Carrie asked:
I will be using mason jars for “vases” and drinking glasses. I would like to save the expense of renting chairs and like the idea of haybales, but my soon to be husband thinks it is not a good idea
I will be using mason jars for “vases” and drinking glasses. I would like to save the expense of renting chairs and like the idea of haybales, but my soon to be husband thinks it is not a good idea
Tags: Drinking Glasses | Haybales | Mason Jars
September 18th, 2009 at 5:08 am
This idea is different I kinda like it. i say go for the hay bells!!!!
September 19th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
i think its a cute idea… as long as you are not expecting your guests to come in formal attire.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:52 am
I have seen several weddings where this has been done. It looks charming for a country themed wedding. you might however consider getting some chairs for the elderly or disable that might be attending. As I am sure they would not be comfortable on a hay bale.
I also have some other ideas if you are interested. I helped a friend of mine do her country theme. she used cowboy hats, cowboy boots as centerpieces. turn the hats upside down and they make cute flower planters. do the same with the boots (except don’t turn them over). lol. use old timey coal lanterns for centerpieces too. lots of ideas for country weddings.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Sounds really good, maybe cover the top of them with a suitable blanket or something just to avoid hay sticking into people when they sit.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Different indeed. Have you ever had to sit on one of these things for a long period of time…they are sooo uncomfortable poking you and attaching to your clothes all night. Everyone will be in good clothes and I don’t think sitting on hay would work well. If you do…maybe place a runner over them for them to be a little for comfortable. Good luck!
September 28th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
As a female, you are privileged only one day to have everything just they way you like it & if you wanna use hay bales for seating, then I think you should!
Your ideas are wonderful & it sounds like everyone would have a really good time.
Just let folks know that it a casual event in the invites & I think it will be not only OK, but most enjoyable!
September 29th, 2009 at 12:30 am
I personally would love it as a guest - they are squishy and comfy (except for backrests…)! However, it may make some people mad to get their evening wear dirty. But, if you specify that in your invites evening wear is not required, maybe it could work out ok!
September 30th, 2009 at 9:07 am
I think it’s a very good idea, but if the guests are going to be in anything other than jeans, I would strongly suggest getting some blankets, sheets, or fabric that coordinates with your colors and design, and draping them over the bales for the guests to sit on. Also, some guests will not be comfortable in a seat without a back, so you should get some regular chairs, as well. You could borrow some from many different people, so that they are mis-matched. I think it would be kind of…country shabby-chic, depending on the sorts of chairs available to you.
September 30th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
He is right, it is not a good idea. Lots of people are allergic to hay and they would be sneezing, itchy eyes, etc. And those hay bales aren’t comfortable at all. Imagine if you had to sit on one and you had on an expensive dress.
October 3rd, 2009 at 12:06 am
It’s a cute idea..but I think haybales might be a bit uncomfortable. Perhaps just use them as decoration instead. I love the idea of having the mason jars as drinking glasses. I’ve been using mason jars for years on a daily basis in my home. haha…
good luck and congrats!
October 5th, 2009 at 11:09 am
It does sound nice, but I heard that hay bales have tiny bugs on them that can irritate the skin.
and hay is pokey and will stick to clothes.
I think you should just stick with chairs.
good luck
October 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
No, no, no.
First, let’s talk about allergies and what hay will do for those guests.
Then let’s bring up what it will do to the nice clothing your guests wear to your wedding.
Let’s move on to the lack of comfort hay will provide for sitting on. Then we can start to talk about what will happen when some people have had a few drinks in them.
The whole thing goes from bad to worse.
Rent inexpensive folding chairs and save the money in some other area of the wedding.
October 9th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
why not it,s your wedding
October 11th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
You certainly can, but I’m going to tell you what could be a bad about it.
I’ve been attending Renaissance Faires for about thirty years now, and the seating at these is usually hay bales. I generally go in costume. With that costume, I usually have a minimum of two, but more often three or four layers of skirt. I still manage to get poked constantly by hay.
So that is a problem. And remember, your wedding guests will probably be wearing only one layer of skirt or pants. At most, they’ll have two very light layers.
On the other hand, I recently saw a great idea. When Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell got married a month or two ago, they had a country wedding with hay bale seating. The clever thing they did was cover the hay bales with quilts. If you can come up with enough quilts or rustic looking blankets, it should make the seating not only more comfortable, but more decorative, as well. I actually have placed light blankets on hay bales before and it really did cut way down on the poking hay.
At least it’s a nice compromise to consider.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:25 am
Yeah it is a country themed wedding and what says country more than hay bales. If I were you I would put a nice piece of cloth that matches your color scheme on them for guest to sit on.
