Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Ceremony & Reception 37 Unique Ways to Seat Guests at Your Wedding Ceremony By Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber has been writing, editing, and producing lifestyle and weddings content for over seven years. In that time, she has interviewed and worked with hundreds of leading experts to become an authority on all things homekeeping, flower arranging, home design, and wedding planning. Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 29, 2023 Close Photo: Caroline Tran Photography If you want to plan a wedding that speaks uniquely to you and your groom, know that there are so many ways to personalize your day. We've seen many couples buck the norm and replace wedding cakes with dessert bars or dinner buffets with food trucks. Not every element of your big day has to be rethought or reimagined, but a few key swaps can make a ceremony or reception feel fresh and unforgettable. If you're looking for a moment within your wedding to make this happen, consider the first things your guests will see—their ceremony seats. As it turns out, there's so much more to nuptial seating than straight rows of chairs on two sides of an aisle. There are a few key ways to switch up your ceremony's seating plan. Rearranging chairs into interesting shapes, like swirls, semi-circles, and rings (seen here!) can make the entire ceremony feel more inclusive—you'll literally be surrounded by loved ones. Another option? Forgoing chairs entirely and bringing in picnic blankets, rugs, hay bales, couches, or pews. If you're definitely set on having chairs, try swapping out the standard white-backed variety for see-through or woven options. Here, we've rounded up a series of one-of-a-kind ceremony seating arrangements and options that go beyond pretty wedding décor. They've actually worked for real couples across all types of weddings, big or small. Whichever way you decide to have your guests sit as you exchange vows, you're sure to end up with a unique ceremony that no one ever saw coming. Explore these options to get inspired. 01 of 37 Flower Embellished Meg Smith Lush flower arrangements from Max Gill Design enveloped every row of chairs at this dreamy, garden ceremony by Bash Please. 24 Beautiful Garden Wedding Venues 02 of 37 Communal Rug Sally Pinera At this Sikh wedding ceremony designed by So Happi Together, guests sat together on one large rug and shaded themselves with pararsols. 03 of 37 Custom Pews Rebecca Yale Photography For their service, this couple—with the help of their planning team, Amorology—mixed rows of ghost chairs with white pews customized with inspiring messages about love in gold calligraphy. 04 of 37 In the Clouds Kurt Boomer Instead of the setting up same number of chairs in every row on both sides of the aisle, complement the layout of your ceremony space. At this couple's mountain-view wedding, Elegant Ninja had the idea to angle seating sections—with a different number of chairs in each row—to enhance the outdoor space's round platform. 05 of 37 Comfy Settees Lauren Fair Photography Tufted French settees adorned by floral arrangements looked comfortable and inviting at this tropical, outdoor ceremony, which was planned by Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning & Design. 06 of 37 Winding Along the Aisle Stefano Santucci The arrangement of these benches complemented the winding shape of the ceremony aisle; the walkway was accented with organic florals that looked right at home at this tree-covered spot in Italy. 07 of 37 Chair and Bench Mix Erin and Courtney De Jauregui Mixing chairs and benches made from the same ash wood created cohesive visual interest at this outdoor ceremony, designed by Downey Street Events. 08 of 37 Water Feature Jose Villa At this ceremony at Beaulieu Garden in Napa Valley, Calif., planner Jacin Fitzgerald centered acrylic chairs around a shallow pool covered with a custom, flower-lined runway—which is where the couple exchanged their vows. 09 of 37 Eclectic Mix Bonnie Sen Photography Mid-century modern and rustic wood chairs were mixed together and draped with cozy blankets for this eclectic ceremony setup. 10 of 37 Pews, Chairs, and Pillows Carmen Santorelli Photography This bride alternated rows of round-backed chairs with pews and tied everything together with cream-and-jade throw pillows. 11 of 37 Poufs CJ Williams Photography Mixed print poufs made for a comfy, casual addition to this bohemian ceremony. See More Boho-Chic Wedding Ideas 12 of 37 Arches Ether and Smith Make classic folding chairs feel a little less traditional by arranging them in an arched, semi-circle formation. 