Your wedding ceremony and the decor is one of the first things guests will notice when they arrive at your big day. Of course you want the stage set beautifully for your wedding. Gorgeous altar, neatly arranged seating, and beautiful flowers or plants are staples for making your walk down the aisle not only photogenic, but memorable for yourself and guests alike. Since your ceremony’s setup and design will be the first scene your guests will encounter, it’s important to reflect the type and style of wedding you’re having from the start. Within that concept, there are literally thousands of ways to decorate your ceremony setting to express your unique personality. The wedding experts at Conklyn’s Weddings have broken these ideas into basic categories for you to choose for yourself. What kind of wedding are you planning to have? What impression do you want to leave with your guests? It’s all here and will hopefully help you choose the perfect look for your perfect day.
Traditional Bouquets
This style is exactly what it sounds like: small, matching bouquets of flowers that reflect the bridal bouquet. These bouquets can be planted, hung, or otherwise attached to the end of every (or every other) aisle. The continuity, color and similarities will tie the entire space together, especially as the bride walks down the aisle. Of course, creative license allows for variations on this style. Use only certain flowers from your bridal bouquet in the aisle flowers, or choose something entirely different that happens to be the same color. At the end of the day, your aisle is yours to decorate how you like!
Scattered Petals or Leaves
Sometimes an aisle lined with dropped petals along the edges or the entire path creates a visual display that’s hard to match. If your color palette is an essential element to your overall wedding day look, consider incorporating those specific colors in your aisle by overdoing the walkway with an abundance of flower petals in your colors. For a more natural look, scatter the leaves or foliage that go with your bouquet or overall look. For a beach wedding, spread palm fronds. For an outdoor mountain wedding, gorgeous stalks of pampas grass or oak branches can be used. A holiday church wedding can be accented with long strands of evergreen garland along the aisles to accent the festivities. Be creative but be consistent with your decor so your guests can revel in the beauty of your special day.
Potted Plants and Flowers
A great twist on an expected detail is to include beautiful potted bouquets or plants at the end of each aisle. Depending on the type of pot you use, you will accentuate the vibe you’re hoping to create for your wedding. Baby’s breath and candles tucked inside lanterns express a very different feel than robust urns with stately roses and hydrangea. Likewise, small, tight arrangements of fresh blooms in low containers will shift the focus to the altar and its activities for the day, merely providing a beautiful backdrop to the main event of the day- the wedding ceremony!
Succulents and Cacti
Not only are these arid weather beauties wildly popular right now, they also create a natural, even southwestern vibe that can give your wedding the look you want. Stacks of asymmetrical cactus and succulents in small pots near the end of each row of chairs (or benches) lends an exotic but earthy feel to the overall look of your day. For a bohemian, rustic or earthy wedding theme, consider lining your wedding ceremony aisle with rows of these succulents for clean lines and obscure balance.
Candles, Rugs, and Other Items
Of course, you don’t have to use flowers and only flowers to decorate your wedding ceremony. Lining the wedding aisle (especially in outdoor weddings) with Persian-stlye rugs of varying styles, shapes and colors is a natural and bohemian look that will dazzle in photos. Candles, in all shapes and sizes, left alone or within gorgeous containers, can give shape and structure to your wedding aisle. Perhaps you have a special item that is meaningful to you and your partner, like baseball, travel, or reading. Line the aisles with a token that reflects your specific connection to include it in your big day together.
Remember, no matter what you choose to include in your wedding decor, this is your day and is certain to be one of the fondest memories of your life. Be sure to make it your own, tie the look together for pictures and bring a beautiful touch of your unique personality and style to the day. How you decorate your wedding ceremony, particularly the aisle you walk down, will be forever preserved in photos and memories as the accent to your overall design. Make a statement and bring your look together with designs that show off your creative spirit. Talk to the wedding professionals at Conklyn’s Weddings about your ideas and let us help you make them a reality on your special wedding day.