To chivari or not to chivari....

[PearlDahhhling]

So the venue where we're having our wedding has cute chairs available for us to use... but I have always had a deep love for chivari chairs and kinda want to rent those instead... BUT they're really expensive. The cheapest I've been able to find is like 6 bucks a chair... Or I could have chairs for free... And we're on a budget so I'm not sure if it would be a stupid waste of money. I'll show you guys the photo of the venue with their chairs and then the chivari and tell me if you think it's worth it.


The chivari chairs...

 

[PearlDahhhling]

Here are the chairs the venue comes with.

 

[PearlDahhhling]

Here's another close-up of what the free chairs at the venue kinda look like. This chair isn't the exact one, but verrrrry similar.

 

[pocahontas]

Pearl, I voted for the chivari chairs 'cause I absolutely adore them! I think they're gorgeous. Can you cut costs somewhere else in order to afford the chairs you want? If not, I wouldn't go over budget just to have the chivaris 'cause the other chairs would be just fine. It's not like you'd be stuck with ugly chairs if you went with the free ones.

 

[CNOS128]

Whether or not you''re on a budget, it''s important to assess how much you''re willing to pay for something. If it''s worth it to you, splurge on the chairs.
In my opinion:

1. The chivari are much nicer.
2. The "free" chairs are fine, but look dreadfully uncomfortable (especially the backs!) and I would want my guests to be able to relax and enjoy themselves.

But I don''t think you can really go wrong...

 

[Dannielle]

Personally, I prefer the chairs the reception comes with- they are adorable!

How many guests are you having? Because $6 a chair will add up really quickly..

 

[kstar512]

awww I love the chairs the venue comes with. I was expecting something boring. I would save the $$ and but it somewhere else. The chairs have character.

 

[kittybean]

I actually really like the chairs that come with the venue. $6 for the Chivari chairs isn''t bad, though, and if you really love them, go for it. I''d personally rather spend the money on something else, but the chairs don''t matter that much for me.

 

[jstarfireb]

I really like the chairs the reception site comes with. They actually seem to match the venue better than the Chivari chairs IMHO. But they look horribly uncomfortable...they will definitely have to be padded. What''s the difference between the price of padding and the price of the Chivari chairs? That may be your answer...if it''s not that much different, might as well go with the ones YOU love (the Chivari).

 

[VRBeauty]

PD: Is that the Firehouse by any chance?

I understand your dilema, but...

you're on a budget, and as you finalize your plans, you'll find all sorts of opportunities to blow it.

$6 per guest (plus tax, if that is the Firehouse

) could add up fairly quickly. Or it could go towards wonderful favors, deserts, etc.

while a few of your guests would notice the chair upgrade, most will be taken by the wonderful celebration, food, and venue, and the chairs would be lost on them.

As you can probably guess, I voted to stick with the chairs offered by the venue!

But if you can't picture your wedding without the lovely wrought iron chairs... well, why not? Just bear in mind that could be faced with many more "must haves" between now and your wedding date.

Can you put this aside and decide later, as things get finalized and you have a better idea about your planned versus actual expenditures?

 

[elrossperot]

My FI works at The Firehouse and he says that a lot of brides rent chair covers and just cover the chairs that are provided. I''m not sure if this would save you money or not, but thought I''d share

 

[bee*]

I like the chairs the venue comes with. I think they're great! The only thing though is that they look like they might be a bit sore on the posterior. Do they have a cushion or cover or something over it?

 

[Deelight]

Date: 12/3/2008 5:00:31 AM
Author: bee*
I like the chairs the venue comes with. I think they''re great! The only thing though is that they look like they might be a bit sore on the posterior. Do they have a cushion or cover or something over it?

Ditto, I think with a cushion they would look perfect. I mean the other chairs are nice but at $6 a chair on a strict budget it will add up quick if the standard chairs were hideous I would fork out, the way I would personally look at it is no one is going to pay that much attn to the chairs as say the food, drink, entertainment etc.

However if those chairs will make you feel more complete with your vision go for it .

I think either or will look beautiful.

 

[allycat0303]

Well in the picture of the venue supplied chairs, I find that the chairs kind of disappear into the picture because they are really dainty next to the tablecloth. (I had to look twice because I could barely see them.)

If you go with the venue chairs, I would probably do a cushion with some fabulous color to match your color scheme, and maybe a little something attached to the back of the chair. I don''t know your wedding scheme (but maybe a little flower).

BUT if you total that up, and the cushion and a little something comes to be 4.00/chair, then I would go with the chivari chairs for 6.00, because if you compare the two at that price, your deep love for chivari chair wins over.

Good luck.

 

[Rhea]

Date: 12/3/2008 2:16:14 AM
Author: VRBeauty
PD: Is that the Firehouse by any chance?


I understand your dilema, but...


you''re on a budget, and as you finalize your plans, you''ll find all sorts of opportunities to blow it.


$6 per guest (plus tax, if that is the Firehouse

) could add up fairly quickly. Or it could go towards wonderful favors, deserts, etc.


while a few of your guests would notice the chair upgrade, most will be taken by the wonderful celebration, food, and venue, and the chairs would be lost on them.


As you can probably guess, I voted to stick with the chairs offered by the venue!

But if you can''t picture your wedding without the lovely wrought iron chairs... well, why not? Just bear in mind that could be faced with many more ''must haves'' between now and your wedding date.


Can you put this aside and decide later, as things get finalized and you have a better idea about your planned versus actual expenditures?

I agree! Especially with the part I put in bold. Setting this aside and coming back to it later is a great idea.