13 of 37 Mediterranean Blue Greg Finck For her ocean-side wedding in the French Riviera, this bride matched her blue woven ceremony chairs to the color of the surrounding Mediterranean Sea. 14 of 37 Picnic Blankets Josh Gruetzmacher This couple added comfy pillows, bottles of wine, and snacks to picnic blankets so that their loved ones could snack while waiting for the ceremony to begin. Discover More Picnic Wedding Inspo 15 of 37 Pallets Maria Levitska This distressed pallet seating arrangement was perfect for a couple who loves to DIY. If you choose this look for your own ceremony, consider adding cozy throws and pillows to make guests more comfortable. 16 of 37 Swirly Loop Gideon Photo This swirled seating arrangement meant that the bride had a chance to walk past each guest on her trip down the "aisle." 17 of 37 Mismatched Chairs Pat Furey Photography Since no two were the same, these rows of chairs looked anything but standard. 18 of 37 Love Seat Mix Steve Steinhardt Antique love seats, benches, and statement chairs made a statement at this vintage-inspired wedding. See More Vintage Wedding Ideas 19 of 37 Pews and Tree Stumps Westlund Photography Tree stumps added a rustic to this outdoor celebration. Bonus: The unexpected seating arrangement works especially well for small children who'd like a close-up view of the ceremony. 11 Rustic Wedding Venues to Book for Your Big Day 20 of 37 Bunches Elisa Bricker Clusters of chairs, without a uniform number of seats per section, gave an informal, open feeling to this field ceremony. 21 of 37 Hay Couches Amy Arrington Photography Stacked bales of hay made for a comfy, fall-ready couch at this outdoor celebration, especially after they were draped in patchwork blankets. 40 Cozy Ideas for a Fall Wedding 22 of 37 Rug Clusters Lisa Lefkowitz To bring the inside out at their ceremony, this couple seated guests on bright, colorful rugs complete with cozy pillows. More Ways to Add Rugs to Your Ceremony 23 of 37 Colorful Chairs and Benches Bradford Martens This couple broke up their mid-century modern orange, yellow, and white Eames chairs with solid wood benches. 24 of 37 Beach Pews Harwell Photography Turn the beach into a church with white-washed pews, just as this couple did here. 25 of 37 Ottomans Rebecca Yale Photography Black ottomans made special seats for this couple's bridal party. The rest of the guests sat on matching velvet couches. Go Inside This Chic and Intimate Amalfi Coast Ceremony 26 of 37 Dock Erin McGinn Photography This couple worked with the landscape they were given, which meant turning a tiered dock into perches for guests. 27 of 37 Loft Standing Space Mademoiselle Fiona A lofted balcony gave family and friends the chance to watch this bride and groom exchange vows with an aerial view. 28 of 37 Stadium Seating Fer Juaristi By seating their family and friends in the bleachers, this couple turned their guests into a cheering section. 29 of 37 Guest of Honor Seats Meg Smith These newlyweds' most important guests—their parents—got an up-close view of their traditional Indian ceremony. Consider seating your VIPs directly behind you. 30 of 37 Beach Seats Hunter Ryan Photo Cross-backed chairs and wooden benches brought an unexpected touch of elegance to this sandy, seaside ceremony. See More Beautiful Ideas from Beach Weddings 31 of 37 Double Arch Elizabeth Messina Photography Setting up chairs in a disconnected circle or double arch formation, as this couple did here, left a clear path for an aisle. 32 of 37 Organic Landscape Mademoiselle Fiona This couple turned their venue's fountain into a focal point with an asymmetrical seating plan. 33 of 37 Inner Circle Alison Pill via Instagram A small circle formation facilliated guests' participation in this intimate wedding ceremony. 34 of 37 Beam Benches Isabelle Selby Photography This couple turned wooden beams into stacked benches for their outdoor ceremony. It was an especially great seating chice for young guests. 35 of 37 Poolside James Christianson If you're getting married poolside, consider working with the pool's natural bends and curves when creating your seating plan, as this couple did here. 36 of 37 Ghost Chairs Natalie Bray Sleek and modern ghost chairs added freshness to a traditional, straight-row arrangement. Get More Modern Wedding Inspiration 37 of 37 Hay Bench Veronica Varos Hay bale benches brought fall-inspired charm to this woodsy wedding. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit