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I went to a wedding a few years ago that was like that, except minus the cocktail hour. It was a small, somewhat informal wedding on a lawn; about 70 people or so. At the end of the ceremony the pastor announced that the reception would be on the other side of the driveway, and could we help carry the chairs over? So everyone young and able bodied picked up our chairs and moved them over; the guys helped older people and some of the younger women. There was no assigned seating or anything, and they didn't have a cocktail hour (just an appetizer buffet and cupcakes).
No one minded at all that I know of. :)
When i've had to do it for an informal wedding (ceremony on the beach reception at the home a few steps away) I didn't find it to be an issue. There was no assigned seating though and it was very informal. Otherwise, i'd ahve to agree that as a guest dressed in all my Saturday best, I wouldn't want to be lugging chairs.
I went to a wedding where I had to move chairs after the ceremony (100-120 people). I didn't think it was a big deal because the couple were my friends and I was happy to help. That being said, I don't think the older (read: 50+) guests appreciated this and most did not pitch in.
I would price the options (more chairs v. hiring movers). If one of the options is within budget I would do it. If not, you can just make the GMs do it. My only worry about this is that they will get all sweaty in their suits.
Hmm, well I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised by the voting in the poll. I assumed that people would probably lean toward hiring help. The wedding is going to be formal with assigned seating so perhaps that may have an impact in how people feel about it? The other obstacle is if I do have the groomsmen move them, that delays photos with them which could be difficult.
At FSIL's wedding (and well be doing the same thing) we had to take our own chairs over after the ceremony. No one minded. = )
DUDE. There is no way in h*ll I would have my guests move their own chairs. I'm sorry. I know that is a strongly worded post, but NO WAY. I completely agree with your thoughts about not wanting your guests to have to "work for their money". This is my suggestion-- place an ad on Craigslist in the nearest town over from your venue site. Hire 2 college or highschool boys and pay them $50 each. You'll have them beating your door down wanting to work for you! $50 for an hour of work is good money for a college kid, and to me it would be worth $100 bucks to not see my guests lugging chairs.
ETA: This will also totally free up your groomsmen, ushers, etc. for photos. I'd just let some local kids do the work while you enjoy your cocktail hour! You'll get that $100 bucks back in wedding gifts anyway :)
We have a similar situation and are hiring my brothers friends to move chairs (though they don't have to go through cocktail hour). They'll also help direct people to parking and help set up (mostly lighting hundreds of candles) and clean up. They'll be cheap since they're friends, but not my friends, so I don't mind making them work.
If its a short distance, I think its ok to ask people to move the chairs--maybe informally spread the word to younger people/guys who wouldn't mind helping. I'd also go ahead and price hiring people or renting chairs. I find it easier to make decisions when I have all the info. Like if you find out it will be hundreds to rent chairs, it may be easier to cross that option off the list. On the other hand, it could be surprisingly affordable.
I would look at renting more chairs from a rental company and have them set-up the chairs prior and come back and pick-up. That's what I've done. I just really didn't want the headache of moving all the 200 chairs from one area to another while we are trying to take photos etc.
At my brother's wedding we had the ceremony under the pavillion and we had to move the chairs out of rows to the side while the staff moved tables in. Then move the chairs around all the tables. We were taking pictures and were watching the mad Chaos.
If it is in your budget I'd say rent more chairs.
I would not want my guests or even just the groomsmen to move the chairs.
I suggest you weigh the costs between renting more chairs or hiring movers.
Good luck!
I have been to weddings before where the groomsmen and younger male family members and friends had to move the chairs around between the ceremony and reception. It didn't look odd to me, but the wedding was a more casual one. I think if you are having a more formal affair, you should look into the cost of hiring a couple of people to move your chairs for you.
I would never in a million years feel comfortable asking my wedding guests to lug their own chairs from the ceremony site to the reception! While I think it would be OK to have the groomsmen take care of this, it would totally suck for them. I like thiscantbehappening's idea of putting an ad on craigslist to find a couple of local high school kids for this job - wouldn't end up costing much at all, and would free up the groomsmen to enjoy themselves!
Is your venue doing the catering, or are you using an outside caterer? If you're using an outside caterer, check to see if they'd be willing to have their staff move the chairs. At any wedding I've been to where chairs had to be moved from the cermony to the reception, the catering staff has taken care of this. Good luck!
I would price out renting extra chairs as well as hiring people to move the chairs. You could always ask members of the bridal party if they have brothers who would like to make a little extra money. You could get a few teenage guys who aren't invited to the wedding, they could help you out and save you some money since they would not be as expensive as a established company.
no, i wouldn't like to move my own chair if i was all dressed up, and i picture my fi getting stuck moving a bunch for all the women and then getting all sweaty in his suit, and then he'd get all grumpy. i agree with the others, i would figure out if it's cheaper to just rent chairs or hire movers.
if it were me, i'd price out the difference between hiring someone to move the chairs and having them set up before. i'd probably prefer having it set up before, just because i know i'm type-a and i'd stress out about if it all got set up properly, and i'd want to minimize my stress...
I would look into hiring someone to move the chairs for you. I agree with ThisCantBeHappening, you could probably find college students that could do this for a small cost to you.
