Chairs for a Graveside Service: What the Funeral Home Brings and When to Rent More

If you're planning a graveside service, you're doing it on short notice and at a hard time. Seating is a small part of the day, but it's one families often ask about: who brings the chairs, are there enough, and will Grandma have somewhere to sit. Here's how it usually works, so you can ask the right questions once and move on.

Who usually provides the chairs

For most graveside or committal services, the funeral home arranges the setup at the grave with the cemetery. That often includes:

• A small tent or canopy over the grave
• A row or two of chairs for the closest family
• A device to lower the casket, and green carpet or grass mats around the grave

What's included varies by funeral home and cemetery. Ask your funeral director three things: how many chairs come with the service, whether there's a tent, and whether they can add more chairs if you need them. Often the simplest answer is to have the funeral home add chairs, since they already work with the cemetery.

When it makes sense to rent more

Families usually add chairs when:

1. The family is large and the included chairs only cover a spouse and children.
2. Many guests are older or have trouble standing on uneven ground.
3. The service is longer than a short committal, with military honors, several readings or music.
4. A gathering follows nearby, such as a reception at home or in a hall, and you'd like one order for both.

How to set the chairs

• Close family in front, facing the casket or urn, under the tent if there is one.
• Extra seats at the ends of rows for older guests, so they don't have to squeeze past anyone.
• Other guests stand or sit behind the family rows.
• Keep chairs off neighboring graves and markers. The cemetery staff will tell you where chairs can go.
• Leave a firm path from where cars park to the seats, especially after rain.

What to ask the cemetery

Cemeteries have their own rules, and they differ a lot. Before you book outside rentals, ask the cemetery office or your funeral director:

• Can an outside rental company deliver chairs, and do they need to be approved first?
• When can chairs be set up and when must they be picked up?
• Where can a delivery vehicle park, and how far is the walk to the grave?
• Is there a rule about tents, stakes or anything placed on the grass?

If anything is unclear, let the funeral director handle it. They work with the cemetery staff and can usually sort it out with one phone call.

Which chairs work outdoors

• Folding chairs are the usual choice. They're light, quick to carry across grass and easy to set level.
• Teak garden folding looks warmer than plain white or metal chairs and is still easy to carry.
• On soft or sloped ground, our guide to chairs on grass, sand and gravel covers how to keep each chair steady.

If a gathering follows

Many families host a meal or reception after the burial. Our guides to the funeral repast and celebration of life receptions cover tables, chairs and food for that part of the day. The celebration of life planning checklist helps you keep track of who is handling what.

Talk it through with us

If you're planning a graveside service or the gathering afterward and aren't sure what you need, book a free 15-minute seating call. We'll help you work out how many chairs to add, what to ask the cemetery, and what the reception afterward needs.