The Brooches Debate: Chiavari vs. Banquet Chairs

The Brooches Debate: Chiavari vs. Banquet Chairs

September 21st, 2010 @ 2:50 pm by Mrs. Brooch
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We’re trying to think outside the box when it comes to our wedding…

Not necessarily in terms of creativity, but in terms of the “box” many brides and grooms (especially brides) get into when it comes to their must haves. Most of us want the best of the best. The best caterer, the best DJ, the best photographer–and there’s nothing wrong with that, except for the fact that most of us can’t afford the best of everything. In our case, we’re splurging on the venue and photography. We feel like these are lasting investments (if you will), or really (that’s just a fancy way of saying) the things we can justify spending thousands of dollars on.

When it comes to the trendy extras like a candy bar or photobooth, we’re really having to restrain ourselves. We want them, but our budget simply doesn’t have room for it all. For instance, I LOVED the smilebooth. We discovered it during our trip to New York at the Wedding Party, and it was my “must have” item for months. Seriously. Months. I told Aaron I didn’t care how much it cost, and when we found it was approximately $1500 somehow (lol), I convinced myself that was reasonable.

Did I mention that was on top of our wedding costs? Yeah. Mr. B wasn’t buying it.

Then I got on this kick about having a wedding planner. Mr. B wasn’t convinced we needed one until we met with a few, and all of a sudden he was all, “We can’t do this without one!” Despite his leniency on the issue, I knew our budget wasn’t going to handle a smilebooth AND a planner. So I had to chose.

Of course, the planner was more justifiable. We’d be utilizing the money we spent throughout the year and not just on one day (we wanted a full-time planner). Not only that, we definitely felt the planner would earn his or her fee by saving us money on the caterer, flortist, and other wedding-related expenses.

So alas, I had to say goodbye to my beloved smilebooth.

Smooth. I gave in on the smilebooth. Mr. B and I got the planner we felt we needed. Easy peasy. Then, something came up I wasn’t so quick to overlook, which brings me to our current debate: Chiavari versus banquet chairs.

Even though the extra cost of Chiavari chairs isn’t as high as the cost of a planner or a smilebooth, a few hundred dollars goes a long way in the wedding-budget world. You don’t want to throw away $200 or $500 on just anything because there are a lot of good uses for that money (like contributing to more expensive items).

I’m not a fan of banquet chairs (no offense to brides out there who are planning to or did use them). I think Chiavari chairs are so much more beautiful! In the words of our planner, “They significantly upscale the design of the room.” AMEN!

But, I have to ask. Is this minor? Am I being a spoiled bride? Should I be more lax about this kind of thing? Who is going to notice the chairs?

Well, I will. I just think Chiavari chairs take a dining room from “that’s nice” to “wow, that’s sophisticated!”

What’s really the difference these two types of chairs, you ask?

Chiavari and Banquet

Are Chiavari chairs worth the splurge? Were banquet chairs included at your venue? Did you use them?

Tags: arlington, decor |

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56 Responses to “The Brooches Debate: Chiavari vs. Banquet Chairs”

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Member

hesmywatermelon (message) 251 posts, Helper bee

My venues chairs are actually pretty nice
I totally agree that Chivari Chairs are lovely, although I have heard a few people mention that they are actually not that comfortable?!
Also, be honest with yourself. You will not notice the chairs on the day, you will be too busy speaking to the people in them!
Also, Chivari’s look nice when you see the room all on its own with no one in it, but filled with people or bums and people will probably not notice the effect that they have in the overall look of the room.
Honestly, I would keep the money or spend on something a little more noticeable. Having said that, when I want something, I want something- If you REALLY want them, do it!

9/21/10 @ 3:06 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Sloth (message) 3,184 posts, Sugar bee

I agree /w hesmywatermelon - Chiavaris look best empty, and once people are sitting in them, they’re not really noticeable.

If it’s really important to you, then by all means spend the money. But a few hundred bucks is a few hundred bucks, and I’m sure that if you didn’t get the Chiavaris, you could find something else to spend it on.

9/21/10 @ 3:13 pm (reply)

Member

absolutbettie (message) 261 posts, Helper bee

Worth the splurge! Banquet chairs look very business-like or conference-y to me. I’m biased becuase I had those gold chivari chairs at my wedding and loved ‘em :o) . They were kind of a last minute addition for us. We had already invested a lot in decor, centerpieces, linens, charger plates, etc and to me, the overall look would appear half-baked if we had standard banquet chairs. (This is all relative, of course…I’m sure no one else would have noticed if we had banquet chairs)

9/21/10 @ 3:16 pm (reply)

Guest

Emily

Remembering what the “before” side was like, I totally wanted the chairs also, and tried to convince everyone and their mother that the Chivari chairs were worth the $6.75 a piece price that I wanted to pay. They won, we save about $3 per guest, I wasn’t happy about it.

Looking at things from the “after” perspective, which I know is much easier for me since I am now married…it’s chairs. As in, the thing you put your butt on. In all the weddings I have ever been to I can honestly say I have never once noticed what kind of chair I was sitting on.

Save your money, look for a local photobooth company.

9/21/10 @ 3:16 pm (reply)

Member

Florin (message) 70 posts, Worker bee

I think the chair upgrade is worth it. It really changes the dynamic of the room and it’s something that would definitely bother me at my wedding. I would spend the few hundred bucks.

9/21/10 @ 3:16 pm (reply)

Member

7SEVENJ9 (message) 3,701 posts, Sugar bee

We have the ugliest chairs in the universe, but I couldnt justify spending $6.50 for chair covers. I do love the look of chivari chairs, but at the end of the day, I’d rather put the money toward a photo booth, which we got through photofunbox.com!

