Outdoor Weddings

outdoor seating ideas

Our ceremony will be  outside in a neighborhood park with the reception a few blocks away.  Fiance and I are on a tight budget and wanted to keep our seating costs for the ceremony low, especially since our ceremony is going to be very short, but I also wanted something that would look nice in the park.  I thought wooden benches would be a good idea since they fit multiple people and would look natural in the park and I could easily spruce them up a bit with flowers and such, but am having a tough time finding them for rental.  I like the look of the wooden/natural chiavari chairs but they may be too out of my price range.  Does anyone have good ideas for nice seating on the cheap for an outdoor venue? 

My friends suggested I do it picnic style with blankets and maybe some pillows (it's going to be a casual affair anyway) but I don't know if that is a good idea.  I would still want to provide seating our older guests.  I'm not sure I'm comfortable asking people to sit on the ground, blankets or not, for my wedding. It's casual but I'm sure people will still be in dresses.  Our friends would love it, but some relatives, especially those that I don't know might give me the side eye.  I've seen pictures where people have done it and it looks lovely, but eh.  Any other good ideas?

Re: outdoor seating ideas

  • Where is the reception? I have been to weddings where the chairs were set up for the ceremony and then moved to the tables. In one, the guests moved them, in another there were a couple of teenagers that did it and the other, the bridal party and some guests moved them. I don't know if that was rude but it didn't seem like a big deal to me in any of the situations.
    I wouldn't mind blankets but I think it would be better to use them in the front and sides of rows of chairs.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_outdoor-weddings_outdoor-seating-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:666Discussion:7bbc19dc-4f25-4331-b3da-79d800443e21Post:059ef512-925f-4131-9a3f-fdec7a8d7a4d">Re: outdoor seating ideas</a>:
    [QUOTE]Where is the reception? I have been to weddings where the chairs were set up for the ceremony and then moved to the tables. In one, the guests moved them, in another there were a couple of teenagers that did it and the other, the bridal party and some guests moved them. I don't know if that was rude but it didn't seem like a big deal to me in any of the situations. I wouldn't mind blankets but I think it would be better to use them in the front and sides of rows of chairs.
    Posted by mauraacro[/QUOTE]

    The reception is about 5 blocks away, so carrying chairs from park to reception site isn't really an option. Although...say we did enlist the help of a few people (by asking politely in advance if they don't mind)  do you think it would be tacky to have people hang out in the park for a bit while the chairs are loaded up in someone's truck and moved to the reception site? We could serve punch and use the time to go around greeting everyone.  Also, I'm not sure if rental companies are cool with chairs being moved from one site to another.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_outdoor-weddings_outdoor-seating-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:666Discussion:7bbc19dc-4f25-4331-b3da-79d800443e21Post:58dd08d6-3585-48c7-abad-41dda48afbcd">outdoor seating ideas</a>:
    [QUOTE]Our ceremony will be  outside in a neighborhood park with the reception a few blocks away.  Fiance and I are on a tight budget and wanted to keep our seating costs for the ceremony low, especially since our ceremony is going to be very short, but I also wanted something that would look nice in the park.  I thought wooden benches would be a good idea since they fit multiple people and would look natural in the park and I could easily spruce them up a bit with flowers and such, but am having a tough time finding them for rental.  I like the look of the wooden/natural chiavari chairs but they may be too out of my price range.  Does anyone have good ideas for nice seating on the cheap for an outdoor venue?  <strong>My friends suggested I do it picnic style with blankets and maybe some pillows (it's going to be a casual affair anyway) but I don't know if that is a good idea.  I would still want to provide seating our older guests.</strong>  I'm not sure I'm comfortable asking people to sit on the ground, blankets or not, for my wedding. It's casual but I'm sure people will still be in dresses.  Our friends would love it, but some relatives, especially those that I don't know might give me the side eye.  I've seen pictures where people have done it and it looks lovely, but eh.  Any other good ideas?
    Posted by laylasaurus[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>Provide traditional seating (benches or chairs) for every butt attending the ceremony.  Not just the elderly.  Sitting on the ground in fancy attire, no matter your age, is not fun.  And obviously standing is not an option.

