Flowers for Your Ceremony

How you decorate your ceremony venue deserves some careful thought, as the floral arrangements you choose will set the scene for your walk down the aisle.

Churches are often decorated with flowers all year round, courtesy of volunteers from the parish, and are often decorated more lavishly than usual at certain times of year, such as Easter. So if your wedding date coincides, the wedding decorations will benefit without extra costs.

Church flower groups will sometimes arrange floral decorations for weddings, at a much more modest cost than commercial florists, and it is worth checking to see if this service is available with your minister or priest. If you choose a commercial florist, they will need to visit the church before deciding what shape and size of decorations to recommend.

Share floral costs with another bride. Find out if there will be another wedding at your church or synagogue on the same day - you may be able to arrange to share the cost of flowers.

Bear in mind that if you have hired a florist to provide you with arrangements, you should be able to transport these to the reception venue after the ceremony.

You may wish to consider the following arrangements:

Altar

There are often freestanding arrangements in large vases already in place in churches or synagogues. If you want your own, be sure to include these in your flower plan.

Chancel steps

A pedestal could be placed on either side of the steps.

Entrance

You could cover an entire wire arch in greenery and flowers to create the perfect entranceway. Many florists own arches that they can rent to you, or some churches often have their own. You could also place topiary trees on either side of the door, or an arrangement in the porch.

Font

Arrangements can be placed around the base, or on top of it.

Lectern

A small arrangement could be placed in front of it.

Pew Ends

You could place a small arrangement of fragrant flowers (for example, sweet peas) either on top of the pew end, or along the side.

Pillars

Wind foliage and flowers around the pillars.

Pulpit

Garlands can be draped along the front, or flower arrangements can be placed around the top.

Windowsills

You could choose to have baskets of flowers, wildflower posies, a single lily, or perhaps triangular arrangements that pick out the colours from the stained-glass windows.

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