Alternatives to chair covers?

Question

I hate the look of chair covers (also hate how you can't tuck your feet under chairs that are covered) but am not crazy about the chairs my reception hall has. They are basic banquet chairs in a dark brown (which unfortunately is not one of my colors). I know once everyone is sitting you won't even notice it, but does anyone have any ideas for how to make them look a little nicer? Renting alternative chairs would be too expensive .

I'm toying with the idea of tying tulle or sashes around the backs of the chairs but can't shake the idea that someone out there has a better idea than that. The reception hall said they haven't seen someone do that before and I don't live close enough to drive up there and see what it would look like.

I don't think it would be that cheap to sew covers for just the backs of the chairs though that is another idea I'm considering. Something to just make them look like they belong with the decor.

I swear its a conspiracy to buy chairs that don't go with anything to get you to rent the covers!

Answer 1

i had really ugly chairs for my guest to sit at but i didn't care haha cuz they were actually my color (burgundy) so i was fine with them.  but for my wedding party i rented "nicer" chairs and i put the tulling around the chairs, just an idea for ya.  heres the picture

its not the greatest picture but you get the idea =)

http://s342.photobucket.com/albums/o422/...

Answer 2

I agree, it is a conspiracy (: I set up a lot of weddings because I work at a flower shop, and a lot of times I see weddings that have had to deal with mismatching or just plain ugly chairs. What most do are rent chair coers from the venue hall and then rent or buy satin sashes to tie at the backs so the bows lay on the backs of the chairs. I don't see why you couldn't just buy some cheap white chair covers (you could probably get them cheap from a wholesaler, or make them yourself) and then tie a WIDE satin sash (must be wide so the bow lies prettily against the chair backs) in the color(s) of your wedding. Tulle doesn't work incredible well, I've noticed. You could also purchase/make seat cushions in your choice of color to try and conceal the brown of the chairs, AND add beautiful accents of texture and comfort. Good luck!

Answer 3

You could rent chairs. You can get white foldable wood ones for pretty reasonable....or other colors.

Answer 4

I have seen them done both ways, both with chair covers and with tulle or some other material tied around them. Either way it is going to be pricey. I don't know how much a normal chair cover is but you would have to buy alot of tulle also, then you would have to cut it, fix the edges of the material that you choose so that it wouldn't fray and then tie it on. Where the chair cover is made to go on it, you rent it and slip it on.

Answer 5

Hi.  Yes, there is an alternative!

I have rented from this company before (link at the bottom).  They are the only company that rents chair "back" covers.  We used these for my son's rehearsal dinner.  Even though we had it in our backyard...the chairs we had (from my church) had stenciling on the back and they were the typical church hall chairs.....old and ugly.  I, like you, did not want the full chair cover....considered sashes or tulle....but got onto this company by some fluke while searching the net.  They rent for only $1.25/each or $1.75/each with a sash.  They come specifically for the type of chair YOU have.  What you do is you tell them the chair type you have and they send you a sample.  If it is OK, then you place your order!

On the site.....click on Product Gallery at the top....then Chair Covers Gallery.  It will be the first one pictured in the slide show.  Click on the picture and you will see an enlarged picture.

I would highly recommend these.  We just did the covers....no sash and they looked awesome!  I wish I had pictures to send to you, but I don't.  I had to switch computers and lost all my pictures.

Anyway, I would recommend these.  Much cheaper and easier than trying to sew covers.

Here is the link:

http://www.chaircoversonline.com/