If I was a guest, I don't think I would want to move chairs.
you are absolutely right. Do NOT ask a wedding guest to move their own chair. I feel like the venue is bullying you into doing their job for them. That is just wrong. My advice would be to hire someone to move them - maybe like 3 or 4 local teens and give them $20 bucks each for what will be prob 30 mins work.
At my FBIL's wedding, we moved our own chairs. There were 75 of us, the wedding was at my FIL's home, and it took 5 minutes total. No biggie.
Wow, I'm surpised that everyone finds this so appalling. To me, it's an easy solution...you have X number of chairs and X number of people. I really don't feel that most people would mind moving a chair (I wouldn't call this "lugging"--how heavy are *chairs*?).
With that said, I think this is traditionally the role of the groomsman and ushers. I would have them do it, and gather a little bit of extra help from able bodied family members. I really, really think it's crazy to hire extra staff just to move chairs a short distance. This is a wedding...a celebration of families uniting, community--people will be happy to help.
Hmm, well it seems as though the majority is leaning toward either hiring some young guys to do the lifting or rent the extra chairs. Thanks all for the feedback...off to price check!
I would check pricing and either see how much it would be to have the chairs in both locations, or to have someone move them. Can you pay the location or caterer a little extra to move them for you so you dont have to hire someone else? I wouldnt worry about it being in the line of the cocktail hour - Id be fine with seeing people move chairs but I wouldnt be ok with my guests actually moving them.
Hiring more chairs will range between $2 and $5 per chair.
On the other hand, if you have any local contacts, I can't imagine that you won't be able to hire two 16 year olds for $50 each to move the chairs. It will probably take them about 25 minutes if they walk around the cocktail section.
Do it, you'll be glad.
I am in the same situation and we are having our wonderful ushers do this while everyone is at cocktail "half-hour'" :)
You say that the most direct route is through the cocktail area, but I'm assuming it's possible to take a less direct route and not be waltzing through the area as guests are enjoying the cocktail hour. If this is true, then if it were me, I'd have my fiance contact his fraternity and hire some of the active brothers to move the chairs. They're cheap labor :) If you don't have cheap labor that as easily accessible, then I'd just put an ad up craigslist or see if any teenage neighborhood kids are willing to help.
While I wouldn't mind carrying my own chair, I can totally see that being NOT the case for some of our guests. And I'd feel bad having the groomsmen carry all of the chairs and then show up all sweaty for pictures.
I vote for the hire "outside the wedding industry" aka brothers friends, high schoolers etc.
I would never ask my guests to move chairs, or do any sort of labor/set up/help. They are guests, not the hired help. I second another poster's suggestion. Hire a few college kids to do the chair moving and any other light help you need. It'll be cheaper than renting more chairs and they can definitely do it in the hour it takes to have cocktails. Just make sure to specify that they go the long way and not through the cocktail area.
we are using those white garden folding chairs, and our venue coordinator has a golf cart.
golf cart + folding chairs + a lovely assistant = easy, quick chair moving
she says it takes only 10 minutes for about 100 chairs. during this time, the recessional/receiving line will be going on about halfway between the ceremony and reception. also, we're serving appetizers and cocktails by the receiving line, so guests won't even reach the reception site until all the chairs have been moved, most likely.
I would ask your ushers to do it or hire some local help. If it's a formal wedding and there's assigned seating that's what I would do. Asking the guests to move the chairs if the wedding is low-key and informal is fine but as you're having a more formal wedding I'd just pay the extra cash. As it is you already don't like the idea of guests moving the chairs and you don't want to be worrying on your day if all your guests were ok with being asked to move their own chairs.
This was done at one of my friends weddings last summer. I personally found it extremely tacky to have to move the chairs. Just FYI - like some others mentioned, your new husband and groomsmen aren't going to have time to move the chairs, assuming you are taking pictues after the ceremony. I also think it's especially bad that the chairs will be carried through your cocktail area...kind of takes away from the ambiance if you ask me. I'm paying to have chairs already set up at our reception. It was and extra $250, which to me, is totally worth it.
I had the same conundrum, and after asking my friends opinions, I opted to have two sets of chairs. Most agreed it would be tacky for everyone to have to move their chairs. For my small amount of guests though (approx. 50), a second set of chairs wasn't a huge amount in the grand scheme of things.
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Help Hive! Our venue is a former B&B at the top of a mountain so our ceremony will be on the front lawn. The reception is on the other side of the driveway, about 200 feet away. I just found out from our venue that the chairs being used for the ceremony (which they provide) are the same chairs being used for the reception...however...we are expected to move all 100+ chairs from the lawn to the reception area (with the most direct route being right through the cocktail reception area).
I have a few issues with this. One being that I don't want any of my guests, after having paid a lot of money to fly in, book lodging, etc., have to "work" at my wedding. This is a time for us to thank them for joining us, not ask them to BYOC (bring your own chair). Our venue is shocked that I have an issue with this and says that she's never had anyone complain about it before - "people usually just have the groom and groomsmen do it." Um, what?! I also find it extremely tacky that our guests, dressed in their classy wedding garb will have to hike up pants and dresses and do hard labor at my wedding.
As you can see, I don't have strong opinions at ALL. {wink}
My options are in the poll, please help!