The main wedding chair decor ideas are full covers, sashes or bows, vertical drapes and ruffle hoods. A single flower stem on aisle chairs also works. Choose by the chairs your venue has. Dress plain banqueting chairs fully, and keep attractive chairs simple. The Wedding House styles every chair on site, in over 200 colours.
Chair decor repeats on every seat in the room, so it has a big effect on the overall look. The Wedding House is a wedding decor hire business in Droitwich Spa. We dress chairs at venues across Worcestershire and the West Midlands. This guide explains each option and when it is worth booking.
| Option | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Full chair cover | Covers the whole chair in one colour | Plain, worn or mixed banqueting chairs |
| Sash or bow | Ties a band of colour around the chair back | Adding your accent colour, often over a cover |
| Vertical drape | Falls in a single sheet down the chair back | A neater, more tailored line than a bow |
| Ruffle hood | Gathers fabric over the top of the chair | Romantic, soft or vintage styling |
| Small detail | A flower stem or ribbon on chosen chairs | Aisle ends and rooms with good chairs |
Not always. Some venues have attractive wooden or upholstered chairs. Covering them can hide a feature rather than improve it.
Plain function chairs are different. A cover or sash makes a room of mixed chairs look uniform and finished.
Ask your venue for a photo of its chairs before you decide. Many barns use wooden cross back or Chiavari chairs, which often need only a light touch.
A cover changes the shape and colour of the whole chair. It gives a clean, even look across the room. Covers suit venues with mixed chair styles, or chairs that clash with your colours.
Most couples add a sash or drape over the cover. On its own, a white or ivory cover can look plain.
A sash adds colour without hiding the chair. It costs less than a full cover. It is also the easiest way to bring your accent colour into every seat.
A simple sash in the right shade does more than an elaborate one in the wrong shade. Match it to your table runners, napkins or flowers.
A vertical drape hangs straight down the chair back. It looks neater than a bow and suits modern rooms. It also shows off a strong colour well.
A ruffle hood gathers fabric over the top of the chair. It gives a soft, rounded shape. We used ivory chiffon hoods at a Tortworth Court wedding to keep the chairs light.
A single stem, a sprig of foliage or a ribbon can be enough. We often suggest this for aisle-end chairs at the ceremony. It marks the aisle without dressing every seat.
Seasonal touches work too. For a winter wedding at The Mill Barns, white sashes were finished with pine cones and red berries.
We stock sashes and drapes in over 200 colours. These are the colours couples have chosen at recent weddings:
For more on choosing colours, read our guide to wedding colour schemes for 2026.
Chair decor should suit the room, not only your colour palette. Rooms with stone, panelling or exposed brick suit simpler chairs. Heavily dressed chairs can compete with the room there.
In a plain, neutral room, chair decor does more work. A strong colour on every chair sets the tone straight away.
Do not choose chair decor before you have seen the venue’s chairs. A colour that looks right in a photo can look different against real floors, walls and lighting.
See a sample chair in person if you can. That is one reason we keep a showroom in Droitwich Spa.
A cover changes the whole chair. A sash adds a band of colour around the back. Many couples use both.
No. If the chairs have character, simple styling can look more considered than a full cover.
Yes, and it can look just as intentional. The aisle ends and the top table are where guests look most.
Match it to your wider colour scheme, including table runners and flowers. A sample seen in person is more reliable than a photo.
It depends on the style and the number of chairs. Our chair decor hire page shows current prices. Delivery, styling on the day and collection are included.
Our team does. We steam and press every piece, dress the chairs before guests arrive, and collect everything afterwards.
Book once your venue and guest numbers are confirmed. Peak season Saturdays go quickly.
Yes. Our showroom in Droitwich Spa is open by appointment. You can see covers, sashes and drapes on real chairs.
For styles and prices, see our chair cover hire page. To match your chairs to your tables, read our wedding table decorations guide.
Chair decor is easier to choose in person than from a photograph. Tell us your venue and guest numbers, and we will suggest the right level of styling. Our Droitwich Spa showroom is open by appointment.
We’d love to hear from you and talk through your wedding decor. Whether you’re ready to start planning or just exploring ideas, our friendly team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Visit us by booking an appointment.
Call us on:
01905 794 200
07934 359 009
For out of hours and emergency enquiries:
07834 242 467
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