Chiavari chairs (pronounced shih-vahr-ee) are a popular option for wedding reception seating. It's important to remember that Chiavari chairs are an upgrade and are not typically included with your venue's wedding package. If the photos the venue gives you feature Chiavari chairs, be sure to ask if those are their standard chairs or if you will have to pay more in order to have them. Chiavaris run about $8-$15 a piece depending on your market and will be pricier if you are required to contract them through your venue. So, if you have your heart set on this pretty and classic option, be sure to budget at least an extra $80-$150 per table of 10 or an extra $800-$1500 per 100 guests.
The wooden (or resin) padded folding chairs are a popular option for outdoor ceremonies and are usually the most economical at about $2.25-$4 per chair, or $225-$400 per 100 guests. They can be dressed up with a chair tie or ribbon to better fit your overall design concept and they come in a variety of colors. Depending on the formality of your event, these chairs may be a bit too casual for a four-course meal in a ballroom and could end up distracting from your aesthetic instead of contributing to it.
I'm convinced that banquet chair designers and carpet designers are in a conspiracy to make every hotel ballroom as tacky as possible. Banquet chairs are most likely the standard that come with your venue's package, yet they probably won't be the ones in the brochure's photos!
