By Laura Walter

Chairs can be a status symbol, depending on who’s sitting in them. In Dover,  Throne Chair Kings, LLC, offers massive, elegant seats to help wedding couples feel extra special.

The six-foot armchairs are ornate, but the idea is simple: “Kings get honored in their chairs,” said owner Kevin Wayman Sr. of Dover. “It just adds another dimension, I think, to a wedding, when the bride and groom go over to the throne chairs, and it’s just all about them.”

Wayman recalled one older couple who were renewing their vows. The gentleman couldn’t stand up for long periods of time, so the couple ordered a King Solomon and a Tiffany pair of chairs. They sat elegantly while the minister stood in the middle.

“If it fits your budget, you will be so glad you did it. Everybody is shocked and amazed when it gets in there. It always looks bigger than life once it gets in there because [it] is six feet! It’s going to get its own respect, no matter where you put it!”

Wayman said he’s tried various suppliers, but has chosen the better quality of furniture crafters.

“I have them handcrafted in Indonesia, made from mahogany wood. The people over there are fantastic in their craft. They make beautiful pieces, and I have them all done and shipped over to my little facility in Dover,” Wayman said.

Animals are carved into the “Lionhead” and “King Kong” designs. Classic curves make up the “Tiffany” design. The “Queen of Sheba” and “King Solomon” designs are just plumb striking.

There are individual seats, loveseats for two, and even miniature chairs for children.

Ornate pairings are crafted from durable wood and vinyl fabric. Imagine white, silver or gold wood covered with white, black, purple, red, blue or pink fabric. “Most of the time they want the ‘Tiffany,’ white and gold, white and silver” for weddings, Wayman said.

Customers can buy or rent the chairs. Although some more traditional designs are available right away, Wayman advises placing an order about five months in advance of the event date, to ensure the order.

His client events have included weddings, bat or bar mitzvahs, quinceañeras, photo shoots, retirements, proms, birthdays, anniversaries and more. One fellow even bought one as eye candy for his wife’s powder room.

Wayman is a business owner, but he offers realistic advice for couples planning a wedding. “To be totally honest, if something’s not in your budget, don’t try to find it in your budget for a want and not a need. [If] you can’t afford it—if you’re on hotdog and hamburger money … you should be adult and mature enough to recognize that. I would hate for somebody in your family to not get what they need … you always need to prioritize family and your quality of life versus a visual,” Wayman advised.

Still, he loves to tell stories of the families who use throne chairs—like the black and gold design used for a woman’s 60th birthday party. “For that moment you’re gonna honor her, let’s just put it on that stage,” he said. Then while she mingled with friends around the room, guests could use the chair as a photo booth. “They had a professional photographer. They took over 400 photo around that chair!” he laughed.

Learn more about Throne Chair Kings in Dover, online at thronechairkings.com or by calling (302) 612-0340.