Aisle decoration ideas for church and civil ceremonies

By Wedding Offshore Team

The aisle is the path every guest sees, and the one you walk along. Good decoration is simple, safe to walk past and suited to the building. This guide covers ideas for a church and for a civil venue, what to check before you plan, and how to fix, place and clear your decoration without causing problems for the people who run the space.

Ask before you plan

Rules about decoration differ between places of worship, register offices and licensed venues, so find out first. Ask the person who looks after the building, and your registrar if you are having a civil ceremony:

Whether you can decorate the aisle at all, and what is allowed
What you can attach to pews, chairs, walls or doors, and with what
Whether petals, confetti or loose items on the floor are permitted
Whether candles, lanterns or flames are allowed
When you can enter to set up, and who must be there
Who clears everything afterwards, and by when

Write the answers down. If you plan to use anything that touches the floor or fittings, get the answer in writing where you can.

Ideas for a church

A church often already has strong features, such as stone, wood and stained glass. Aim to add to them rather than cover them.

Pew ends. A small bunch of flowers or greenery tied to the end of each pew gives a rhythm along the aisle. Ask how it may be fixed so the wood is not marked.
Ribbon or fabric bows. Simple bows in a single colour are quick to make and easy to remove.
Flowers at the front. Arrangements near the altar draw the eye along the aisle without crowding it.
Lanterns or holders on the floor or on stands, if flames or lights are allowed.
A runner. A length of fabric down the aisle can define the route, but it must be fixed so nobody trips.
A sign at the entrance, such as a welcome sign. Our signs come in a range of sizes and finishes.

Ideas for a civil ceremony

A register office or licensed venue often has a plainer room, so decoration can do more of the work. Check how much time you have, because some rooms are used by other couples before and after you.

Chair backs. Greenery, ribbons or small signs on the aisle chairs mark the way.
A frame or arch at the front, which gives a focal point for the ceremony. See our wedding arches for frames in different shapes and sizes, and our guide to decorating a wedding arch with flowers for how to dress one.
Floor markers. Small arrangements or lanterns along the edge, where they will not be kicked.
Hanging decoration, if the room has points to hang from. Ask what is allowed.
A backdrop behind the couple, which also works for photos afterwards. Our ceremony and venue range includes pieces that suit this.

Keep the walkway safe

The aisle must be easy to walk along, including for people who need a wheelchair, a walking aid or extra time. Think about:

Width. Leave plenty of room for the couple and anyone who walks with them.
Trip risks. Fix any runner flat and keep cables, stands and loose petals away from the path.
Dresses. A long skirt or train catches on anything that sticks out. Test with someone wearing something similar.
Slippery floors. Loose petals or confetti can make a polished floor slippery. Ask your venue whether they are happy with them.
Sightlines. Do not let tall decoration block the view of the front.

Fix things in a way that is easy to remove

Decoration that is hard to take down causes trouble at the end of the day. Choose fixings that leave no mark and are quick to remove:

Test any tape, string or clip on a hidden spot before you use it.
Use ties or ribbon that can be cut without harming the furniture.
Make a note of where each piece goes, with a photo, so a helper can set it out without you.
Pack a small kit with scissors, spare ties and a roll of bags for rubbish.

Think about photographs

Your photographer will stand at the back, at the front and sometimes in the aisle. Ask them where they plan to be, so your decoration does not block their view or sit in the middle of a picture. Keep tall pieces away from where faces will be, and look at the aisle from the last row before you finish, because that is the view many photographs will use. If the light is poor, ask the venue whether they have lighting you can use.

Keep the cost down

Use one style repeated along the aisle rather than many different pieces.
Decorate fewer rows, such as the first few, where guests will look.
Reuse the arch or front flowers at the reception.
Make simple bows or bunches yourself and test one first.
Ask your venue what they already provide before you buy.

Next steps

Ask your venue the questions above, then sketch the aisle with the number of rows and where each piece would go. Make one sample, fix it where you plan to use it and see whether it is easy to remove.

Asked and answered

Do I need to decorate the aisle?

No. Many couples leave it plain, especially in a building that is already striking. Decoration is a choice, and a single feature at the front can be enough.

Can I scatter petals in the aisle?

It depends on the building and the venue, so ask before you plan. Some places welcome them, some do not, and some only allow certain types. Our guide to wedding confetti and venue rules covers what to ask.

How early can I set up?

That depends on who else uses the space that day. Ask when you can enter and how long you have, and plan your set-up around the shortest time you might be given.

Who takes the decoration away?

Agree this in advance. Some venues expect you to clear everything, others have a team who will do it, and a place of worship may have its own rules about what can be left.