 

[Clairitek]

I voted for the chairs that come with the venue. Do they come with a pad or anything on the seat? I think that the chairs that come with the venue match the feel of it perfectly. The picture you posted with the chivari chairs makes them look a little out of place, it could be because of the contrast with the dark brown linens (and I believe you''re going with blue of some sort?)

I also concur with Addy and VRBeauty that $6/chair will really eat into your budget. I think its wise to save that money to spend elsewhere.

Is there any way you can change your mind down the line once you''ve sorted out the cost of additional details? Come May could you put in an order for the chairs if you discover you have space in the budget for it?

 

[fieryred33143]

I''m a fan ov chivari chairs too but the original chairs are actually really pretty and decorative.

 

[havernell]

The chairs that come with the venue are unique. Chivari chairs are so common now that I don''t know if people would be "wowed" by them or just think they are kind of a "normal" wedding chair. I''d personally go for unique (and save the money to boot).

Also, the photos you posted are just the tables/chairs, no people. If that photo was full of guests at a wedding, I bet you would hardly notice the different chairs. You have to think about how your guests are going to see the space, not how the space looks empty.

Finally, I do agree with whoever advised you to wait on this decision until closer to the actual wedding. That gives you time to see if the chivari chairs fit within your budget or if they would totally blow your budget. That sounds smart to me.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[October2008bride]

I think that chivari chairs are pretty, but I definitely don't think they are worth 6 dollars when the chairs the venue comes with are pretty like that!

Keep in mind that only once will you see the chairs - when you walk into the room. The rest of the time people will be sitting on them so the chivari effect that us brides see in pictures (of empty rooms set up with tables/chairs) won't really be apart of the reception all that much.

Now...if the chairs at your venue were dreadful I may have changed my mind, but those are cute, don't clash or stand out, and you can take that 6 dollars per chair and either save it, spend it on something else wedding related, or buy yourself something special and sparkly


ETA: Posted at the same time as Havernell! haha

 

[SuiteLady]

I voted chiavari, but I think that the chairs in the venue are appropriate to the setting.

Beautiful location!

 

[PearlDahhhling]

Thanks for the advice everybody! You all have great points about the chairs not being a *huge* deal and now that I think more about it, I would probably be the only one to notice them, and I''m not even so sure that I actually WOULD notice with once I''m there and it''s wedding day.

And YES! My venue IS The Firehouse! I didn''t know where were any Sacramento-ians on PS.

to VRBeauty and elrossperot!

I think I''ll look into seat cushions and see if they''re significantly cheaper, because the chairs do look uncomfy... But they are cute and would probably be better with some nice tooshie cushie!

 

[sunnyd]

I''d keep the chairs they have and rent chair pads! Ouchie!

Actually, for the chiviari rental, do they come with chair pads too? I was at a wedding last weekend where they didn''t and I felt like I was in school. Not comfy.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

I do agree that the venue chairs need rear end cushion!! They look a little painful

BUT I also think that the Chivari are prettier - they are my chair of choice also!

But if you don''t mind the ones there and it''s much cheaper to get cushions, I''d go with that. And I also agree with the comment about cushions helping the chairs stand out, b/c they do disappear into the decor.

Are the venue chairs shorter (lower to the ground where you sit) than the Chivari??

 

[swimmer]

Pearl,
A vote for keeping the chairs that come with the venue. I bet that they are totally fine for sitting, it is a nice venue, the chairs are fine or people would not use them. I like that they sort of disappear, you will have better photographs of your loved ones. Have you ever left an event saying, "mmm, they had nice chairs" eh? The chivari chairs are lovely, but are you going to put a picture of the empty venue into your wedding album? No. Spend the money on good booze and no one will notice the chairs...

If you had unlimited funds or there were no chairs, then rent them, but currently you have a fine selection and other places your good money could be put towards.

 

[Nocturnius]

I voted for the venue chairs because

A) I just really hate chivari chairs. Just being honest - I have never understood why anyone paid extra for them.
B) They''re chairs. Maybe if the venue''s chairs were some Pepto Bismal Pink and clashed horribly with your color scheme, it would make sense to splurg on the chairs. But I don''t think it''s necessary. I have to be honest: I''ve been to a dozen weddings, and never once did I even look at the chairs. I think most people don''t.
C) The venue chairs have character, in my opinion. They have a very "elegant garden party" feel. I don''t know if that''s what you''re going for, but that''s what comes to mind. It''s a nice thing.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Date: 12/3/2008 7:34:54 PM
Author: Nocturnius
I voted for the venue chairs because

A) I just really hate chivari chairs. Just being honest - I have never understood why anyone paid extra for them.
B) They''re chairs. Maybe if the venue''s chairs were some Pepto Bismal Pink and clashed horribly with your color scheme, it would make sense to splurg on the chairs. But I don''t think it''s necessary. I have to be honest: I''ve been to a dozen weddings, and never once did I even look at the chairs. I think most people don''t.
C) The venue chairs have character, in my opinion. They have a very ''elegant garden party'' feel. I don''t know if that''s what you''re going for, but that''s what comes to mind. It''s a nice thing.

I am dittoing this.

I really like the cute, unique venue chairs. I don''t really hate the Chivari chairs, I''m just really tired of seeing them. Even if I preferred the chivari chairs, it wouldn''t be worth $6 a chair to me...

 

[aggiebling09]

Date: 12/3/2008 12:38:31 AM
Author: TheBigT
Whether or not you''re on a budget, it''s important to assess how much you''re willing to pay for something. If it''s worth it to you, splurge on the chairs.
In my opinion:

1. The chivari are much nicer.
2. The ''free'' chairs are fine, but look dreadfully uncomfortable (especially the backs!) and I would want my guests to be able to relax and enjoy themselves.

But I don''t think you can really go wrong...

I totally agree! The ''free'' chairs don''t look comfortable at all.