October 16th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
NO NO NO NO NO!!! Hay bales are not comfortable to sit on, and if your guests are dressed nice, they will have hay poking them in the @ss. Besides, the venue may not want to deal with the mess of hay bales!
October 18th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
The only thing with hay bales is–it could ruin a lot of clothing, not be comfortable with some clothing and then you need to look at the sitting distance and ease would be for some older people to get up from.
What would you do with the bales after the wedding?
Why not have the chairs and then hay/straw thrown around the chairs.
October 21st, 2009 at 4:51 pm
As long as people know to wear more comfortable clothes, and not their best skirts and suits. Haybales would be fun, but for a more casual wedding. If it’s formal, get the chairs.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:33 pm
It would make a great theme but is everyone still going to be dressing up in “good” clothes becuase they may get marks on the clothes if they are sitting on haybales,
If the bales are clean then go right ahead and have an awesome wedding.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:54 am
I have seen this done before. I think it is fine as long as you do have some chairs too. Some people (a lot) have allergies so should have a choice. You find though that many will think it is fun and will do it. You might also want to let your guests know about attire I don’t think I would want to set on a hay bale in a nice Sunday dress……:o)
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October 27th, 2009 at 12:55 am
that is a little TOO country!
that would be like a hillbilly wedding
October 29th, 2009 at 12:54 am
that sounds very unique and cute!
i’d suggest putting some little mats or a little cushion on the hay bales to make them a little more comfortable.. and that would keep people from getting dusty from sitting on them too!
and maybe have a few chairs for older people (grandparents, etc.) that wouldn’t be comfy on the hay!
good luck & congrats!
October 29th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Its your wedding do what makes you happy…It goes with the theme…I wouldnt personally do it..but I think if I went to a wedding like that I would admire that the bride went out on a limb and did what she wanted!! good luck to you!
October 31st, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I agree with gileswench….been to Renaissance fairs and the hay does stick through layers of clothes no matter how much you wear.
While it is a cute idea, I think it would be a nightmare in reality.
October 31st, 2009 at 11:19 pm
it’s your day,do what you want. I think it’s cute. Just do the blankets over the bales, and remember to mention casual wear.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Even if my attire were faded jeans and a plaid flannel shirt, I wouldn’t like having hay stuck to them, to be transferred to my car and home. However, you could use hay bales topped with blankets or table cloths as tables for ice chests and stuff.
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:06 pm
yeah i think that would be weird..
cause as a guest.. i’ll be wearing a skirt or something and i think the hay bales would make my legs all scratchy and uncomfortable..
November 4th, 2009 at 2:30 am
I wouldnt… that would be uncomfortable and tacky. a country wedding is a good idea but a haybale would make it too hillbillyish. i am sorry but i live in the south and see country weddings all the time but not with haybales as seating arrnagments.
November 6th, 2009 at 4:41 am
NO!!!!
First of all, that would be so cheap, tacky and “redneck” you will be laughed at for years.
Second, have you ever sat on a haybale?? Little hay straws poking you in the **** the whole way through the reception? Hay leaving dust and fibers and poking holes through expensive skirts, dresses and trousers? They are NOT comfortable seating at all, no matter how thick a quilt you put overtop.
Third: Are you going to buy a truckload of Kleenex?? A lot of people are ALLERGIC to hay!!!! Even if you put blankets on the haybales, think how disgusting is your wedding going to be with a good number of your guests walking around puffy eyed, sniffling, and blowing their nose like Canadian geese???
Stick with the mason jar vases, use regular glasses and chairs, have small flower arrangements in the vases, using casual country flowers, maybe have a wagon wheel or two propped up against the tables, Decorate with raffia and FAKE straw bows (no allergic reactions) and use leaf patterns as decorative touches. If you really like the haybale idea, you can use one or two haybales as decorations…having them close to the gift table and by the DJ’s booth will keep them away from food, where some people might mill around and have allergic reactions.
Country can be fun and casual…or it can be cheap and tacky. Think first.
~Kat
November 7th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Only if EVERYONE will be wearing jeans.
November 8th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
i would take into consideration the possibility of guests having allergies or hay fever, it’s that time of year. also, they’ll be itchy & pokey. you COULD do it, but i wouldn’t recommend it. yes it’s YOUR day but you do have to draw the line somewhere. however, if you do decide you just HAVE to have it, at least cover them well with a comfy material.
after all that, might be cheaper to do chairs.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I think that is a fine idea. Put country quilts or fabric, or something on top of them, so they are not so itchy for the guests to sit on. I would also provide actual chairs for the very elderly, handicapped, and maybe even pregnant guests. Best wishes!