Wedding Chairs 101

Welcome to Ty's Wedding Rental and Services! A common theme when couples and family members are researching chairs is that they don't quite understand the differences. They notice prices are low for some and higher for others, but they don't make sure that they are comparing apples to apples. What is the difference?

Ceremony wedding chairs

Chairs are one of the most basic needs on a wedding day. Your guests want a place to sit that comfortable. For the couple booking chairs they want them to look beautiful in the space while being comfortable.

Before we list the different types of chairs you can rent, let us explain the different types of service you can receive when you rent chairs from a rental company.

Types of chair rental service:

1. Pick up yourself

This will require a vehicle or trailer big enough to hold all the chairs you need and maybe a couple people to help load and carry. You will then have to drive them to the wedding, unload them, and set them up yourself. Then when everything is over, you will have to clean them up and return. Obviously, this is the lowest cost option, and the chairs are not always in the best shape since there are so many different people handling them. It also requires the most labor on your end.

2. Drop off

The chairs are dropped off and picked up for you, but you will need to set them up and clean if needed. This still requires family or friends to set up the chairs the night before the wedding or on the day. If set up the night prior keep in mind debris from trees, dust, and animals might accumulate. Put someone in charge of wiping down the chairs prior to the ceremony.

3. Full service (Us)

The chairs are delivered, set up, and cleaned up all by the rental company. This is the option that we like best in order to serve our brides and grooms and keep our equipment pristine. We also clean each chair after setting up. Ty's is one of the only companies that only offers full service. That means we're experts in setup and determining what will work best for you. Your guests will also notice the professional setup.

When you are comparing prices among rental companies, be sure to see what option of service they are providing as well as what type of chair they are offering.

Types of chairs:

1. Metal folding chair

This is the most basic type of chair you will find. Sometimes you will also have the option of renting chair covers, which would be an extra cost. You have seen these chairs before at school events, church or fairs. They're not the most comfortable.

Metal economy chair

2. Metal/plastic fan back folding chair

This is still a basic option but looks better than the plain metal folding chair. They usually come in white, brown or black. They're a lightweight option and not the most comfortable, hard to clean and can be rusty. They also are not the most stable on lawns. These are very common grad party chairs because of the price and simplicity.

Fan back chair

3. Plastic and metal folding chair

This is a more comfortable option than a metal chair, but they might not provide the wedding look you are going for. They're very stable and have a plastic large white seat and back. These are the lifetime chairs you may see at grad parties.

Plastic metal chair

4. Wood wedding folding chair

These look much like their resin counterparts (option 5), but they are a lot less durable and after a few years the paint fades and cracks off. They do give a nice rustic look for a wedding ceremony.

5. White resin wedding folding chair

This is the type of chair we offer. They are strong and durable, but still look excellent as the classic wedding chair. They also clean well, allowing us to provide actual white chairs at every wedding. They include a soft pad for extra comfort and fold for easy portability. They're stable and have more surface area on the legs which help them stay on top of the grass or soft dirt.

6. Chiavari chair

This type of chair will mostly be seen inside venues for the reception. They come in a variety of colors and originated in the 1800s in France. They don't fold, so they are more difficult to transport and set up. They come in wood or resin. These chairs typically have an added pad for comfort.

Chaiavari chair

7. Cross back chair

This is the second type of chair we offer. It may also be called a farmhouse style chair with it's relaxed, rustic but stylish appearance. The X design on the backrest tells you it's a cross back. This chair gives a warmer more organic-looking style and is a favorite upgrade for outdoor tent weddings and indoor venues. They don't fold meaning logistics are a bit harder for transport and set up. Typically for Ty's (us) these chairs are set up under the tent for the reception and the white resins are used for the ceremony. There is an optional pad for added comfort and design.

Cross back chairs

8. Church Pews

We see these used for ceremonies and they sure look wonderful! The logistical challenge is enormous as many find them on marketplace. They get stored, sometimes painted, then moved into place. Selling them afterwards can be a challenge and once they get wet things start falling apart.

9. Wood boards on logs

We also see these for at home wedding ceremonies. Perfect DIY project for someone with logs laying around and boards. Wonderful very rustic look. They can be a bit dangerous if the ground is soft or uneven. You also may need a few chairs for elder guests as there is no backrest when sitting on a board. Straw or hay bales are similar but easier to move.

Why we picked our chairs?

Our main customer is couples having a wedding on a home property using our mobile tent venue. They like the freedom of their own property and beautiful organic and relaxed outdoor setting. Our white resin chairs w/soft pad are used the most. They have a higher end look and are very comfortable on grass, dirt and even sand. They're easy to transport from the ceremony to the reception tent as the guests just fold up the chair and easily bring it in.

The old metal economy chairs are not wedding material in our minds. The metal/plastic fan back chairs are tipsy and lower quality. They're an economy wedding chair and are not as comfortable. The metal/plastic chair is actually quite comfortable but we feel like it's a graduation party with those chairs and they're bulky.

The chiavari chair is a bit to formal for our couples free, relaxed, and comfortable visions. The cross back is a elegant rustic chair we supply for those who have it in their budget.

Why did we choose to be full service?

The reason it to elevate the overall wedding day experience by taking tasks away from the couple and family. Picking up chairs from a local rental company and returning them is not enjoyable for most. Add in the set up, cleaning, and tear down to your already busy schedule. If a company drops off the chairs for you there is still the set up and tear down. It's a lot of work and typically the people that end up doing it are the close family and friends. We feel that they should be celebrating the day with you from start to finish without added labor.

Chair transition

If your planning an outdoor wedding at home it's common that the chairs are used for both the ceremony and reception. The transition of these chairs need to be discussed so you can plan on either having your guests move the chairs, or a specific group of guests. We offer transition service for our wedding couples so no one has to move a chair.

We hope this helps you with your planning and have a great wedding day!

Ty's