Church Wedding Decor

Before you choose your church wedding décor, make sure that you know the guidelines of your church. Different churches have guidelines when it comes to church wedding décor. Most are flexible when it comes to certain items, but others will have rules with regard to lighting and other things that you may want to make your wedding special. Some church wedding décor questions you will want to ask of your minister or pastor are:

Does the church provide the aisle carpet?

A bride normally walks down the aisle on white carpet. The carpet is rolled out for her, similar to how it is rolled out for visiting royalty. In a way, a bride really is a queen for the day. Getting married is the closest thing a woman has to being treated like a queen so most women make the most of this day. A carpet is usually rolled out.

You need to ask if it is cloth or paper and if the church provides the roll of carpet? If so, will it be rolled out prior to the ceremony or do the ushers have to do this (as is tradition)? Different churches have different rules so ask and do not assume.

Can I have candles lit in the church?

Some churches are resorting to battery operated candles to minimize liability from fire hazards. Do not assume that you can use real candles and do not wait until the day of the even to find out if you can have a ceremony by candlelight. Ask the priest or minister first if you can have real candles.

Do flowers have to be removed from the church?

Some churches take flowers to cemeteries after weddings and funerals as flower tend to get left behind in the church. As flowers are more than likely part of your church wedding décor, you will want to know if you have to remove the flowers yourself or if the church will use them for various purposes. This would only be the case if your flowers were real flowers that you purchased from the florist.

Can we use birdseed or rice?

Many churches will still allow you to toss rice at the bride and groom. Rice symbolizes fertility and is a timeless tradition. Many churches have prohibited this for various reasons, one being that the rice can explode in the stomach of some birds, a point that has not yet been proven. Regardless, some churches are very fussy when it comes to tossing anything near the steps of the church, even birdseed. Ask the priest or minister if this is allowed.

Is anything prohibited?

This not only goes for church wedding décor, but church wedding music, which is a big part of the celebration. In most mainstream churches, most songs are fine. They may give you a little trouble if you decide to pump in AC/DCs "Highway to Hell" when you are walking up the aisle. Again, ask about anything that may be prohibited by the church with regard to dress, décor or music.

Chances are that your church wedding décor will have to be removed right after the ceremony, especially if you are getting married in a Catholic church on a Saturday as a Mass will be said soon after. It is a good idea to have someone who will be in charge of removing the church wedding décor for you to make the church officials happy.