Picnic Tables for seating during the ceremony? Good or bad?

I feel like picnic tables would be a little bit awkward and uncomfortable to sit at for a ceremony. Are you doing some sort of cocktail hour? If so that would be a great time for the chairs to be moved back into the venue. Or is it possible for you to rent chairs so you're not doing a switch out?

I wouldn't use the picnic tables for that many people. We had to sit at a picnic table for a wedding ceremony last summer and it was really awkward. It isn't easy trying to sit down at one of those things in a dress.

I'm doing tables because we are having the ceremony in a shelter in the same park as the lodge for the receptions. We are bringing some chairs for the older folks. I can't afford to rent chairs and it would be too much work to move the tables out. I don't think it's a big deal. My ceremony is 15 minutes, so the guests will be fine. Don't feel bad about it, I did for a while and now I decided screw it, I'm doing what works for me, and you should too!

There was a guest list to start off with of about 50 people but I think there is going to be more then that. I dont know how long the ceremony will be, we havnt gone over that with the officiant yet. We arnt having a cocktail hour, not something we had in the budget but I'm sure my family will bring beer, lol. If I can recruit about 4 people to move the 80 chairs inside that should only take a few mins. right? Hmm. I have looked into renting more chairs but Im not sure if I want to do that just yet. Thank you for the suggestions.

I think it would be really awkward to sit at picnic tables. I sat at regular tables once during a ceremony and that was difficult too. So many people kept talking during the wedding!

Ok so chairs it is. Do y'all think it would be too much work if I asked my brother in law and my uncles to help take the chairs in at the end of the ceremony and put them at the tables or should I just buckle and figure out a way to rent some extra chairs?

If it's not in your budget don't rent the chairs. With weddings, there are always people volunteering to do SOMETHING to help. I say have your brother in law and uncles move them. Depending on how many guys there are, it shouldn't take too long!

Getting up from picnic tables is super awkward in a dress.

do what you can within your budget to make it easiest for everyone.

Picnic TABLES NO.

Benches, yes. I've seen weddings set up with two tree stumps for legs, then boards for seating, or benches from picnic tables proper. Those worked.

I've been to two weddings where there was nowhere to sit during the ceremony, everyone was standing, so I think as long as people can sit, you'll be fine. If you have a long ceremony especially, make sure EVERYONE has a place to sit.

We are also using picnic tables. We don't have the money to rent chairs and the tables come with the pavilion. Our ceremony will be short as well, and they will be sitting there for the reception anyway. I've read a lot of forums where people just really want a place to sit. We also are going to have a few chairs for older folks as well. As a guest that has been to a few weddings myself. One of the most important things I remember was not the seating or the food or the decor, but if I felt included as a guest. I've been to a wedding where the bride and groom had their table on the far corner of the room and didn't announce anything they were doing. You would turn around and they would be already doing the father daughter dance or their toast. It really made the guest felt excluded, like why the heck were any of us invited? Just make sure your guest feel welcome & included and don't sweat the smaller stuff. If people care about the smaller stuff, then maybe they aren't the type of people you want on your big day.