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Just Said Yes July 2018

Is it weird to ask guests to move their chairs from Ceremony to reception?

Jessica , on December 30, 2017 at 5:40 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 30

Hi! My fiance and I are getting married July 2018, and we are have both the ceremony and the reception at his family home (backyard wedding). We are trying to decide whether to save money and ask guests to move their chairs from the ceremony to the other side of the lawn for the reception, or to rent twice the amount of chairs. Do you think its a big deal to ask guests to do this? To rent while resin chairs for 200 people is $450, so twice would be $900. I've included a picture of the backyard, the ceremony is taking place on the upper left hand corner, and the reception is the whole bottom area.

BackyardIs it weird to ask guests to move their chairs from Ceremony to reception? 1

30 Comments

Latest activity by Keiradfloyd, on June 8, 2021 at 2:52 AM
  • Forestwed
    Master May 2018
    Forestwed ·
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    I would not have guests move their own chairs.
    • Reply
  • BoudreauToBe
    Master July 2018
    BoudreauToBe ·
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    Weird, no. Tacky and rude, yes.

    • Reply
  • Lacy
    Super December 2018
    Lacy ·
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    That's what I was thinking.
    • Reply
  • Christine
    Dedicated November 2018
    Christine ·
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    That's a beautiful venue. Not everyone will be able to.

    • Reply
  • Kelli
    Expert August 2018
    Kelli ·
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    We don't have anyone to do this for us either so what we are doing is having my FH's niece and nephew as well as a few of his teenage sons friends moving them for us. We're having less than 50 guests and it's not very far for them to carry them anyway.
    • Reply
  • A. L.
    Master July 2017
    A. L. ·
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    I would hire a few college kids to move the chairs for you.

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  • bluevelvet
    Devoted October 2017
    bluevelvet ·
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    Please don't ask your guests to move their own chairs.

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  • Deryn
    Expert October 2018
    Deryn ·
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    Please don’t do this. I went to a backyard wedding in July and the officiant asked us to move the chairs from the ceremony space to the tables (open seating too, which i do not recommend). If you don’t want to rent two sets of chairs, is there any staff that can do that for you?
    • Reply
  • J
    Just Said Yes July 2018
    Jessica ·
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    This is a great idea, thank you!

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  • Laura
    Devoted August 2018
    Laura ·
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    Yeah, don’t ask guests to move chairs.

    Either rent two two sets or hire someone for an hour to move them during cocktail hour.
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  • Mrs. Haug
    Devoted June 2018
    Mrs. Haug ·
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    I would not ask guests to move their chairs but I do think it may be a good idea to hire a few guys to move them for you.
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  • taetae88
    VIP October 2018
    taetae88 ·
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    I went to a wedding where the guest had to move the chairs. It was horrible. It was unorganized and pure havoc.

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  • Maria
    Master June 2018
    Maria ·
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    I wouldn’t mind in the moment but i’d remember forever haha. This may be an issue for older guests or others with mobility issues. I’m sure younger guests would help them out but then it stops being as simple as everyone moves the one chair.
    • Reply
  • Nikki
    Super May 2018
    Nikki ·
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    Definitely ask your caterer! Their staff will probably be able to accommodate the request without an issue. As a DOC I had a couple weddings where I was responsible for moving the chairs and it was too much work for one or two people (myself + assistant). I was also told that groomsmen would help but when it came time they were MIA. Moral of the story? GM will likely forget/be drunk/both so it’s better to arrange it with the staff.
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  • AC
    Devoted September 2021
    AC ·
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    My cateter will be in charge of moving the chairs from the ceremony site to the reception during the cocktail hour. Don’t ask your guests
    • Reply
  • Tina0610
    Dedicated February 2018
    Tina0610 ·
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    One of my friends had an outdoor ceremony, then asked a bunch of us high school friends to carry some chairs to the indoor reception. It wasn't a big deal, but she didn't need every chair moved, just enough for like 3 tables which we handled easily and didn't mind. It would def be a lot to ask older guests or any children... And unrealistic. I would just rent enough to not have to move the chairs because personally it would be worthwhile for my peace of mind to not have to worry about it.
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  • Bailey
    Devoted January 2018
    Bailey ·
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    I would definitely find it weird...I'm the kind of person that would do it without grumbling, but not everyone is that way. It would seem like havoc to me and, as people have already stated, there will most likely be more than 1 person unable to move their own chair. I wouldn't have thought of hiring someone or asking the caterer to do it. I would back that recommendation or just pay the extra for the other set of chairs. It honestly seems like a good price for chair rental even where I live.
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  • Christina
    Dedicated May 2018
    Christina ·
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    It's tacky but i also think its a good idea. Maybe find an alternative way to transfer chairs like a truck.
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  • L
    Just Said Yes April 2018
    Lauren ·
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    I would have either some hired staff move the chairs or enlist the help of some friends to move them. I went to a wedding where the chairs needed to be rearranged because the ceremony and reception took place in the same area. The guests weren't asked to move the chairs, but everyone ended up chipping in to help move them anyway.
    • Reply
  • Amy
    Devoted April 2018
    Amy ·
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    I wouldnt ask your guests to do that.... is there an option for the staff of the venue to move them?
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