How to Decorate an Alter for a Wedding

Keep the wedding space in mind when choosing your altar decorations.

When decorating the altar for your wedding day, the decorations should be in harmony with the feel of your wedding. If you’re having a simple and elegant wedding, the altar should reflect that. Likewise, if you’re having an over-the-top Prince Charles and Princess Di-inspired wedding, choose large and showy flowers, an elaborate unity candle and intricately carved candles to decorate your altar. Always keep the marriage site in mind when choosing your altar decorations. Know the intricacies of the sanctuary, room or outdoor space so your decorations fit the feel of the space well.

Things You'll Need

• Table runner
• Flower arrangement
• Unity candle
• Two tapered candles
• Candle holder
• Decorative candles with holders
• Lighter

Instructions

1. 

   Soft neutral colors work best for the table runner on the altar.

   Choose a table runner in one of your wedding colors. You don’t want it to be too bold because its purpose is to act as a backdrop for the rest of your altar decorations. Consider softer colors like cream, subtle pinks or greens, or just plain white. Avoid patterns; after the other elements are added, patterned table runners will clutter the look of your altar.

2. 

   The floral centerpiece on the altar should be in harmony with the wedding colors.

   Place a flower arrangement at the center of the altar. Generally, this is the visual highlight of the altar, so the flowers should complement the wedding colors and perhaps even the bridesmaids' dresses. Of all the flower arrangements you order for your wedding day, this will likely be the biggest and showiest.

3. 

   The unity candle should reflect the style of the wedding.

   Center your unity candle and two tapered candles in front of the flower arrangement on the altar. According to USA Bride, the unity candle symbolizes the very essence of the wedding ceremony, so give it a front row seat on the altar. Place the tapered candles on either side of the unity candle and hide the lighter behind the flower arrangement in a place where it will be easily accessible when the time comes for its use.

4. 

   Place a few simple tealights on the altar to add elegance and romance to your wedding.

   Consider adding a few other candles to top off the romantic look of your altar. If the altar is small, place a few simple tea lights on empty corners of the altar to enhance the glow; if you’ve got a bigger altar to work with, place larger candles in hurricane glass lanterns or decorative candle holders. None of the candles used for decoration should be larger than your unity candle.

Tips & Warnings

• Though it’s not part of the decoration, you’ll want to place the marriage certificate that will be signed at the end of the wedding ceremony behind the flower arrangement, out of sight. Don’t forget to put a pen there as well.

• To save yourself some money, use the flower arrangement from your altar as the centerpiece for the bridal table at your reception.

References

• USA Bride: Unity Candle Ceremony Tips

Resources

• Martha Stewart Weddings: Altar and Aisle Decorations