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  1. marthastewart.com
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  4. 28 Unique Ways to Seat Guests at Your Wedding Ceremony
Martha Stewart Weddings

28 Unique Ways to Seat Guests at Your Wedding Ceremony

Sarah Schreiber, Senior Digital Editor
By Sarah Schreiber
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Circle Seating Arrangement
Credit: Caroline Tran Photography

Think beyond straight rows and simple chairs.

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Circle Seating Arrangement
Credit: 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 main 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. Click through to get inspired.

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Pews, Chairs, and Pillows

ceremony seating with pillows
Credit: Carmen Santorelli Photography

This bride alternated rows of round-backed chairs with pews and tied everything together with cream and jade throw pillows.

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Poufs

wedding seating with pillows
Credit: CJ Williams Photography
See More Boho-Chic Wedding Ideas

Mixed print poufs made for a comfy, casual addition to this bohemian ceremony.

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Arches

rounded ceremony seating
Credit: Ether and Smith

Make classic folding chairs feel a little less traditional by arranging them in an arched, semi-circle formation.

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Mediterranean Blue

blue chairs
Credit: 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.

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Picnic Blankets

wedding ceremony with blanket seating
Credit: Josh Gruetzmacher
Discover More Picnic Wedding Inspo

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.

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Pallets

bench seating
Credit: 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.

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Swirly Loop

circular ceremony seating
Credit: Gideon Photo

This swirled seating arrangement meant that the bride had a chance to walk past each guest on her trip down the "aisle."

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Mismatched Chairs

ceremony with mismatched chairs
Credit: Pat Furey Photography

Since no two were the same, these rows of chairs looked anything but standard.

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Love Seat Mix

ceremony with mismatched chairs
Credit: Steve Steinhardt
See More Vintage Wedding Ideas

Antique love seats, benches, and statement chairs made a statement at this vintage-inspired wedding.

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Pews and Tree Stumps

Pews and Tree Stump Ceremony Seating
Credit: Westlund Photography
11 Rustic Wedding Venues to Book for Your Big Day

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.

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Bunches

wedding seating
Credit: Elisa Bricker

Clusters of chairs, without a uniform number of seats per section, gave an informal, open feeling to this field ceremony.

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Hay Couches

hay bale seating
Credit: Amy Arrington Photography
10 Cozy Ideas for a Fall Wedding

Stacked bales of hay made for a comfy, fall-ready couch at this outdoor celebration, especially after they were draped in patchwork blankets.

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Rug Clusters

ceremony seating with rugs
Credit: Lisa Lefkowitz
More Ways to Add Rugs to Your Ceremony

To bring the inside out at their ceremony, this couple seated guests on bright, colorful rugs complete with cozy pillows.

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Colorful Chairs and Benches

wedding ceremony with colorful chairs
Credit: Bradford Martens

This couple broke up their mid-century modern orange, yellow, and white Eames chairs with solid wood benches.

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Beach Pews

teresa-amanda-wedding-ceremony-9787-s111694-1114.jpg
Credit: Harwell Photography

Turn the beach into a church with white-washed pews, just as this couple did here.

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Ottomans

wedding ceremony
Credit: Rebecca Yale Photography
Go Inside This Chic and Intimate Amalfi Coast Ceremony

Black ottomans made special seats for this couple's bridal party. The rest of the guests sat on matching velvet couches.

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Dock

danielle-brian-wedding-ceremony-0916-s113001-0616.jpg
Credit: Erin McGinn Photography

This couple worked with the landscape they were given, which meant turning a tiered dock into perches for guests.

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Loft Standing Space

cristina-jason-wedding-ceremony-0640-s112017-0715.jpg
Credit: Mademoiselle Fiona

A lofted balcony gave family and friends the chance to watch this bride and groom exchange vows with an aerial view.

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Stadium Seating

becca zac wedding ceremony streamers from crowd
Credit: Fer Juaristi

By seating their family and friends in the bleachers, this couple turned their guests into a cheering section.

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Guest of Honor Seats

ceremony kiss
Credit: 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.

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Beach Seats

wedding seating
Credit: Hunter Ryan Photo
See More Beautiful Ideas from Beach Weddings

Cross-backed chairs and wooden benches brought an unexpected touch of elegance to this sandy, seaside ceremony.

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Double Arch

ceremony space chairs
Credit: 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.

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Organic Landscape

Ceremony
Credit: Mademoiselle Fiona

This couple turned their venue's fountain into a focal point with an asymmetrical seating plan.

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Inner Circle

celebrity-wedding-moments-alison-pill-josh-leonard-wedding-ceremony-1215.jpg
Credit: Alison Pill via Instagram

A small circle formation facilliated guests' participation in this intimate wedding ceremony.

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Beam Benches

jess-steve-wedding-ceremony-93-s112362-1115.jpg
Credit: 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.

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Poolside

maki-rick-wedding-ceremony-0391-s112096-0815.jpg
Credit: 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.

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Ghost Chairs

Ghost Chair Ceremony Seating
Credit: Natalie Bray
Get More Modern Wedding Inspiration

Sleek and modern ghost chairs added freshness to a traditional, straight-row arrangement.

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Hay Bench

hay bale seating
Credit: Veronica Varos
See More Forest Wedding Ideas

Hay bale benches brought fall-inspired charm to this woodsy wedding.

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 29
    2 of 29 Pews, Chairs, and Pillows
    3 of 29 Poufs
    4 of 29 Arches
    5 of 29 Mediterranean Blue
    6 of 29 Picnic Blankets
    7 of 29 Pallets
    8 of 29 Swirly Loop
    9 of 29 Mismatched Chairs
    10 of 29 Love Seat Mix
    11 of 29 Pews and Tree Stumps
    12 of 29 Bunches
    13 of 29 Hay Couches
    14 of 29 Rug Clusters
    15 of 29 Colorful Chairs and Benches
    16 of 29 Beach Pews
    17 of 29 Ottomans
    18 of 29 Dock
    19 of 29 Loft Standing Space
    20 of 29 Stadium Seating
    21 of 29 Guest of Honor Seats
    22 of 29 Beach Seats
    23 of 29 Double Arch
    24 of 29 Organic Landscape
    25 of 29 Inner Circle
    26 of 29 Beam Benches
    27 of 29 Poolside
    28 of 29 Ghost Chairs
    29 of 29 Hay Bench

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    28 Unique Ways to Seat Guests at Your Wedding Ceremony
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