Wedding aisle decor: Creative ideas for a mesmerising celebration

From forestry features to lantern-lit pathways, add a personal touch to your walk down the aisle with these creative ideas.

Updated on 17 January 2025

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Wedding aisle decor: Creative ideas for a mesmerising celebration

When it comes to decorating your wedding venue, it’s important to consider how you want the aisle to look. Not only is this where your guests will get their first impression of your wedding, but it’s also where you’ll make your grand entrance. There will be lots of photos of the aisle too, so you want to make sure it is looking picture-perfect for the arrival of the bridal party and of course, your first walk as a married couple.

First, you will need to consider the space available. Is the aisle wide enough for floor decorations? Is it possible to hang props from the ceiling? Perhaps you could utilise your seating, with some chair accessories. Make sure you ask your venue exactly how your ceremony room will be set out on the day so you can start making plans!

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You’ll also need to bear in mind the style of your venue and theme of your day. For a traditional country wedding, you may love the idea of big bunches of fresh flowers, or prefer to keep it simple with a scattering of petals. For a cosy winter wedding you could experiment with lighting with some simple candles lining the aisle, or for something bolder, you may decide on bright neon for the alter.

Whether you have a big budget for your ceremony decorations, or are looking for something inexpensive that still packs a punch, we have rounded up some fantastic wedding aisle decor ideas guaranteed to make your aisle look gorgeous.

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Flowers and plants

Perhaps the most popular choice of aisle decor is flowers and it’s easy to see why. From big vases full of bold blooms to more natural foliage weaved along the edge of the walkway, there are lots of ways to incorporate fresh blooms into your aisle design.

Free standing

Freestanding colourful flowers down the aisle
Gorgeous free-standing aisle flowers at Offley Place

Free-standing floral displays are ideal if you don’t have a lot of preparation time, as they can be pre-assembled and moved into position shortly before your ceremony. This sort of arrangement can also be reused later in the day – perhaps as centre pieces for your wedding breakfast – making it budget-friendly too!

Plants

Potted plant aisle decor
Potted plants at Offley Place (left) and Bury Court (right) add a touch of rustic charm to your aisle decor

Add a touch of nature to your ceremony room by swapping traditional floral arrangements for potted plants. This works really well in rural venues to tie in with your surroundings and can also be a good way to soften industrial spaces.

Petals

Petals scattered down the aisle
Sweet petal decor down the aisle at Blake Hall (right) – try these ones from Etsy to achieve the same look

Keep it simple with a good old-fashioned scattering of petals down the aisle. Whether you go for a light sprinkle down each side or a full carpet effect, you may wish to match the colours to your bouquet for an effortlessly romantic look.

Trees

Trees lining the aisle at The Langham Hotel
A tree lined aisle at The Langham gives this venue a magical charm

Line your aisle with trees to transport your guests to your own magical forest. While real trees look stunning, they can be pricey - so why not take a look at some of the brilliant artificial alternatives that are available too. Whatever you go for, we’d recommend wrapping the branches in fairy lights for that added glow.

Foliage

Go heavy on the greenery for a super fresh look. Not only does foliage look amazing, but using less flowers can also be kinder to your budget! Remember to ask your florist what will be in season during your wedding month, so you can plan accordingly.

Pampas grass

Boho decor from these pampas grass decorated aisles
A boho pampas grass-lined aisle at The Green Cornwall. Try these stems from Etsy to achieve the same look

Nothing says boho quite like pampas grass. Providing the perfect look for a festival wedding, these bold plants look great as a single stem or even better as a full bunch.

Fake it

Two aisles decorated in artificial foliage
Artificial foliage like this at The Green Cornwall can still be incredibly effective – try these from Etsy to create an impressive feature

Artificial flowers are a great alternative to fresh blooms. Not only can they be more cost effective, but you can re-use them or sell them after your wedding too, making it a more sustainable choice.

Add some height

Impressive floral displays at height lit with purple lighting
Try adding some height like these floral displays at The Monastery Manchester

Don’t feel that your flowers need to be restricted to ground level, perhaps you could add a floral arch to the alter or display your flowers on large stand, which can be spread out down the aisle.

Runners

A runner can be added to the length of the aisle to create a dedicated path for the bridal party as they make their entrance. With simple and more elaborate runners available, you’ll be able to find one to suit your space.

Outside

An outdoor aisle and white runner
An outdoor aisle runner at Denbies Wine Estate

A runner is especially useful for an outside wedding. As well as helping to clearly signal the aisle, it’s also useful on uneven surfaces – we all know that grass and heels aren’t always the best combo!

