Event chairs and tables are very important aspects of ensuring that your guests are comfortable, your venue is well-presented and that the running of your event is smooth.
Depending on what event you are planning; be it a wedding in Nairobi, a corporate event in Westlands, a garden party in Kiambu or a ruracio ceremony, your choice of furniture should suit with your event, venue and number of guests.
Wrong furniture choice can pose some problems. Improper seating may make your visitors feel uneasy due to the long duration of the event. The improper furniture makes the job of organizing the venue difficult for you. Outdoor venues will require furniture that is adaptable to various ground conditions and weather.
Some of the things that you should think about before choosing event furniture include; the type of event, venue plan, furniture material, comfort, seating capacity, budget and delivery among others.
Here are 7 tips to help you choose suitable event chairs and tables in Kenya.
1: Define Your Event Type and Theme
Corporate Events and Conferences:
Use practical and professional chairs such as conference, executive or comfortable banquet chairs. You could use rectangular tables in meetings, training and conference arrangements.
Weddings and Luxury Galas:
Elegant tables and chairs can be considered for your wedding event such as Tiffany, Chiavari or Ghost chairs together with round banquet tables. The furniture should go hand in hand with your decorations, colors and concept.
Traditional Ceremonies (Ruracio/Koora):
Traditional events usually have a larger gathering of relatives and guests. It is important to keep in mind the comfort and practicality of your chairs while choosing tables.
Concepting your event in advance will make it easier to choose furniture.
2: Understand Venue Dynamics and Layout in Kenya
Your choice of furniture would be guided in part by the nature of the physical environment where your event is being held. You need to think about what the venue entails – whether it is an indoor, outdoor, grass, paved or spacious venue.
Outdoor and Garden Venues:
Outdoor venues located at places like Karen, Limuru and Naivasha could be grass, soil or uneven. It is important that you choose tables and chairs with sturdy foundations that would be able to stay firm on the surface. Light weight furniture would also help in transportation and positioning.
Indoor Venues:
Ballrooms, hotels, conference centers among other indoor venues should be well thought of and planned for space wise. It would be necessary to take into account pillars, doors, pathways, dancing floor, stage and décor before choosing the number of tables and chairs you should use.
3: Consider Chair and Table Materials, Weather and Durability
Wooden Furniture:
This kind of furniture is in the form of wooden chairs and tables that look elegant and natural and are comfortable to use for garden, rustic and traditional events. This kind of furniture requires proper maintenance and protection against water exposure.
Resin and Acrylic Chairs:
The resin and acrylic chairs, Ghost and Tiffany chairs included, are ideal for many weddings, receptions and garden parties. They should be chosen depending on the surrounding and weather.
Metal and Plastic Folding Furniture:
These include folding chairs and tables that can easily be used in community events, corporate events, conference events and other events where setup and easy transportation are critical.
It is important that you choose furniture taking into account such things as their strength, looks, ease of cleaning, climate, and duration of use.
4: Consider the Comfort of the Guests
The comfort of the guests should be an important factor in the selection of event furniture. It is particularly important where the guests have to sit for long periods of time.
Where there will be a long ceremony, conference, reception or formal dinner, use chairs that have enough support and offer comfort.
One can even think of adding cushions to the right type of chair. Nevertheless, one must select based on the nature of the occasion.
Table height is yet another important factor to consider. Regular dining-height tables are ideal for dining whereas high cocktail tables are best for cocktail parties and other such events.
5: Match Seating Capacity With the Right Table Shape
The shape and size of your tables can affect not only guest interactions but also the space that is needed for your event.
Round Tables
Round banquet tables are often used in wedding and reception celebrations. Round tables give a chance for the people sitting at one table to interact more conveniently with each other and provide balance in design within the room.
Rectangular Tables
Rectangular tables are useful for business meetings, buffet-style service, conference arrangements, family reunions and banquet style events. Rectangular tables can also be very handy in making use of particular space of the venue.
High-Boy Cocktail Tables
Standing cocktail high-boy tables can be employed for standing receptions and pre-dinner drinks sessions. These act as the best place where they can serve their guests with drinks and food without needing a dining table.
Remember to take into account the table sizes, number of guests, floor space and walkways.
6: Plan Your Budget, Delivery and Event Logistics in Kenya
The budget for furniture should cover not just the cost of rental but also all other possible costs that may be incurred at your event.
The logistics of transporting your furniture to the venue will vary depending on the location of the event. For instance, events located in Nairobi will have different transport requirements compared to events in locations like Kiambu, Machakos, Nakuru, or other locations away from the city.
It is advisable to inquire about the following things before booking your furniture:
Cost of delivery
Setup and dismantling
Collection
Minimum quantity required for rental
Availability of furniture
Change in guest number
Delivery time frame
Any other transport costs associated with the location.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How early should I make my bookings for event chairs and tables in Kenya?
It would be best to book your event furniture as early as possible, particularly for weddings, graduations, conferences and all other events that are being held in peak times.
2. Do you provide chairs and tables delivery services outside Nairobi?
The availability of the delivery services is dependent on the location of the venue amongst other things like the number of the items to be delivered. Please get in touch with Lumi Events for clarification.
3. Is setup and dismantling included in the hire charge?
Depending on the rental package and services included in the deal when making your booking, it may be inclusive. Kindly make sure to inquire if that is the case.
4. Is it possible to adjust guest numbers after the booking is done?
There could be changes to the number of people attending after a booking has already been made. Contact the rental firm immediately to find out if there is additional furniture available.
Call to Action
Proper furniture needs to match your event category, venue, number of guests, climate, comfort and budget.
With proper consideration of the materials of furniture, capacity of seating, shapes of tables, layout of the venue and logistics of transport even before making your bookings, you will organize yourself for an even better event.
Organizing an event in Kenya? View the available event chairs and tables at Lumi Events or reach out for a quotation according to your event needs, venue and number of guests.
