Wedding Aisle Runner
Tips and Etiquette

A wedding aisle runner can be a charming finishing touch to your ceremony decor. What bride wouldn't want to walk down her own special walkway to her awaiting groom?

However, there are a few things you should consider first before purchasing a runner:

• What type of fabric will you use (paper, plastic or fabric)?
• What color suits your color scheme best?
• What type of pattern do you want or do you want a plain runner?
• Where is the ceremony being held - indoors or out?
• What is the flooring like or (if outside) will you be walking on grass/sand or cement/wood?

To help you answer these questions, here are a few tips and etiquette considerations that you should think about.

To Roll or Not To Roll...

It is often asked when the aisle runner should be unrolled - just before the start of the processional or should it already be in place before the guests arrive?

Traditionally, the runner is set at the front of the church and is unrolled by the ushers right before the processional starts and after all the guests are seated.

However, this can present a few problems, such as getting a long runner straight, smoothing out any bumps, and securing it to the floor.

For practical purposes, the wedding aisle runner will need to be taped down flat at the front, back and along the sides. You don't want the bridal party to trip over a bump or have guests get caught on the edges as they file out of the pews after the ceremony.

The runner would also need to be cut to the correct length before the wedding takes place or scissors should be discreetly left by the doors for a quick cutting.

Getting it all right in such a short period of time may be difficult.

The Best Solution?

It would really be best to have everything in place before the guests arrive.

It is much easier to make sure the runner is straight and well secured when you have the proper amount of time to do so. Then, just rope off the center aisle and instruct the ushers to seat guests from the side aisles.

This is a perfectly acceptable solution and doesn't break any "etiquette rules".

Paper, Plastic or Fabric?

Should you buy paper, plastic or a fabric aisle runner? The choice of material is up to you, however, keep in mind where it will be used.

All will work fine on flat, solid floors - such as hardwood or concrete. However, heels may poke though paper and plastic runners if it is set on thick carpeting or an uneven surface (like grass or sand). Flat, thin commercial carpeting shouldn't be an issue.

Fabric runners are more heavy weight, will sit flatter and high heels shouldn't poke through. Muslin or rayon are good choices.

Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Decorations

As nice as it may look, using any type of wedding aisle runner on grass or sand is not a good idea.

A runner outdoors will bunch up much more easily and is certainly more prone to having heels poke through and tripping up the bride or the bridesmaids.

Wind may be an issue, blowing the runner up or shifting it around. It is also harder to figure out how to secure it to the ground. You will need stakes or something heavy placed at intervals to hold it down.

If you are determined to have a runner for an outdoor wedding, it's probably best to choose a fabric based one. It is a heavier weight and is the least likely choice to cause the above problems.

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