Wedding Altar Decorations and Flowers

When considering your choices for wedding altar decorations be sure to consult with the religious Officiant of the particular church, synagogue or temple in which you will be married in. In some cases, there may be certain restrictions in regards to what types of decorations you can and can't use and you'll want to know this well in advance.

If you're holding your wedding in a non-traditional location feel free to decorate however you wish - elegant to extravagant, sophisticated or simple, wild and fun, or charming and classic.

However, regardless of where your marriage ceremony will be taking place, keep in mind the look and feel of the venue that you are considering. You wouldn't want to have your wedding theme decor clash with the architecture around you.

This section contains several photographs of traditional and non-traditional wedding altars that should help spark some ideas in your own decorating plans.

Traditional Church Wedding Altar Flowers

Here is a picture of what is usually considered a typical decorating choice for a church altar.

Large floral arrangements stand on either side and behind the altar. A nice touch are the rows of candles set directly behind the flowers.

When lit, this would make a lovely romantic setting for a wedding ceremony.

Jewish Wedding Ceremony - Under The Chuppa

This couple has chosen to have a lovely Jewish wedding outdoors rather than in a synagogue.

The canopy (Chuppa) is decorated with bouquets of deep red flowers and a table is set up underneath as the altar.

Even if your ceremony is being held inside a synagogue, you could decorate in a similar fashion if desired. Just check with the Rabbi first.

Whether your wedding is held inside or out, these wedding altar decorations create a beautiful focal point for the bride and groom.

A Wedding Altar With An Asian Flair

This is a simply stunning altar arrangement for an Asian marriage ceremony.

A bamboo wedding arch is decorated with bright flowers, along with fresh and dried grasses. Two woven baskets are tipped on their sides with the same type of flowers spilling out of them. The whole decorating scheme highlights the beautiful wood altar sitting beneath it.

For a "woodland", renaissance, or garden themeyou could copy this layout using wooden branches to build the wedding arch, wild flowers and ferns as the floral arrangements, and place tree stumps at the base to hold baskets of flowers.

Having your ceremony on the beach? Use weathered wood (bamboo or wicker works as well), exotic flowers and grasses, and a wicker table as the altar.

Non-Traditional Marriage Altar

This lovely setting ties the aisle decor together with the front ceremony area in a pouf of tulle wrappings and purple accents.

The table is covered in a white pleated skirting and decorated with purple fabric swags. The floral arrangements of greenery mixed with delicate flowers help soften the overall color scheme.

Additional accent swags included on the backdrop of white curtains finish off this lovely altar decor.

This would be a perfect choice for a ceremony held in a house, country club, restaurant, local inn or hotel ballroom.

Altar Decorations In a Catholic Church

The wedding altar decorations shown here really stand out against the painted background image. Very beautiful.

White columns hold two elaborate red and white floral arrangements set in a fullness of greenery leaves that cascade slightly toward the floor.

Flanking the flowers, matching candelabras twist skyward and will provide a lovely glow for the ceremony when lit.

The altar itself is set between two shorter columns and decorated with the same flowers and greenery as the centerpieces. All in all, quite a stunning arrangement.