9/21/10 @ 3:20 pm (reply)

Guest

Nortena

Used the banquet chairs. No one noticed that they weren’t pretty or that they were forest green. Everyone ate, drank and danced like crazy. THAT was worth spending money on, not chairs.

The few times I’ve sat in Chivari chairs, they’ve seemed rickety. I’d rather have a comfortable ugly chair than a pretty one that fell apart!

9/21/10 @ 3:21 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Brooch (message) 1,721 posts, Bumble bee

@Emily: Hahahahah… “As in, the thing you put your butt on!” Hilarious!

9/21/10 @ 3:22 pm (reply)

Member

Moose1209 (message) 1,992 posts, Buzzing bee

We spent $1,200 to get the chivari. WORTH.EVERY.PENNY. They were beautiful. And people notice them. I always notice the chairs at other peoples weddings and I certainly noticed them at my own wedding. As long as you don’t have to go into debt to do it… do it!

9/21/10 @ 3:23 pm (reply)

10.

Guest

Andria

Ugh….I LOVE chivari chairs. However, half-decent banquet chairs are included with out venue. Chivari chairs will likely end up on the “Wish List”….but not at the top of it. Our venue has 3/4 length tablecloths, so we HAVE to (IMO) get full length tablecloths. That will come before the chivari chairs.

9/21/10 @ 3:24 pm (reply)

11.

Guest

Stephanie

I have been having the same debate! I can not convince my mom, dad or fiancé that they are worth the splurge. I gave the same reason too, “Bu-but they improve the design of the room!” Alas, no one cared. And to be honest, I had a hard time justifying, even to myself, spending $800 on chairs when that money could be used elsewhere, like for better photos or favors.
I came up with a pretty good compromise though, I think!
The banquet chairs at my venue are actually pretty decent—black, leather material and brand new. They will look just fine, but I really wanted my picture of an ampersand hanging between my and my fiancé’s chairs so I think I’m going to rent two black chiavari chairs (to match the other banquet chairs) for me and my fiancé. $16 is totally within my budget and I get my pictures! Plus we are the guests of honor… so why not have the pretty chairs!

I just need to find out if there’s a minimum number you have to rent for those chairs…otherwise I might just be stuck with my banquet chairs. :/

9/21/10 @ 3:30 pm (reply)

12.

Member

crazybabyinlove (message) 216 posts, Helper bee

worth the splurge. And talk to your planner because she should be able to get you a great deal on them. I am a planner myself and I was able to get my chiavairs for peanuts…. like $2.50 a chair and I’m in Miami, one of the more expensive “party lands”

9/21/10 @ 3:40 pm (reply)

13.

Member

bridesmomma (message) 451 posts, Helper bee

Chivari chairs are one of the things we are SOO glad we did–even though to upgrade cost $900 extra. To add to the budget damage, we added satin sashes tied to the side…Totally added to the ambiance of the room. We actually did have a few guests comment on them, and totally noticeable in the reception pictures. If you can swing it, do it…you will definitely NOT regret it!

9/21/10 @ 3:40 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Sand Dollar (message) 1,305 posts, Bumble bee

I love the look of chivari chairs, but like the other girls stated, I think that the food, music, and photography is at the top of my splurge list. You can always buy some of that cheap wide tulle-looking ribbon from Hobby Lobby on the mega-cheap and dress up the banquet chairs in your colors.

9/21/10 @ 3:41 pm (reply)

15.

Member

ashleed (message) 118 posts, Blushing bee

I would have to go for them…..maybe not want to but…..I would notice and isn’t it supposed to be ALL ABOUT THE BRIDE?! We are having them at our wedding with no question because (bratty or not!) I would be soooooooo mad at seeing those banquet chairs! JMO….not saying its a must but it is for me….

9/21/10 @ 3:42 pm (reply)

16.

Guest

Ellen

I agree with the other posters about the discomfort of sitting in Chiavari chairs. They are SUPER uncomfortable to sit in. And they are kinda rickety. I just don’t think the extra cost is justified. Put that money into something else. As a guest, I don’t care what kind of chair I’m sitting in, I just want a chair to sit in! I have been to so many weddings where the bride and groom wanted to save on chair rentals so they didn’t rent enough chairs for everyone. This even happened at a plated dinner. Yup, I was standing with my plate trying to eat my dinner. No hightop tables or anything! Go with the regular ol’ banquet chairs and find an inexpensive photo booth! Your guests will appreciate it!

9/21/10 @ 3:51 pm (reply)

17.

Guest

Pannesb

I had the chivari chairs for my wedding — it was an additional $900, but I thought it was completely worth it. The pictures of the room looked so great and …. I just adored them. Worth every penny.

9/21/10 @ 3:55 pm (reply)

18.

Member

HELLOLVR (message) 49 posts, Newbee

not a big deal to me. the banquet chairs at my venue aren’t THAT damaging to the eye, and i’ll opt for sashes if it gets to that point of NOT being able to afford the chairs. that’s at the very bottom of my list

9/21/10 @ 3:58 pm (reply)

19.

Member

YellowBee3 (message) 246 posts, Helper bee

I have been struggling with the same thing… I really wanted to splurge on the chairs but it would jsut eat up so much of our budget. Hearing all of the married bees saying in the end they are jsut chairs makes me feel better… Plus if I ditch the chairs I can have about 4 other things on the “must have” list instead.

9/21/10 @ 4:00 pm (reply)

20.