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Hay bales instead of chairs?

caterpillar85caterpillar85
100 Comments
in Outdoor Weddings
I am having my ceremony and reception at a horse ranch and the ceremony is outside. They don't offer any tables and chairs.

It looks like this-


I was researching rental places in my area and we can't afford to have chairs and tables inside AND other chairs outside for the ceremony.

I saw hay bales and fell in love with the idea. Being from Kansas I know of many places that can get me bales for cheaper than the chairs. (I know I need to have some chairs for the elderly or others)



Has anyone done this or went to a wedding where this was done? I plan on covering them with blankets/sheets something like in the picture so the guests don't get poked lol. I doubt I'll have the back part or the pillows, just the coverings. Good idea? Bad?
TIA
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Re: Hay bales instead of chairs?

  • Queen JaneQueen Jane member
    Fifth Anniversary 1000 Comments
    edited June 2012
    Hay bales are definitely better than no chairs, I think it's fine as an alternative. However, I would make sure you have enough seating for every guest, not just the elderly.

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  • mia888mia888 member
    10 Comments
    edited June 2012
    i've gone to a wedding with hay bales as seats... and the setting is quite unique. and yes! you definitely have to cover the seats with linens and sheets like that one in the photo. don't cover them entirely or else, you are forfeiting the uniqueness of the sight of having hay bales for your wedding seat!

    don't forget to adorn them with flowers or tulles just to avoid making it too 'dry' to look at.
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  • bunni727bunni727 member
    Fifth Anniversary 1000 Comments 250 Love Its First Answer
    Good idea!

    Those look super cute. And since you already said you would have some chairs too for the elderly and others, i think you have your bases covered if someone is allergic or has trouble sitting without a backrest.
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  • vfootevfoote
    10 Comments
    I've thought about doing this and think it's a cute idea! I'm planning a rustic outdoor wedding, and we both grew up on farms and own cattle/horses, so haybales would go right along with us and the theme. However, I have hauled lots of hay in my time and know what kind of work will be involved in moving 100+ square bales. Since we will be doing pretty much everything ourselves, having the stress and manpower of setting them up, loading and unloading them, it's just not worth it to me.
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  • balletdawnballetdawn
    1000 Comments Third Anniversary
    We did it. We didn't have any chairs, didn't think of that, but our tent with chairs was 30 feet away and our ceremony was very short. We covered them with coffee bags that we got for free from a local roaster.






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  • QueerFemmeQueerFemme member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    I think its very cute if you are doing a rustic/barn theme.  I do think it's important that you cover them with something thick.  That hay can easily poke through a sheet.  I would also make sure it drapes over the front of the hay bale as well, so people with shorter dresses on won't get their legs all scratched up.

    image

    Websites/blogs where our wedding has been featured:

    http://www.dapperq.com/2013/11/a-very-dapper-wedding/

    http://www.onabicyclebuiltfortwo.com/2013/10/wedding-christina-g.html

    http://4realequalityweddings.com/2014/05/16/g-christina/

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  • Stacey42901Stacey42901 member
    10 Comments
    DO you by any chance want to sell the coffee bags?!   :)
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  • caterpillar85caterpillar85
    100 Comments
    Thanks everyone for the positive comments and suggestions. I know it's been done before but I haven't seen or heard of it a lot so wasn't sure if it was a disaster or not... so thanks again :)
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  • kelleywillkelleywill
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Comments
    That is a cute idea!! I'm so happy i saw that we are doing a fall wedding and i wanted to play with the harvest and leaf thing. I was think of useing hay with leaves and maybe pumpkins but never as seats. I may have to look in to that too. Hay is everywhere here in missouri and pretty cheap too. Nice idea love it.
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  • balletdawnballetdawn
    1000 Comments Third Anniversary
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_outdoor-weddings_hay-bales-instead-of-chairs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:666Discussion:633c7a03-9a50-4498-be1b-883d1ed31eefPost:d3ebeeb4-f049-4d4c-b570-bb2435756b88">Re: Hay bales instead of chairs?</a>:
    [QUOTE]DO you by any chance want to sell the coffee bags?!   :)
    Posted by Stacey42901[/QUOTE]
    Sorry, I gave them away shortly after the wedding. I would call around to local coffee roasters though. The one we found was willing to give them away because they end up with so many of them.
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  • tszostektszostek member
    10 Comments
    I think it's a cute idea!
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  • chalfacrechalfacre member
    10 Comments
    I live in Tennessee and my FI and I were agriculture majors in college so I've seen it done a few times within our circle of friends and I think it's a very cute idea. However, I have severe allergic reactions to hay (along with other things) and I would not be able to sit, even covered. Having a chair for me would help, but it could also isolate some guests. Sounds like you are taking things into consideration though.
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