reception area?  Some of them are older and weaker...but I suppose someone else could carry chairs for them.

Any suggestions?

sklink0486

Please have designated people- a few uncles or cousins, best man and groomsmen, etc. to transfer the chairs, not all of your guests. I think that would be ok. I mean, of course it would be preferred if you could hire some people to do this or pay some vendors extra to help with it, but if you can't afford it, I think it would be fine to ask certain people.

jessicabessica

If people are dressed up at all, they may not be too happy to move their own chairs.  Could you see if you can find some high school students to move them?  When I was on a sports team in college, we were always looking for odd jobs to raise money, so I'm sure if you called the high school football team coach (or pick your team of choice) and asked if there were a few players that were free the time of your wedding and could move the chairs, you could get some cheap help.  

Mrs.B6302007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_moving-chairs-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:bf343808-ab54-417c-8f0e-e88e27948856Post:f49e2ad7-36a5-4ca6-b731-f031eb5d4922">Moving chairs from ceremony to reception</a>:
[QUOTE]Hey there, I am having my wedding--ceremony, reception, all of it--in my sister's back yard. It's huge, with plenty of room.  I'm expecting 150+ guests, and my question is this:  After the ceremony, should I have guests move their chairs to the reception area?  Some of them are older and weaker...but I suppose someone else could carry chairs for them. Any suggestions? :)
Posted by rachelwaters[/QUOTE]

Absolutely NOT.  Hire someone to move the chairs.

Mrs.B6302007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_moving-chairs-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:bf343808-ab54-417c-8f0e-e88e27948856Post:dadcbfb3-6fae-4e8d-982b-c3fb6fbfcdd5">Re: Moving chairs from ceremony to reception</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Please have designated people- a few uncles or cousins, best man and groomsmen, etc. to transfer the chairs,</strong> not all of your guests. I think that would be ok. I mean, of course it would be preferred if you could hire some people to do this or pay some vendors extra to help with it, but if you can't afford it, I think it would be fine to ask certain people.
Posted by sklink0486[/QUOTE]

Disagree.  No guests should have to work at a wedding.

mary9449

Do not have your GUESTS move the chairs. They are guests! Hire an event decorator or day of coordinator to do the moving of chairs.

sklink0486

But I think the OP is having a very casual wedding in her family member's backyard. I agree that it is not ideal, but if she has the type of family that I have, they would actually be upset if they knew I paid someone to move the chairs from one place to another in our backyard.

Mrs.B6302007

 I personally couldn't ask my uncle, cousin, whomever dressed up in suits getting all sweaty dragging chairs around when for $50 I could hire a college kid to do it.

Milsey32

Hire someone. Even if it's the neighbor's high school son or someone... 

lolo986

I think that it depends on the situation. My family is very close and wants to help out. We are having my brothers/cousins/uncles/parents move chairs from ceremony to inside for reception. They aren't offended. They actually didn't even give it a second thought when I asked them. Feel the situation out, but do what you think is best!

KarenLM

My niece is hiring her brother's music group to sing at the wedding ceremony.  Afterwards, they will be there to help move chairs, assist in serving the buffet meal, and help with tear down at the end of the evening. She's hired them for the day, has an adult friend of a friend to organize the kitchen, and has me to help with the pre-wedding planning, lol!

Lglass21

I am in the same situation and am just going to ask my uncles, cousins, groomsmen, and best friends to help move the chairs. We are having a small (75ish people) backyard wedding and everyone is going to be very close family and friends. We are also big DIY people and it is basically just going to be a huge family party. Just because it is a "wedding" I know that my family members will want to help.