Colourful

A red runner in an outdoor aisleTry an attention-grabbing bright colourful runner like this one at The Two Bridges Hotel

Make a bold statement on the day with a colourful runner. Choose a bright shade to match your theme or opt for a red carpet to add a touch of Hollywood glamour to your day.

Bespoke

An aisle runner personalised with the couples' names
This personalised aisle runner from Etsy shows that every detail can be personal

Add a unique touch to your runner with a personal message. You could include your names, the date or get creative with a line from your favourite poem or song.

Lighting

Lighting adds an instant touch of magic to your aisle. From rustic lanterns to sparkling fairy lights, we’ve put together the best lighting options, guaranteed to dazzle your guests..

Candles

An aisle mood lit with candles
Candles light up this aisle at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary art, setting a deeply romantic atmospher

There is nothing like the gentle flicker of candlelight to create a romantic atmosphere. Display alone for a simple but classic look or level up your floral arrangements by nestling candles within. Whatever you go for, consider using battery powered to keep everyone safe!

Festoon Lights

Line your aisle with festoon lights for a relaxed festival vibe – this is a popular choice for darker ceremony spaces and works especially well in warehouse and barn venues.

Fairy Lights

Fairy lights illuminating an aisle
Aisle fairy lights like these at Bury Court make your celebration glow

Use fairy lights to add a warm glow to your ceremony space. Battery powered lights are an inexpensive option and as you don’t need to worry about plug points, these can be used anywhere!

Go bold with a neon

Not only is a neon light a fun focal point for your ceremony but it can be used later behind your top table and as a backdrop for the dancefloor! There are lots of companies that allow you to rent a neon for the day or you could get your own bespoke light custom-made and keep it as a forever reminder of your day.

Lanterns

Lanterns lighting up an aisle
Take inspiration from this aisle at Huntsmill Farm, which uses lanterns to add different dimensions to the decor

Lanterns work really well down the aisle, either on their own or mixed with flowers and foliage. Whether you go for a rustic style or something more contemporary, these can also be used during your reception.

Seating

As well as the aisle itself, make sure you give your seating some consideration too. From flower displays to rustic bows, there are lots of ways to style your chairs to match the day’s theme.

Benches

Outdoor bench seating for guests
Bench seating like this at Smedmere House threads a countryside feel through every element of your day

Benches offer a casual alternative to chairs and work particularly well for outdoor ceremonies. Decorate the ends of the benches with flowers or leave as they are for a simple and relaxed. look.

Hay bales

If you’re planning a rustic country wedding, hay bales are not only a practical solution for seating but they look lovely too. Don’t forget to cover in hessian or patterned blankets to protect your guests' outfits.

Flowers

Different examples of floral decor on aisle chairs
Bring floral decoration to your chairs, like these at The Zetter Clerkenwell (left) and The Milestone Hotel & Residences (right)

Flowers don’t need to be restricted to the aisle itself, consider adding floral displays to your chairs too. Go big, with flowers on every seat, or decorate the chair on the end of each row.

Bows and ribbons

Chairs decorated in white bows and ribbons
Elegant ribbons on the chairs at Oakley Hall (left) and bows at Searcys St Pancras Restaurant and Champagne Bar (right)

An easy way to spruce up your chairs, is with the addition of a cloth sash or a statement bow. This is another decoration that can be reused later on during the wedding breakfast.

Alternative ideas

If you aren’t a big fan of traditional aisle decor and are looking for something slightly different to set your aisle apart, have a look at some of these more unusual ideas.

Balloons

White balloons decorating an aisle
Balloons can bring some fun to your decor – find these on Esty

Balloons have blown up (get it?) in recent years, with some seriously stylish options available. Whether you line the entire length of the aisle or keep it simple with two oversized balloons at the altar, not only will they look amazing but they will make a fun prop for your photos too!

Signs

Personalised signs decorating an aisle
Having personalised signs like these from Etsy throughout your wedding is always a lovely touch

We love the idea of placing signs down the aisle, each containing a different quote or song lyric. These can be bought online, or if you fancy a little craft project, make them yourself with offcuts of wood and some letter stencils.

Coastal touches

If you are getting married by the sea, lean into the beach theme with coastal decorations. Combine pretty shells and rustic drift wood, with fresh flowers and foliage for a cute nod to the surrounding coastline.

Festive decor

For couples getting married near Christmas, there are plenty of ways to honour the most magical time of year. Perhaps you could arrange potted poinsettias down each side of the aisle or even little Christmas trees decorated in fairy lights. Both of these could be used again as centrepieces during the meal. If you’re planning to decorate your aisle in more traditional wedding flowers, you could add some festive foliage like ivy and eucalyptus for a subtle nod to Christmas.

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