    </div>
  • Depending on when your wedding is, see about getting bales of hay, and covering them with sheets?  I have seen this done in a number of pictures, and I might be doing the same, so I dont need to move the chairs from inside to outside, and it will still allow for seating outside after the wedding, even tough my venue has picnic tables. 
  • You really do need a seat of some kind for all of your guests. If you do go with re-using chairs, I would be wary of asking friends and family to work on your wedding day. Maybe you can hire a couple college kids to load and unload them?

    Hay bales look super cute in pictures, but you really need something a whole lot thicker than a sheet to cover them. Many people are allergic, and even those who aren't probably don't like getting poked with hay. Covering them with mismatched quilts could look ecclectic and cool, and be much more comfy for guests.

    Have you considered renting church pews? This site has some benches and church pews with a more rustic look, and this one has some with a more vintage/cottage feel.

    If nothing else, you may need to cut back in other areas so you can afford the chairs. Plastic/metal ones may not look as nice as the wooden ones, but they also don't look bad once they are all lined up together. It's a cheaper option, if you hadn't considered it.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_outdoor-weddings_outdoor-seating-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:666Discussion:7bbc19dc-4f25-4331-b3da-79d800443e21Post:28d09c51-1472-4422-8b72-bd82a5323d27">Re: outdoor seating ideas</a>:
    [QUOTE]You really do need a seat of some kind for all of your guests. If you do go with re-using chairs, I would be wary of asking friends and family to work on your wedding day. Maybe you can hire a couple college kids to load and unload them? Hay bales look super cute in pictures, but you really need something a whole lot thicker than a sheet to cover them. Many people are allergic, and even those who aren't probably don't like getting poked with hay. Covering them with mismatched quilts could look ecclectic and cool, and be much more comfy for guests. Have you considered renting church pews? This site has some benches and church pews with a more rustic look, and this one has some with a more vintage/cottage feel. If nothing else, you may need to cut back in other areas so you can afford the chairs. Plastic/metal ones may not look as nice as the wooden ones, but they also don't look bad once they are all lined up together. It's a cheaper option, if you hadn't considered it.
    Posted by bunni727[/QUOTE]

    I'd looked at both of those sites before, they are pretty pricey, way out of my budget. One had a 2 seater bench that I could rent, for $150. Nooo way.  They both have really nice stuff though, if I had unlimited income I would waste so much money.  I can afford the regular metal/plastic chairs no problem, I just wanted to find something that would look a little different but comparable in cost. I was hoping to find somewhere that rented just plain benches, not antique ones, but no such luck.  If all else fails I'll just rent the regular white ones, no biggie. 
  • eeesh, that it pricey! I didn't notice when I looked. Good luck!
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  • Some areas have community buildings or even churches that will loan ore rent chairs to you for events.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_outdoor-weddings_outdoor-seating-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:666Discussion:7bbc19dc-4f25-4331-b3da-79d800443e21Post:17bee912-68ab-4353-8122-98550945403a">Re: outdoor seating ideas</a>:
    [QUOTE]Some areas have community buildings or even churches that will loan ore rent chairs to you for events.
    Posted by KimandByron[/QUOTE]

    There are actually a number of small churches in the neighborhood around the park. I hadn't thought of that, I"ll ask around some of them.  Thanks!
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_outdoor-weddings_outdoor-seating-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:666Discussion:7bbc19dc-4f25-4331-b3da-79d800443e21Post:34411e8f-1864-4f13-832a-f7a958795215">Re: outdoor seating ideas</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: outdoor seating ideas : The reception is about 5 blocks away, so carrying chairs from park to reception site isn't really an option. Although...say we did enlist the help of a few people (by asking politely in advance if they don't mind)  do you think it would be tacky to have people hang out in the park for a bit while the chairs are loaded up in someone's truck and moved to the reception site? We could serve punch and use the time to go around greeting everyone.  Also, I'm not sure if rental companies are cool with chairs being moved from one site to another.
    Posted by laylasaurus[/QUOTE]



    Please don't put your guests to work moving your chairs! There has to be a better option than this. They are there to celebrate with you, not be used for free labor.
  • Im having the same budget issues and it's nice to know this could be an option i never thought of asking my church for use of their pews for a day!
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