Design Elements: Chairs

Chairs are often overlooked as a design element, although most brides wrinkle their nose at the standard banquet chairs that most venues provide. There are a variety of chairs available for rent, to fit almost any design scheme and color palette you choose.

Wooden or Resin Garden Chair

These have a more casual, garden or beach feel to them. Perfect for a sandy beach, casual garden or seaside view ceremony and reception, they are inexpensive and actually quite comfortable as long as you get the ones with the padded seats. They come in black, white, and tan at most rental companies. Between $2.50 to $4.00 per chair In Seattle, try Pedersens Event Rentals.

Bamboo Folding Chairs

These also have the perfect beach or rustic vibe, and are a fun alternative with a low price tag. In Seattle, these are available at ABC Rentals.

Chiavari Chairs

The most popular upgrade chair for weddings, Chiavari Chairs come in a variety of colors, and can further more be customized with covers for the chair pads in just about any color – (Bella Signature Design now carries over 40 colors of chiavari chair pads, in several different fabrics!) Most venues do not offer these chairs, but will accommodate if you rent them by putting their chairs away. They are in the medium price range, from $7 to $10 per chair, depending on color and region. They offer a elegant, more formal ballroom feel. I actually love the juxtaposition of the elegance of these chairs for a ceremony on the grass…especially when in gold or silver, but the fruitwood ones are very classic.

My new favorite is the “Crystal” version. I’ve seen a few of these floating around Seattle, but not in enough quantity for an average sized event…

Ghost Chairs

Ah, I LOVE these chairs. Most of my clients know how much I love modern and contemporary designs, both in home furnishings and in event design, so I was really drawn to these. Not available in Seattle yet (come on, someone get these please!!) they are popular in New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. A few companies will ship them nationwide, but with a price tag from $25 to $50 per chair PLUS shipping, it is often cost prohibitive for events where you can not rent them locally. The smaller, more delicate Victoria Chair comes in various colors, while the larger Louis comes in basic tones (I love the amber and smoke). Resource One is a great source for these.

Apparition Chairs

Seattle has finally come up with an alternative for the Ghost chair. I love that these fit in better with a modern event, as the color palette of the event design ‘shines through’ these chairs. They are also a better price tag than Ghost Chairs (last we checked they were $25 per chair). They are available through Stellar Event Rentals.

Which ones do you like best?