Post # 1

Member
86 posts
Worker bee
We’re already having a fairly low key wedding anyhow– just dessert and some snacking food because it is an evening wedding (7-8pm). This is a second marriage, not that that matters because to me it’s way more special than the first time around, obviously 😉
So we are having about 75 people– and we are renting a tent and decorating it really pretty, I’m so excited! But I don’t want to rent two sets of chairs– one for the ceremony AND one for the reception so I was originally thinking one of two things:
-Set up one set of chairs only as a ceremony (outside of the tent) and then have the chairs moved into the tent after for the reception.
OR-
-Set up the chairs only in the tent around the tables and have the ceremony in the tent with guests seated at the tables and just do the ceremony that way.
Does one make more sense over the other? I have been to a wedding before where the guests just sat at their dinner tables for the ceremony.
Post # 3

Member
13561 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I’ve been to weddings before that move chairs from ceremony to reception. I think it makes sense and is totally fine. Usually in these situations, the couple has had a cocktail hour between ceremony and reception to give the staff time to move the chairs. Would something like that work for you?
Post # 4

Member
11735 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
totally fine i think – as long as you have some people assigned to moving them!
Post # 5

Member
86 posts
Worker bee
I would make my brothers do it 🙂 Lol.
The bar is completely open anyhow, were not having a cocktail hour or a staff or anything like that. There are a handful of cocktail tables the guests could stand at in the meantime.
Post # 6

Member
492 posts
Helper bee
@2littleslauren: we are using ceremony chairs for the recption and my brothers are doing it!! it is perfectly fine to do this!
Post # 7

Member
10450 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Do you have a few guys you can ask to help move chairs (if staff won’t)? I think that would be the best option, and guests won’t mind.
Post # 8

Member
306 posts
Helper bee
We’re having a few guys help move all of our chairs. I don’t think anybody will mind! Not tacky at all!
Post # 9

Member
9123 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
- Wedding: August 2013 - Rocky Mountains USA
I was at a wedding (at my same venue) where the chairs were set up for the ceremony a few hundred meters from the tent and tables. After the ceremony, they just asked the guests to move their chair to a table. Our guy friends made a few trips to help anyone older / in heels / etc. It wasn’t tacky at all, so no worries if you don’t have staff to do it.
We’re doing it exactly the same for ours.
Post # 10

Member
86 posts
Worker bee
Thanks for all the feedback everyone! I think we will just have my brothers move everything 😉
Post # 11

Member
77 posts
Worker bee
We are doing the same thing! Ceremony outside and then moving the chairs in for the reception. I think its completely ok. I think we probably will just have friends help!