9 Unique Seating Ideas for Your Ceremony and Reception

We love a traditional Moroccan pouf as much as the next person, but we're also into this alternative ottoman-like option. It feels fresh, modern, and totally perfect for a couple that's not afraid to play with pops of color!

If you're saying "I do" in a bucolic outdoor ceremony, look no further than an accompanying field for your seating! Hay bales can make for a charming seating option—just throw a linen style of choice over the top so that the hay isn’t too scratchy for your guests. 

These ottoman/coffee table/plush benches can serve as all of the above—their versatility means your guests get to decide! Paired with sofas, they make for the perfect lounge areas that are a little more airy, allowing for easy mingling before and after the vows.

Who says pews are only for inside churches? We love how these add some unexpected interest to what is usually a uniform seating setup. Add in some colorful throw pillows for comfort and a little extra texture, or even some light throw blankets if you anticipate it being a little nippy on your wedding night.

These mod, backless sofas are perfect for a more intimate ceremony or reception lounge area. Their unique shape is punctuated with organic floral arrangements by Siloh Floral that wrap around the seats to add a little whimsy to this already playful ceremony setting. 

A slightly more rustic pouf, this ceremony setup proves that you can, indeed, do unique types of seating even if you have a larger guest count. We especially like how this couple sprinkled small tables amongst the poufs so guests had a place to put their drinks and purses.

Talk about creative—it’s a sofa made out of bales of hay, with another bale serving as a coffee table. The throw pillows and seat cushion soften it up a bit, to ensure your guests are comfortable. We’d also like to note that the pillows are made of a burlap-esque fabric which matches the design of the wedding, versus something more polished which would feel out of place. 

Get creative with your reception and cocktail hour seating with proper lounge areas so your guests can get really comfortable. We love how these lounge areas are sectioned off, so it’s not just a sofa floating alone, but rather two that face each other, plus accompanying chairs so a larger group can sit and eat (or chit-chat).  

For those who aren’t averse to sitting on the ground, we're all about the idea of seating some of your guests at low tables accompanied by oversized floor pillows. However we suggest taking a page out of this couple’s book, and offering multiple seating options if you’re doing a floor pillow situation—as it won’t be every guest’s cup of tea!