The furniture at your wedding reception sets the tone for the whole event. Here's how to choose the right hire pieces without overcomplicating it.
The furniture at your wedding reception sets the tone for the whole event. Here's how to choose the right hire pieces without overcomplicating it.
Wedding furniture hire involves more choices than most people expect. From the style of chair at each place setting to whether you want a lounge area for guests to relax in, each decision affects how the room looks and feels. This guide walks through the main decisions and what to consider for each.
The most common choice for a wedding reception is round banqueting tables. They offer the best balance of guest capacity to floor space, allow conversation between all guests at the table and look elegant with a full place setting and centrepiece.
Rectangular tables suit different configurations. They are commonly used for the top table, for long family-style dining setups or for venues with a layout that makes round tables impractical. We offer rectangular folding banqueting tables that fold flat for easy storage between setup and the event itself.
Chair hire for weddings is one of the areas where style matters most. The chair is one of the most visible elements at each place setting.
The most popular choice is the Chiavari chair, a wooden chair with an Italian heritage that is both elegant and strong. We stock these in a limewash finish. For a more rustic or relaxed look, cross back chairs and wishbone chairs are widely used at barn weddings and informal receptions.
All our banqueting chairs are stackable, which matters for venues where chairs need to be moved between the ceremony and reception. Check with your venue that there is adequate storage space for stacked chairs during any changeover period.
Creating a lounge or relaxation area at a wedding reception has become increasingly common. Guests who have been seated for several hours during a wedding breakfast appreciate somewhere comfortable to sit and talk that is not at a formal table.
Our Chesterfield sofas are a popular choice for this. Available in classic brown leather as well as a range of other colours, they are comfortable and look distinctive. Paired with a coffee table and a couple of armchairs, they create a natural gathering point without taking up too much floor space.
Furniture is the foundation, but the complete look comes from what goes on top of it. Tablecloth hire, chair covers and napkins all contribute to the overall appearance of the room. We carry a range of linen hire options to complement any furniture choice.
Browse the full wedding furniture range on our furniture hire page. If you are planning a London wedding, see our wedding chair hire London page for venue delivery details and pricing. All pricing and availability is shown online, and orders can be placed directly without a quote.
Chair style sets the tone. Linen colour sets the mood. Table shape determines the room layout. Get those three right and most other decisions follow naturally. A room of gold Chiavari chairs on ivory linen with round tables works in almost any marquee or hotel ballroom. A room of cross-back chairs on white linen with rectangular trestle tables works in any barn or rural venue. Decide the aesthetic first, then build the order list from it.
Most venues supply house chairs and tables. If the house chairs are ugly or mismatched, hiring replacements is worth the cost — the chairs are in every photograph. If the house tables are fine, keep them and spend the hire budget on better chairs and linen. Read the Event Chair Hire Guide and Event Table Hire Guide before deciding what to supplement.
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