Wedding chairs might seem like a small decorating detail, but they have a huge influence on how your event looks.

Decorate them well and the whole event looks planned. Decorate them badly and you spend the whole time distracted watching a bow slide sideways.

Over the years as table and chair rentals we have guided thousands of clients decorate their wedding chairs and there are plenty of ways to do it. Some of these ways include:

Tie long satin ribbons around the chair backs

This is the classic for a reason. A satin ribbon in your wedding color turns a plain chair into a dressed one in just a few minutes.

Go for 2 to 3 inches wide, with tails around 20 inches. Choose double faced satin, because single faced ribbon flips in the breeze and flashes its dull side at every guest.

You will agree this isn’t a good impression.

Attach small fresh flower bouquets to the chairs

Picture a tiny posy of five to seven stems, hanging off the aisle chairs on a loop of ribbon. It looks expensive, and it is, so don’t do it on every chair.

Tuck a bit of greenery around the blooms so they look full from the back. Keep them to the aisle ends or the family rows, and your florist will love you.

Wrap the cut stems in a damp paper towel, then a snug layer of plastic wrap, and hide it all under the ribbon. The flowers stay fresh throughout the event and the stems won’t drip on anyone.

Decorate chairs with soft tulle fabric

Tulle is the dreamy, floaty option, and it photographs like a cloud. It also vanishes if you use one thin layer, so stack three.

Rental chairs often have rough hinges and sharp edges, and tulle snags on all of them. Run your hand along the back before you tie anything on, and fix any rough spots with a strip of cloth tape.

Mist the tulle with anti-static spray the night before. Otherwise it clings to trousers and skirts as guests squeeze past, and you’ll see it trailing off someone’s leg. Not a beautiful picture.

Use greenery garlands for a natural wedding look

Garlands draped in a swag between chairs look like the aisle grew there. Eucalyptus, ruscus, and olive branch all work, so you have plenty of options.

Cut each swag about 18 inches long so it dips softly instead of dragging the ground. Anchor both ends with floral wire in a matching color, because zip ties in white will show.

For the best look, get fresh greenery two days early and soak it in cool water overnight in a bathtub or big bucket. Then mist it the morning of the event, and it stays perky through an entire afternoon.

Decorate the chairs with pampas grass

Pampas is the boho showstopper. Three or four stems tied with twine on an aisle chair give you that sun bleached, wild field look.

It also sheds, so shake every stem outside before it comes near a black suit. A light mist of hairspray helps it hold.

Fluff each stem with a hair dryer on the cool setting a few days before. Cut the stems at different lengths so the bunch looks gathered from a field, not bought as a set.

Wrap chairs with chiffon fabric

Chiffon wrapped around the chair back falls in soft waves and moves beautifully when guests walk by. It’s the perfect choice for garden and ballroom weddings.

Use a double layer so it doesn’t go see through or limp. Steam it the day before, because a wrinkled chiffon wrap looks like laundry. And you don’t want this.

Also anchor the wrap with a small binder clip on the back of the chair, hidden under the folds. Chiffon is slippery, and one clip keeps it from sliding down when someone leans back.

Decorate with lace chair sashes

Lace says vintage the second a guest walks in. It pairs especially well with greenery and kraft paper signs.

Ivory or champagne lace shows up on a white chair, while white lace on white disappears. Get lace with a finished edge, because raw cut lace frays all over your hands.

Layer the lace over a satin ribbon in your wedding color. The color shows through the pattern, and the satin keeps the lace from stretching out of shape.

Decorate chairs with silk flowers

Silk flowers don’t need water, don’t drip on dresses, and don’t set off anyone’s allergies. You can also make them weeks ahead and stop worrying about them.

Pick matte, real touch petals, because cheap ones glint like plastic in the sun. Mix in a few faux stems of different heights so the cluster looks grown, not glued.

Use macrame chair decorations

Macrame is the boho favorite, and a piece that is 12 to 14 inches wide fits most chair backs. Cotton rope in cream looks lovely against wood or white chairs.

The fringe tangles in a breeze, so comb it out and trim it before the event. Add a few dried flowers to the knots and you have a piece that looks like it came from a boutique.

Hang each piece on a hook of thin wire or a loop of twine in a color that matches the rope. Then steam it lightly before the event, because storage folds show up fast against a plain chair.

Parting shot

These are some of the ways you can decorate your wedding chairs.

To avoid getting into trouble or having to pay extra, always check what your party rentals Rockland company allows

Tape, adhesive hooks, and staples can strip paint or leave sticky residue on rented chairs. Some companies charge for that, and this can add onto the costs.

Always ask before you decorate any chair. Most companies are fine with ties, clips, and removable hooks, and plenty of them will tell you their exact rules. Follow them to the tee to be on the safe side.

If you are unsure whether you should use any decoration, confirm.