Chair hire shapes how a wedding looks more than most couples expect. This guide covers styles, quantities and what to ask before booking.
Chair hire shapes how a wedding looks more than most couples expect. This guide covers styles, quantities and what to ask before booking.
Chair hire has more impact on how a wedding looks and feels than most couples expect. Guests spend three or more hours seated at the reception alone, and the chair appears in nearly every photograph taken in the room. Getting this decision right early saves a lot of renegotiating later.
Chiavari chairs are the most common choice for UK weddings. Their slim profile and clean lines suit formal hotel ballrooms, barn conversions and marquees alike. Available in gold, silver, white, black and clear finishes. Lightweight and stackable, which keeps delivery and setup times down.
Ghost chairs suit contemporary or minimalist weddings. The transparent polycarbonate construction disappears against almost any background, so they work well when you want furniture that does not compete with the room.
Wishbone chairs have a sculptural quality that suits Scandi-influenced and modern-rustic weddings. Available in natural wood and painted finishes.
Banqueting chairs, padded seat and back, are the most comfortable option for a long dinner. Less striking than chiavari or wishbone, but a sensible choice for large formal receptions, or where elderly guests make up a significant share of the seating.
Cross-back chairs (sometimes called farm or harvest chairs) suit barn venues and outdoor settings with a relaxed, natural aesthetic.
Rattan and outdoor chairs work for garden ceremonies and outdoor receptions. Expo Hire's outdoor furniture range covers durable options that hold up through variable weather.
Chair covers and sashes can transform a standard banqueting chair to fit your colour scheme, at a fraction of the cost of upgrading the chair style throughout. Worth considering if your venue supplies its own chairs.
Ceremony seating has different requirements from reception dining. Ceremony chairs go in rows with a central aisle, at tighter spacing than dining chairs. If the ceremony and reception share the same room, a room turnaround will be needed between the two, which affects your timeline and may require additional staffing.
If the two spaces are separate, confirm whether the same chairs move between them or whether you need a second allocation. Allow for the registrar's table and chairs at the front, and reserved aisle seats for close family.
Order chairs for every guest attending the reception, plus a 5 to 10% contingency for last-minute additions and breakages. For 100 guests, order 105 to 110.
For tables, confirm your seating plan before finalising quantities:
Cocktail hour seating often gets underestimated. Poseur tables and bar stools give guests somewhere to settle during drinks and canapes without locking them into formal dining positions. One poseur table per 8 to 10 guests works as a starting point.
Does the quoted price include delivery, setup and collection? Some hire companies charge for these separately. Expo Hire includes delivery and collection as standard.
How is stock condition managed? Ask whether chairs are inspected between bookings and whether you can request newer items for a high-profile event.
What is the damage policy? Expo Hire includes a damage waiver as standard, covering accidental damage without a penalty charge at the end of the booking.
How late can numbers change? Guest lists shift. Know the cutoff date for final quantities and what flexibility exists after that.
Tablecloths, napkins and chair covers complete the table setting visually. Ordering furniture and linen from one supplier simplifies the process and makes colour coordination straightforward. Expo Hire supplies chairs, tables, linen, crockery, glassware and cutlery from a single order.
For more on table planning alongside chair hire, see our wedding table and chair hire planning guide.
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