When
brides plan a walk down the aisle, their trip often includes an aisle runner.
Whether fantastic in its uniqueness, luxurious in its intricacy or romantic in its
being traditional, an aisle runner identifies the pathway to the altar
dedicated specifically to the couple.
To
clarify, when HJ uses the term “aisle runner,” we refer to all decorations used
to adorn an aisle. This includes fabric, carpeting, flower petals, aisle-end
bouquets or bows, lanterns…you name it. We do this because it’s just easier to
combine recommendations and choices under the main title.
As
a side note, nowadays many churches forbid aisle runners. The explanation for
this rule is that not only do they pose a safety hazard to guests (slipping),
but that whatever is used to affix them often ruins the church floor (nails =
no no).
Despite
this, many ceremony cites permit aisle runners. Some sites, particularly those
in which couples can choose the seating setup of the ceremony location, encourage
using runners because it allows for clear identification of the aisle. What
better way to subtly identify to guests the space that has been dedicated for the
bride’s progression?
So,
how just do you select what aisle runner you want?
The
first consideration when selecting an aisle runner is the ceremony location’s
rules. Some spaces prohibit certain methods for affixing the runner, such as
nails or tape, while others prohibit ones made of specific fabric (satin =
slippery).
The
next consideration is the size of the aisle. Short aisles might not be best
suited for elaborate aisle runners, while long ones might look bare if adorned
with a simple or plain runner.
Of
course, here is where we warn you about budget (and don’t we always?). Aisle
runners shouldn’t break the bank. Why? Because they very often can only be used
to adorn an aisle. Petals, swaths of fabric, lanterns or whatever else is used
to decorate an aisle do not easily transfer to reception or cocktail locations.
One
of the most often overlooked, but very important, considerations is the clean
up required for any aisle runner. This includes the difficulty of clean up,
methods for taking down all elements (screwdriver?) and required disposal. Usually,
churches or other ceremony locations prohibit or refuse to have their staff
members take down aisle decorations and require that a couple identify the
specific individual(s) who will be responsible for doing so. This means that
family members or a wedding planner may have to deconstruct aisle runner components.
Beware that this means that these individuals cannot help with other parts of post-ceremony
elements, such as photos.
With
all these considerations in mind, the fun can begin! There are literally hundreds
of different options for aisle runners, which we’ll delve into next week!
