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I’m not talking about a place to park our cars; Bartram’s Garden comes with a big and safe parking lot. I’m talking about a place to park our asses. I’m talking about chairs.
Our caterer will be providing our chairs, and the chairs that come with our package are plain white folding chairs that look like this:
They’re very plain and very casual. But they’re included, which means no extra money! That’s a huge plus for us. Honestly, I think they’re fine for an outdoor wedding.
But I’m a girl who likes to know her options, and so I did some Googling to research the alternatives.
For about $90, we can rent chair covers.
I’ll be honest: I am SO not a fan of these things. I think that they take up too much visible space and create a giant sea of white. I can understand using them if your venue’s chairs are absolutely hideous, or if you’re the type who wants everything to match perfectly. I’m not the matchy-matchy type, so chair covers are out.
For a slightly larger fee (about $150 total) we can upgrade to white wooden folding chairs with padded seats.
Yes, they’re still folding chairs, but they’re modern, unobtrusive, and perfectly appropriate for our outdoor fete. This is a definite possibility.
For several hundred more buckaroos, we can rent the Cadillac of wedding seating, Chiavari chairs.
I am not immune to their beauty—they go with so many different types of decor, they’re delicate instead of clunky, and they’re generally pretty fabulous. But, they’re pricey. We’re on a strict budget, so hasta la vista, Chiavari!
After researching my options, I’m still not 100% sure what to do. Chair covers and Chiavari chairs are definitely out. I’m really OK with the basic folding chairs, but I think I’d prefer the wooden chairs. I want to keep things as cheap as possible, but $150 isn’t that much money for such an upgrade, right? What do you recommend, hive?
What kind of chairs will you be having at your wedding?
I’d go with the white garden chairs. I also struggled with this decision, but was so glad that I went with the garden chairs in the end. They just look a bit classier and I preferred them in pictures. If you don’t care, go with the cheaper ones. But if you DO care, then don’t settle for $150 difference because even though most other people won’t notice–you will!
I think the basic folding chairs are perfectly fine! You could use that extra $150 towards something your guests will remember more- flowers, food, etc! At least that’s what I think! Good Luck!
I like the white folding chairs! For our ceremony we had those same kind of chairs but they were natural wood color and I really liked them. For our reception we just had the regular banquet chairs provided by our venue. If it had been in the budget I would have done Chiviari but in the end it doesnt really matter! 
I would upgrade to the wooden chairs. The plastic folding chairs have always looked and felt flimsy and cheap. The wooden ones actually stand on their own as chairs that are more suited to the importance of a wedding. We used the wooden folding ones for our ceremony and chiavari for the reception (since they couldn’t swap them out)
$150 is totally reasonable, if it’s something that really bugs you. We’ll have chivari chairs at our wedding, but that is honestly just dumb luck–they came with the venue.
What if you get some inexpensive tulle in your wedding decor color and tie it around the the bottom back part of the simple folding chairs? It would spice them up and probably be less expensive then the chair upgrade.
I never cared about chairs and didn’t know I was supposed to care until I read a post by Miss Glasses. I think we had wood at the ceremony and reception and they looked nice. $150 isn’t much to upgrade to something you like more that has cushions. Honestly, the cushions are why I’d upgrade if I was in your situation.
I would most definitely upgrade to wooden folding chairs…it brings more whimsy than plastic hands down…I would be willing to pay the $150 but I would look elsewhere to see if I could rent them cheaper…simply bc I think you can. And i’m all about a bargain.
BTW I’m so excited for you, my fellow PA bride!
I recommend the wooden folding ones. Our venue used to have the plastic folding ones but replaced them with ones nearly identical to the wooden ones you’ve shown.
My main problems with the plastic ones is that they feel flimsy (the seat can warp a little if you sit offcenter) and that FH has broken several by sitting funny or leaning to pick something off the floor.
Chairs are so funny bc they’re such a random element but for me, it was a big one bc they are in all the photos and really effect the way the space looks! I had a specific vision for my chairs, basically the white wooden folding ones you showed, only instead of white, I wanted a natural wood…Took me forever but I finally found ‘em!
Anyways, all that to say that I think it will be worth it to upgrade to the white, wooden folding chairs…
I would definitely go with the $150 upgrade to the garden folding chairs. It is going to cost me like $800 just to get them for our ceremony!
We had padded metal folding chairs because they were free with the venue and I thought they were sufficient. It turned out they were also practical as a lot of guests moved them once dancing began. In your situation, I think I’s spend the $150 for the upgrade as those plastic ones are v. uncomfortable IMO. Also, if you have any heavier guests, it could be a problem and you may want to check into the weight limit or the plastic ones.
I have been having this same conundrum! Our venue has the same white plastic chairs, except the rungs and the legs are black. SO HIDEOUS. Everyone keeps telling me they are fine, but I think I am definitely going to upgrade to the white wooden chairs. I think $150 is worth feeling better!
We rented the cheapo plastic ones for the ceremony only as they would only be used for a whole 15 minutes. The rental company suggested them, and that surprised me as usually they push for more upgrades. They were fine for us as they were on brick pavers. For your venue, and if the tables and chairs will be on grass, those plastic ones will definitely sink in,simply by the way they’re made (look at the legs on them). In that case, I’d upgrade to the other wooden ones that at least have some padding. They aren’t much more comfortable with the open back on them, but at least no one will fall over.
We’ll have gold chiavari chairs….i personally find the basic white folding chairs cheap looking…If I were you, I would go with the wooden chairs.
could you do more than one color of chair covers? it might look nice to have a random assortment of garden colors
The cheap folding ones scare me. I’m a fairly small person and I don’t feel secure sitting on them. If it’s only a difference of $150 I would go for the nicer chairs.
I’d say for the extra 150 go for the nicer wooden chairs. The plastic ones can have the problem of sinking into the ground if it gets a bit soggy. They also tend to not be comfortable for longer than 20 minutes..
As fat covers I’ve never liked the full chair look, it’s always given me the impression that your TRYING to hide the chair and most people aren’t fooled by what it really is. I’ve seen some nice half covers (back only) in the slip style or the other style I like is the ribbon/bow around the back. (Big ribbon http://www.onewed.com/files/imagecache/576w/images/1042920/ceremony-and-reception-chair-bows.JPG small ribbon: http://www.simplyentertainingathome.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/christmas-chair-decor.jpg)
The white wooden chairs come in our package, I would do the $150 upgrade for them.
I’d go for the $150 upgrade. not only do they look better, but I think they would be more comfortable for your guests. The padding will help keep guests comfortable as they watch you get married, and as a couple other people have mentioned, they will probably be more sturdy than the plastic ones.
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Ms. Sloth, Philadelphia Age and Occupation: 35, Account Manager and Fashion Blogger Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Design Admin Engagement Date: December 25, 2009 Wedding Date: May 2011 Venue: Bartram's Garden About Me: I'm an internet junkie and music snob with a good eye for a bargain. I couldn't live without thrift store shopping, cheeseburgers, sushi, Coke Zero, websites devoted to silly photos of baby animals, Photoshop, and Mr. Sloth. Speaking of which, he and I are a pair of goofball homebody nerds who love our beagle (the most ridiculously adorable dog EVER) to an embarrassing degree. We're planning a low-key and intimate yet festive and quirky outdoor wedding with DIY details and deeply personal touches, and it's all taking place in the city where we fell in love and call home: Philadelphia.
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