Anonymous said...

Hi-
I recently had to plan an event and chairs are a big thing to me. Most venues have the classic, rusty folding chairs. I searched hi and low for cool chairs but the event was not fancy and those were the only chairs I could find. Some time could you blog about how chairs can make or break the event. Maybe some different types of chairs and which are appropriate for which. Also, maybe ways to decorate the chair if you have to use the venue provided chair.

Thanks!

thanks anonymous. ive been in a blog rut and i appreciate you snapping me back. lets talk about chairs and how, for real, they can make or break it. i wish venues would understand when designing or redesigning, how important a neutral chair is. but even then, neutral may not be what you're looking for. they can certainly make a statement as you will see below. chairs are not like the walls, they do not fade away. they are pushed in to your beautiful tablescape and stick out like 8-10 sore thumbs.

so what can you do? here are some options.

chair covers

if your venue has ugly banquet chairs, there are a few chair cover options. keep in mind that the type of chair cover is determined by the type of chair. if the venue has square back chairs vs. rounded back, your options for chair covers will change.

stretch chair covers

fit rounded back banquet chairs, come in tons of cool colors and instantly update the look into sleek and contemporary. a sash, band or runner can be tied around it for a super couture look. if your venue already has the round back chairs, and they are ugly (always are), get these.

oh, they also have really funky zebra ones out there...but they stretch onto chivaris (see below) so that means chair rental + chair cover rental. better to do as accent, like for cocktails, then on every chair.

bag-style chair cover (photo example below)

another chair cover option is the bag-style. it's sometimes sloppy and less fitted, but it can be drapey and elegant if done right. it typically comes in a satin vs. a matte spandex (like the stretch above) and therefore translates to more elegant affairs. the good thing about them is that they are quite versatile in that they fit many different styles of chairs and can be a good, quick fix for an obscenely ugly chair. they come in less colors than the stretch, usually black, white, ivory and navy satins.

rented chairs

if chair covers are not your thing and you know

you want to bring in your own chairs, there are a lot of options.

chivari chair

the most popular is probably the chivari. the father of the bride loves to tell me how uncomfortable they are, but they sure look good. locally, i can get them in white, black, mahogany, silver, pink and gold and usually with a coordinating chair pad. a lot of times a sash is woven through the spindles.

folding chair

other chair options are folding (white, black, bamboo, wood). these i typically use for outdoor events, for instance a wedding ceremony.

the bamboo are nice at casual outdoor events like a bbq or luncheon. please do not use a metal folding chair (a la the vfw) when nice folding chairs that fit your decor are readily available.

acrylic chair

another cool option is the acrylic chair which is part of the anti-decor trend. it follows the line or profile of an old world chair with the rounded back but with a "clear" update. i like how it blends in and lets other decor shine but also makes a statement in its own right. that and they are surprisingly comfortable.

here is an example of the same room, with different chairs. one client chose to keep the existing chairs and use complementary decor whereas another group chose to cover the existing chairs. as you can see, you get two very different looks.

i hope this helps, anonymous.

regards,

lindsay piram

event planner & producer

roses are red....

roses are red, violets are purple....you're as sweet as maple surple.

lets talk about flowers.

i have to say, being a wedding planner requires you to be quite proficient in a number of areas. we are designers. we are organizers. we are foodies. we are wine nerds. and we know flowers. over time you just acquire this stuff, or you should in order to provide your client the most factual and up-to-date information. that said, i of course trust the experts. i have no problem defaulting to the florist on seasonal varietals or the like. but going into meetings and interactions with florists with a base of knowledge will make the meeting more productive and actually more fun.

so...here's a quickie:

amaryllis.

season: winter and spring.

red, white, pink, yellow and green.

often associated with holidays but a few cut blooms can look dramatic when clustered.

calla lily.

season: winter, spring.

white, orange, aubergine, mocha, green, pink, red.

these can be expensive but they are modern, look amazing when clustered or super tall. they remind me of soap operas (idk why), in a good way.

carnation.

season: year-round.

like every color ever and can easily be dyed (see your prom pics).

are back! yep, i said it. tightly tucked into balls is a very cool look. and the versatility, available colors and affordability make them a no-brainer.

dahlia.

season: summer and fall.

white, pink, red, deep purple (almost black).

these flowers are big and fluffy...make a big impact but can be hard to find.

gardenia.

season: summer.

white.

BEAUTIFUL scent but bruise easy.

super-duper elegant.

gerbera daisy.

season: year round.

bright vibrant colors (red, pink, orange, white).

simple and cheery...great for CASUAL events.

a bit 90s-esque but fun and whimsical too.

gladiolus.

season: summer.

white, pink, red, orange, yellow, purple.

these are the guys you see in buckets at the farmer's market. all colors with long stems that work well in tall arrangements. we use a lot on chuppahs and the blooms can be opened by hand and wired together to make one, big bloom that is STRIKING and will have your guests saying "what IS that?"

hydrangea.

season: summer and fall.

white, pink, blue, green and purple.

the color of this flower actually depends on the soil its planted in...i love that idea. (nerd alert).

oversize blooms that then require less filler, big bang for the buck.

lily.

season: spring and summer.

white, pink, orange, yellow.

hmmm...strong, overpowering a bit 80s. when i worked for the Ritz, we had to remove all lilies before jerry bruckheimer arrived. i agree with him. if you must use, have your florist remove the pollen-dripping stamen in the middle to avoid staining. and sneezing.

peony.

season: spring.

white, pink, red and deep purple.

super popular and super pretty. i remember the ants loving them in backyard as a child. trendy little ants. they can be pricey (because they are somewhat hard to get) but just a few still look fluffy and lush.

ranunculus.

season: winter and spring.

white, pink, red, orange, yellow.

my personal fave. the tight buds can fill in around bigger blooms but also adorable on their own. i love the layers of petals and the curly, erratic stems.

tulips.

season: winter and spring.

purple, white, yellow, orange, red.

they twist and twirl, look good on their own or as fillers. readily available too. check out the french ones...super cute. (as all french things are).

so, there you have it. a brief tour of the bad boys of the garden. hope this helps next time you find yourself wandering through the cooler at your floral shop...you'll look so smart!

lindsay piram,

event planner & producer.

and wanna-be florist.