With dozens of weddings each year, Lighthouse Sound has seen events of all sizes, themes, genres, and budgets. Some would imagine that each wedding taking place at the same venue may be the same – but they would be wrong. There are so many ways to tie your personality and likes into your wedding day. It is possible to make your wedding look special and uniquely yours! Your guests will love seeing your personality carried throughout your wedding venue and those working at the venue will appreciate your visions and design traits.
Many couples who get married at Lighthouse Sound choose to hold their ceremony in front of the traditional gazebo that overlooks the Ocean City skyline and beautiful bay. How should you decorate the gazebo?
1.) Garland, florals & draping
The garland made of fresh greenery by Little Miss Lovely Floral Design mimics the shape of draped organza curtains provided by Alison to the Altar. Alison rents silk floral tiebacks that can be used to hold the organza curtains in place to prevent gusty winds from catching the fabric. White curtains and greenery with white florals is a classic look. You can match your wedding’s color scheme by choosing colored curtains and colorful flowers, too.
2.) Flank with flowers
Choose two medium clusters of flowers and have them placed on either side of the archway. This option is great for framing your officiant and the couple in the center of a gazebo or archway. Place the flowers in urns on waist-high tables or attach floral sprays to the pillars. The best part about this option? The floral sprays can me moved inside to the reception space after the wedding and repurposed. Double bang for your buck!
3.) Front and center
Place a large floral spray in the top, center of the gazebo entry or archway front. This option is perfect for couples who choose to have a large bridal party… Your bridesmaids and groomsmen won’t cover your florals while standing in front of them. Similar to the flanked floral sprays, this floral arrangement may also be removed after the ceremony and reused inside the reception space.
What about the aisle?
Planning a rustic ceremony? Something a little more classic? There are so many great options. I usually recommend to my brides that they choose to place a garnish at every other row opposed to every row. This option is a more budget friendly, doesn’t crowd your aisle, and still allows for decoration during the ceremony. Depending on how many guests will be in attendance, there could be upwards of 20 rows on either side of the aisle… that’s a lot of rows to decorate. Placing decor or every other aisle makes more sense sometimes.
1.) Hang mason jars or vases filled with flowers on shepherds hooks down the aisle. Use ribbon to hang the vases to enhance your color scheme and add some whimsy. They look beautiful blowing in the wind.
2.) Place lanterns with candles or flowers in them along the aisle. Bonus: If you choose to put flowers in your lanterns along the aisle, take them inside to the reception afterwards and place them on miscellaneous tables (like the cake table, gift table, place card table, bars, etc.)
3.) Bows. Beautiful ribbon, tulle, or lace are perfect accessories to pews or chairs down an aisle. Accentuate your alter floral pieces by having your florist place greens or blooms with the bows.
4.) Reserved for Family. Place floral/bow accents only on the first few front rows on either side of the alter to show your family members where they are to sit. Make a small sign that matched your invitations or use a chalkboard to write “reserved for family” and place the sign on the floral arrangement, bow, lantern, shepherds hook, etc.
5.) Place a few decorative items at the entry of the aisle. Create a little scene, like Alison from the Altar did in these photos, at the entry to your aisle. Use a piece of vintage furniture, a tall cocktail table, a stack of wooden boxes, or a crate to hold items of sentiment, wedding programs, or floral arrangements.
The various displays shown in these photos were crated for the 2016 Lighthouse SoundBridal Show as a way to show future brides different options for decorating their arbors and aisle for their upcoming weddings. Curtains, tiebacks, chair accents, lanterns, and other accessories were provided by Alison to the Altar. Florals and garland were designed by Little Miss Lovely Floral Design.
I hope that you found these tips helpful! Best of luck to those planning weddings and congratulations!
Xoxo –
Ami