Cross-Back vs. Chiavari Chairs: Which Is Right for Your Wedding?

If you're choosing between a cross-back chair and a Chiavari chair, you're choosing between two different feelings. Here's how they compare.

At a glance

When cross-back chairs work best

Cross-backs suit weddings built around natural texture: wood farm tables, greenery runners, candlelight and linen. They look especially good at long-table receptions where you see rows of X backs down the length of the room.

They also work well in industrial lofts, where black cross-backs pair with exposed brick and Edison bulbs.

When Chiavari still makes sense

A traditional hotel ballroom with round tables and floor-length linens was designed with a Chiavari-style chair in mind. If you want that classic, formal look, it's a fine choice. It shouldn't be the only choice, though.

A middle ground

If you like Chiavari's polish but want something less expected, look at:

• Infinity chairs. A similar metal elegance with a looped back.
• Ghost chairs. Formal, but nearly invisible.
• Louis medallion chairs at the head table, so the couple's seats stand out from the guests'.

Our take

Pick the chair that matches the room, then the mood. A barn wants wood. A ballroom can go glam or classic. A garden can go almost anywhere.

See the Cross-Back Vineyard Chair or compare all our chairs.