need "special" chairs for some really heavy guests..

I'm sure you won't single them out if they know about their weight. Just notify them that you've arranged chairs that they should be more comfortable in, and that will let them enjoy the wedding without worry.

Are they close enough relatives that you can pass it off as reserved seating somehow? long shot probably tho.

Ab, no, I don't think so.. uncle and cousin of FH.

Thanks for bringing this up - I never would have thought about this & it might be an issue for us too!

Could you use the metal chairs for everyone? Alternatively..although it would a lot of work - place cards?

Yeah, I am thinking placecards for reception seating, but I still think they will notice the chairs are different. I don't think there's enough metal chairs for everyone and I don't really want to use them.. plus for the ceremony we don't want to assign seating.

Why not get all relatives the metal chairs, so that these are distinguished seating for family? Could wrap just those chairs with bows or something and it would cost less if it's just family...

Are you doing a seating chart, or is everyone sitting where they want?

For reception, we were at least assigning tables. for ceremony, we wanted everyone to sit where they want, particularly since we have lots of mutual friends and have known each other's families for a long time..

it may not be an issue though, FH is talking to FMIL right now and she thinks these relatives may not be coming so it may be a non-issue!

Maybe just make one table all metal chairs at the reception and make one row at the ceremony all metal chairs. Hopefully they will just switch out their chairs or sit on a chair better suited for them. It will only look like you ran out of normal chairs and had to substitute rather than singling out individuals.

I mean, with all due respect, if they notice the chairs are different, so be it. I would think at that weight, they'd understand that they may need different accommodations.

Hopefully it'll be a non-issue for you, but if not I think some of these ladies had good suggestions.

Haha, yeah, FMIL said she's sure it's happened to them before, but to just wait for now and see if they RSVP yes or no.

Wow. I hadnt thought about this but FFIL will need one and he will be the only one who will need it. However, he gets really hurt when his weight is brought up. Chavari chairs will be used for the ceremony and reception so I'm scared, hopefully FH can talk to him and we can talk to the venue to see what we can do. Thank you for posting this, I would have overlooked it.

Do your groomsmen know them? (though, i suppose it will be obvious)...but they could be given the heads up to usher them to the chairs you get for them that are more sturdy. If they indicate they want to sit in a particular spot, the ushers could move the chairs for them to the spot they want to sit in, saying they would be happy to move some chairs for them so they would be more comfortable.

Shelley, it really depends on how much he weighs.. if he's just overweight, that's fine, my FH is probably 285, etc. it's really just these 2 who are MASSIVELY overweight that we are worried about breaking the chairs. if he does need it, maybe you could do as someone else suggested and have decorated metal chairs for immediate family?

Having this same issues, wondering how this panned out for you