Traditionally, wedding ceremonies took place at a church or other place of worship, where pews were set in rows facing the altar. As wedding ceremonies began to leave these spaces and move to venues, this seating arrangement remained the same – until now! As a wedding planner and wedding DJ duo, we have seen our fair share of wedding ceremonies. Some of our favorites have featured out-of-the-box wedding ceremony seating, from putting the couple in the center to using two aisles! We love mixing up tradition, so here are a few of our favorite wedding ceremony seating ideas for you to consider. 

Wedding Ceremony Layout Ideas

Half-Circle

Instead of having your guests’ chairs face directly forward, you can curve them to face the couple, creating a semicircle shape. This option still feels very traditional, but it gives the ceremony space a cozier feeling and gives everyone a great view of the couple. 

In The Round

If you love the cozy feeling of a half-circle arrangement but want something even more unique, you can opt for a full circle or seating in the round. We love this arrangement because it provides everyone with the best view possible of the couple. You can either split up the seats with multiple “aisles” or opt for one long helix arrangement. This arrangement tends to work best with smaller weddings. 

Two Aisles

A new arrangement we’re seeing pop up quite frequently is ceremony seating with two aisles. This is possible with either traditional straight seating or in a half-circle setting. Chairs are split into three sections instead of two, allowing for two aisles. We’ve seen this pop up most commonly at LGBTQ+ weddings, as it allows both partners to walk down the aisle at the same time. 

Square

If you like the idea of the couple in the center of the ceremony space, but a circle arrangement isn’t your style, you can always opt for square seating. Guests’ seats are arranged in four sections heading directly back from the ceremony space at opposite angles. This arrangement tends to work best with smaller guest counts.  

Curved Aisle

A more subtle twist on the ceremony space is creating a curved aisle. Guests are still seated in two sections facing the front of the space, but instead of chairs perfectly arranged along a straight aisle, the seats are offset to each side, creating a meandering path for the couple to walk down. This works best with large weddings since you will need at least a few rows of seats to create the desired effect. 

Things to Consider When Planning Your Wedding Ceremony Seating

Once you’ve considered what ceremony seating layouts you’re interested in, it’s time to consider the logistics. First, will your preferred arrangement work with your guest count? As we mentioned in the summaries above, some setups work best with larger or smaller guest counts. Second, you’ll need to check with your venue to see if the setup can fit in the ceremony space. While a space might be able to hold 100 people in neatly organized rows, the same might not be true if those chairs are arranged in a circle.

You’ll also want to check if there are any safety issues with the seating arrangement in your ceremony space. If you’re planning an indoor ceremony, you will need to make sure there is a clear path to emergency exits. And who will be responsible for setting up the chairs in this arrangement? Clarify this with your venue coordinator or wedding planner, and make sure that you’ve communicated your desired setup clearly with photos so everything is perfect on your wedding day. 

Another item to consider when choosing a unique seating arrangement is your processional and recessional. How will your wedding party walk to the altar? What about yourself and your partner? If you’re choosing a unique setup that will affect your processional, we highly recommend having the chairs arranged for your rehearsal. This will allow everyone to practice ahead of time so there’s no confusion on the big day. 

Plan Your Wedding Ceremony with The Wedding Duo

We are seeing more venues offer non-traditional ceremony layouts and we’re loving it! There are so many unique ways to mix up the space and give your guests a totally unique experience. Or if a traditional ceremony layout is your style, you can check out our favorite unique wedding reception layouts instead! And as always, if you’re looking for a knowledgeable team to plan and DJ your wedding, The Wedding Duo is available worldwide! Reach out to see if your wedding date is available!