What is the best way to decorate the church for a wedding?

As much as I love fresh flowers and would love to have the church decorated in white roses.....it's just not worth the money. What can i do to still make the church pretty without all the extra added expense of using flowers when the ceremony is not that long? As for the reception, we are decorating we fresh flowers since we will be there for a longer amount of time.





Any suggestions on decorating the pews would be great! Or should I just go with the candlabras (spelling) instead and no decorating the pews?

What is the best way to decorate the church for a wedding?
I would use floor centerpieces that way you can transport them from the church to the reception and get full use out of them. Make sure if you do this to designate a person to transport them so you don't have to worry about it. you can also use the white tulle found at Michael's or Joann's fabric, it's pretty cheap but pretty, you can also incorporate some think ribbon in the tole, maybe the same color that your bridesmaids are wearing.


Here are some websites with ideas:


Something like this but with the white roses you want: http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/store...





http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displ...
Reply:You can make beautiful pew decorations with very inexpensive tule (buy by the bolt at fabric store - wedding places charge more).





If you are having fresh flowers at the reception (I assume at least some of it is white roses) why not take two or three roses on long stems (you can strip the leaves or leave a few at the top), wrap them with sheer ribbon (from base of roses all the way down the stems), Tie a beautiful bow (with double or tripple loops) slightly below the roses (and leave clusters if left).





Leave the roses in water until just before the ceremony, then place one on each pew that will be reserved for family. Figure out how you are going to attach them ahead of time so it will go quickly - maybe 3M removeable hooks - and be sure to leave a loop of ribbon at the back of flowers so you can hang them on the hook. You said the ceremony isn't that long so the flowers should be okay (especially in cooler weather).





Then use these same roses for one or more centerpieces at your bridal party table for the reception - just have the vases with water waiting on the table and put two, three or more of your pew rose bunches into each vase - it won't matter that there is ribbon in the stems.





If you can afford it, you may also want two sprays of flowers on or near your altar - they too can be trasported to the reception. Just appoint one or two responsible people to first hang the pew decorations before the ceremony and then to gather them all, and any altar flowers and transport to reception.
Reply:Lots of candlelight at the front of the church and pew bows will dress up your ceremony location without breaking the budget. If you need to rent candelabras for the ceremony, you can take the candelabras to your reception site to get full use out of the rental. You might also consider using greenery as a less expensive option to soften the atmosphere... I like English Ivy personally.
Reply:check with the pastor and/or the church secretary and see if there are any other weddings planned for the same day.


quite often a church will have two or more weddings in one day and the brides will often share the cost of flowers and ribbons for the church!


at the end of the day the flowers go to the closest senior's residence or hospital for their enjoyment.


personally i would not bother decorating the pews, have a basket of fresh flowers at the front of the church with the candles and you're good to go!


happy wedding!!
Reply:If you want the look of flowers but without spending the money, you can go with silk. One of my bridesmaids was highly allergic to flowers, so all my arrangements were silk flowers. We went to a place that specialized in them, and I picked and chose each flower to make sure they were the best quality and were the most life-like.





You can place three and greens plus tulle. And if you like sparkly things, you can add some metallic confetti (like silver stars) sprinkled within the tulle.





Good luck and congratulations!
Reply:It is very common to use the floral arrangements in the church and move them to the reception hall while you're taking your photos and the guests are enjoying cocktails.
Reply:Ultimately it depends on what your church looks like. I have found that many churches are absolutely beautiful already and decorating them either makes your decorations look cheap or is overkill...gilding the lilly so to speak.





I agree that spending tons on flowers for the ceremony isn't worth it. As you said, you will only be there for a short time and they don't show up in pictures anyway. On top of that, with our church, any decorations have to be left with them as part of the "donation" for using the church.





If the church is not attractive I love candlelit ceremonies. You put tealights on all the windowsillls and along the dias, either candelabras or a pillar with an arrangment for the aisle. At the door you give each guest a taper candle with a paper hand guard (you can just make these decorative or even print programs on them). Before the ceremony starts turn the lights low and you and the groom each light a guests candle, then they pass the flame on until all the candles are lit. The candles represent how each of your guests have touched your lives and you do the rest of the ceremony by the romantic candlelight. If you need to, you can have a spotlight on you and your groom.





It's touching for the guests and nobody notices the church.
Reply:Many churches are beautiful enough on their own and don't need decoration. It's very common to put large white bows and tulle on the ends of the pews.





We just had two candelabras with attached flower arrangements at either end of the raised altar area. Then the flowers were removed and used on the head table at the reception.
Reply:How about the vases of flowers used for the reception being used at the ceremony first? Set them on the altar area or on stands around the sanctuary.





As for the pews, just get some trailing greenery and white bows. Have the candleaubras undecorated.