Chair Hire Checklist for Melbourne Weddings

1. Pick your chair style

Four styles cover almost every Melbourne wedding. Each one has a look, a price point, and a vibe.

Tiffany chairs

The classic wedding chair. Gold or silver frame, cushion seat, works with pretty much any theme. Good all-rounder for ceremony and reception. See our Tiffany chair hire.

Americana chairs

White wooden, slightly taller back than Tiffany, leans traditional. Great for garden weddings, church-style ceremonies, and anything white-on-white. See Americana chairs.

Peacock chairs

Rattan, big statement piece. Usually hired as a pair for the couple at the reception rather than for every guest. Works for boho, cultural and garden themes. See peacock chair hire.

Timber crossback chairs

Natural timber with a cross on the back. Rustic, warm-toned, good for vineyard weddings and barn venues. See timber crossback chairs.

2. Work out how many you need

This is where people get caught out. The count depends on whether your ceremony and reception are in the same room, different rooms, or different venues.

• Same room, ceremony then reception: you need chairs for everyone at the ceremony, then the venue flips the room for dinner. Book chairs equal to your guest count.
• Different rooms, same venue: you might get away with fewer ceremony chairs if some guests stand. We'd still recommend chairs for everyone unless it's a 15-minute ceremony.
• Ceremony and reception at different venues: you'll need two separate bookings or a delivery between venues. Talk to us early if this applies.
• Cocktail-style reception: hire chairs for 40 to 60 percent of guest count. Older guests and anyone pregnant will want to sit down at some point.

Our rule of thumb: always book 2 to 4 extra chairs beyond your confirmed guest count. RSVPs shift at the last minute and it's easier to have spares than scramble on the day.

3. Can you mix ceremony and reception chairs?

Yes, and a lot of Melbourne couples do. Common mixes:

• Tiffany for ceremony, timber crossback for reception — cost-effective if the ceremony is short.
• Americana for ceremony, Tiffany for reception — traditional look throughout.
• Peacock chairs for the couple, Tiffany for guests — biggest visual impact per dollar.

If you mix styles you need to factor in extra setup time because we're doing two setups instead of one. We'll build that into your quote so there are no surprises.

4. Delivery, setup and stacking

A few things to lock in before you sign off:

• Who sets them up? We do, unless you're picking up from our depot. Setup is included in most of our quotes.
• Who stacks them for the reception flip? Check with your venue. Some venues handle the flip, some want the hire company to do it, some want the wedding planner to manage it.
• Where do they go during the ceremony? If your reception chairs arrive before the ceremony, the venue needs a room to store them. Don't assume there's space.
• Pack-down: same night or next morning. Check your venue's rules — some require everything out by midnight, others give you until midday the next day.

5. Venue access — the stairs question

If your venue has stairs, tell us upfront. Carrying 120 Tiffany chairs up a flight of stairs takes longer than wheeling them on a trolley and it affects your quote. A lot of Melbourne function venues have loading bays but some boutique spaces are first-floor walk-ups only.

6. Common mistakes

• Booking chairs before confirming guest count. Final numbers shift. Wait until your RSVPs are in, or lock in a flexible booking with us.
• Forgetting about the flip. If the ceremony and reception are in the same room, you need enough chairs for the bigger event (usually reception, where everyone sits down for dinner).
• Picking a chair that doesn't suit the floor. Tiffany chairs on grass sink a bit. Americana on shiny tiles can slide. Timber crossback is the safest bet on uneven surfaces.
• Not asking about cushions. Some chairs come with cushions standard, some don't. Confirm when you book.

7. Ready to book?

If you've got your guest count and venue locked in, send us the details and we'll check availability. If you're still working it out, we can help you compare styles and work out your count. We deliver across Melbourne — see our service areas for local delivery info.