We’ve talked a lot about the wedding reception recently – and why not? The party is our favorite part of the day! But the reason your guests will even be able to party, what will bring them there, is your love. And that all-important commitment you’ll make during your ceremony. Of course, every ceremony is different, but there’s one thing that pretty much every ceremony can count on, an aisle for the bride to make her debut and a few uninterrupted minutes for the photographer to shoot, too! While couples certainly shouldn’t feel obligated to go crazy with the decor, there definitely is something to be said for an aisle that’s thoughtful and provides a perfect pathway for the pair to meet up and make magic.
At Leonard’s Palazzo, we love our couples and know that they’re both integral parts of the picture, but our brides? They’re our shining stars. So, we jump at any opportunity we have to make their march to the altar all the memorable. Pending their thoughts on the vibe they want on the way to and from their vows, we make recommendations on some of the best designers and creative decor couturiers in the area that they can enlist to make their haute hypotheticals (aisle ambitions) a stunning reality.
From a petal-strewn stroll to a walk over meaningful wordsmithing, there is so much inspiration out there for an amazing ceremony aisle. And the processional and recessional shouldn’t be overlooked, either, because this is where your wedding photographer is going to show up with all of those incredible ceremony snaps. That glow you’ll inevitably have as you’re walking down the aisle – unmarried – and up the aisle, hand-in-hand, with your forever lover – needs to be balanced out with an equally luminous aisle look.
So, here goes! Some of our favorite ways to elevate your ceremony aisle. Oh! And at Leonard’s Palazzo, we have several ceremony spots for our couples to scope out – so, whether you want a [light and bright] afternoon outdoor ambiance or one at dusk, or something a little moodier and intimate inside, you can have it!
Throw some flower power.
Truthfully, there is nothing prettier than an aisle laden with petals. If you asked a room full of event planners and floral designers what they thought, you’d get a ton of professionals who’d say that an aisle wasn’t ready to go until the petals were on the ground. And we agree!! For brides all about that bold [and blooming] look, the vision here is lots and lots of layered petals. They can be placed in an all-over patterned, almost mosaic way, or shaped and styled into whimsy scrolls up and down the aisle, or simply scattered on the sides of the aisle so as not to get in the bride’s way as she walks. They photograph beautifully and for a special keepsake, we love the idea of a bride asking her bridal attendant or her Maid of Honor (any trustworthy member of her tribe, really) to stick around after all of the guests and wedding party have filtered into cocktail hour and collect some of the petals for a precious souvenir.
Light it up.
We’ll say it again, no one needs to feel pressured to go overboard with their ceremony decor, sometimes the simplest touches have the most major impact. Lanterns and/or varied-height candles lining the aisle can be super subtle, while still creating a warm, inviting intimacy in the ceremony space. And in 2018 and surely 2019, greenery and garlands will still be huge to decorate ceremony ensems. Especially when they’re interspersed with modest tea lights. It’s a lowkey way to light things up, but it’s amazingly arresting in its appeal. Of course, if you involve a designer with access to lighting professionals, you can also go totally streamlined and clean, with a monogrammed runner that’s glossy and glam. Lots of options, but any way you decide to go, your efforts will be lit. Literally and figuratively.
Say something about your love.
Another one of our favorite aisle styles is a custom designed runner. We’ve seen couples get creative with quotes, variations of ‘live, laugh, love,” we’ve seen couples distill iconic parts of their handwritten vows into a verse that can be emblazoned on the runner, we’ve seen plenty of monograms and family crests with the duo’s wedding date featured on the aisle. All of it is super special and can be saved forever. It’s also really sweet when a bride isn’t aware that she’ll be walking down the aisle on anything ‘too important,’ only to start her stroll and be completely surprised by an unreal runner rife with words and heartfelt sentiments from her future husband or wife. These are the money shots! Every photographer loves them!
Thinking about ways to turn up the wow-factor for your walk down the aisle? We’ve got plenty of ideas for your consideration, just ping us at your convenience!