Post # 1

Member
174 posts
Blushing bee
Hey there! Looking for unbias opinions here!
I booked my decor company in November 2014. We are getting the company to install a backdrop and we are renting table linen, overlays for the head table, charger plates, vases, candles, chiavari chairs, etc.,
My grandma offerred to pay the rental cost for the chiavari chairs because she really liked the chairs (she’s super into home decor and all that so that stuff really matters to her). She thought the chairs that came with the venue were too dark and bulky and wouldn’t look right, so that’s why she wanted to pay for gold chiavaris, to match the look i’m going for.
Anyways, the decor company just emailed me today (less than a month before the wedding) to say their supplier ks double booked and the chairs i ordered months ago are unavailable. They offered me similar (“gold grace”) chairs in their place.
I said okay because I figured these chairs were better than no chairs. But when I told my Grandma, she was NOT happy. She said she will look around and find a new vendor if they wont make it work. However, I don’t think going with another company is a good option, they will charge me an additional delivery and set up fee, in addition to the fees im already paying my decorator for their deliveries.
So my question is.. should I go with the gold grace chairs? they aren’t as pretty but they are at least gold and will go with the look. or shold i go with chair covers now (note, the chairs are bulky so the chair covers won’t look to great)
Chiavari Chairs

Gold Grace Chairs

Post # 2

Member
2170 posts
Buzzing bee
I say go with the gold grace chairs. They look nice and I can’t remember what any of the chairs I’ve sat in look like at any wedding I’ve ever been to. That being said, I’m not sure how to handle this issue with your grandmother. Since she paid for them can you talk to the company about refunding some of the money? I would hope they would offer this anyway since its their mistake. I don’t know if that would make it ok in her eyes or not. Maybe talk to her about, tell her your worries of dealing with another company and that you are completely ok with the gold grace chairs. Maybe she won’t care about paying more to get the nicer ones since it was important to her to begin with?
I think you should start with a conversation with her, telling her your concerns and see what she says. I wouldn’t want to disrespect her by saying “it doesn’t matter’ when it does to her and she has offered to pay for it. maybe get some info from other companies ahead of time so you can tell her what it would cost to get the ones she likes.
Good luck, bee!
Post # 3

Member
9519 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I like the gold grace better to be honest. So many people have the chavari chairs, us included, the gold grace will be refreshingly unique.
Post # 4

Member
47427 posts
Honey Beekeeper
lalexa01: I would pick the Gold Grace chairs over chair covers any day.
I would tell my supplier that they had two choices:
-supply the Chiavari chairs as they contracted to do- even if they have to use a different supplier. I can’t believe there are no other Chiavari chairs available anywhere on the date of your wedding.
or, cover the cost of renting Chiavari chairs from another supplier if you or your Grandma are able to find them
Otherwise, the Gold Grace chairs will be fine.
Post # 5

Member
1270 posts
Bumble bee
Those are very different chairs, one is more modern, the other is more traditional. They bring a different feel to the room/decor, for sure. Grandma has every right to be upset at the company (not you, it is not your fault). If I were you I would let her speak directly to them about it, maybe they can come to some arrangement which will make her happy, since you aren’t that bothered either way. Though I get most people won’t be looking at chairs (I would, but I’m a design freak), it means something to your Grandma and she just wants it to be perfect for your wedding.
Post # 6

Member
2803 posts
Sugar bee
Are they going to offer you any kind of discount if you take the gold grace chairs? You should be entitled to something since it was their mistake.
As a PP already stated, I don’t remember any chair I’ve ever sat in at a wedding. I hope your grandmother can see it that way since she is the one that cares so much.
Post # 7

Member
554 posts
Busy bee
I would go with the Grace chairs but would be demanding a significant discount for their changes to your agreement.
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This reply was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by
luxelove.
Post # 8

Member
4038 posts
Honey bee
I think they look fine. I’ve never seen that style of chair before and gold chiavaris are a bit overdone. I don’t know about the padding with the Grace chairs, but the chiavaris at my daughter’s venue had thin pads, and were very painful to sit on after awhile, so she didn’t chose them.
Post # 9

Member
1294 posts
Bumble bee
I like the Gold Grace chairs better too. But I’d definitely push for a big fat refund for the inconvenience.
Post # 10

Member
2675 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: September 2012 - Southern California
It looks like I’m in the minority, but since you asked, I much prefer the chiavari chairs! As a guest though, I wouldn’t give two sh!ts what your chairs lookedo like, as long as I can plant my happy ass on it haha. Since your grandma paid for this, maybe she’s willing to fork out the extra $$ for delivery/set up to get those original chairs?
Post # 11

Member
174 posts
Blushing bee
Thanks for the feedback everyone!! I wasn’t sure if this was an issue I should just let go and just accept the new chairs, or if I should push for some sort of compensaiton for the inconvenience.
The decor company said the Grace chairs are more expensive but they would match the price, and then she made me feel like I had to decide on the spot, or else these chairs would be gone too, so I impuslively said yes. I was originally fine with chair covers in the beginning, but then I got convinced by the decorator and my family that they would be ugly and persuaded to go with the chiavari chairs. Since they would help with the cost I went for it.
My grandma said I was too soft and the decor place is taking advantage of me because I’m easygoing. She said she would call and get it sorted out, but my Fiance is worried about the company retaliating by doing a bad job out of resentment.. (i looovee my grandma, but she can be a difficult lady to deal with lol, she likes to get her way..)
I said to my grandma I was fine with the chair switch because they’re still gold chairs. It’s a different look, but the white chair covers would be even more different.. But I understand my grandma’s point, she’s not paying all this money (I think it’s like $800??) for chairs she thinks are ugly. I think she’s exagerating calling them ugly, but I get that if she’s shelling out the money, she wants it to be the chairs we picked months ago.
Post # 12

Member
1460 posts
Bumble bee
lalexa01: Is the company offering you any discount because they screwed up? A different chair is great, and looks really nice, but it isn’t what you wanted. They should have offered you something else, specially since your grandma is unhappy with the switch.
Post # 13

Member
2967 posts
Sugar bee
lalexa01: I actually like the gold grace chairs better! They are beautiful, elegant and different!
With that said, I would ask them for a significant discount to save the sale because they screwed up. Maybe that will sway your grandma a bit 😉
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This reply was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by
MissJulianna.
Post # 14

Member
96 posts
Worker bee
Surely its down to the vendor supply what you ordered? I wouldn’t be happy with those grace chairs.