No runner/flowers allowed??

Belsis716 · February 2010

Ok so I had heard from some florists that church's weren't allowing petals being thrown in the aisle.
My fiance and I went to the church today (catholic) and wee looked at the papers they gave us and it says it on there - it's not permitted, they don't even permit the runner? We're going to ask on our next appointment for sure.
What do I do? That's the beauty of the ceremony!

BlondeBride88 · February 2010

Our church allows silk petals, so we don't have that problem.

I have heard of people having the flower girl just carry a small boquet that can be used later for the toss.

Or, she can do bubbles.

Catwoman708 · February 2010

MANY places don't allow flower petals to be strewn in the floor, or aisle runners either. But not to fear, it will not ruin your wedding at all.

The beauty of the wedding is the occasion, the ceremony, and the people, not the floor! LOL! Especially in Catholic churches, they view weddings as a holy sacrament, and a solemn occasion, and prefer you don't distract from that with extraneous decorations.

When it's all over and done with, you will hardly miss the runner and petals, and it will save you time, money, headaches, and save someone the effort of working out the logistics.

Aisle runners are a notorious tripping/safety hazard and a pain in the neck to deal with. Flower petals can get crushed and stain floors. And whether real or silk, someone has to stay behind and clean them up, and deal with the logistics of the aisle runner. Someone who would probably rather be enjoying the wedding.

On your wedding day, your mind will be on a gazillion other things, the focus will be on the people and the event, NOT on the floor, which you will not even really notice because they church will be full of people.

DZKathryn · February 2010

We are getting married in a botanical garden so we aren't allowed to have any runners or any flower petals either. We are hoping to focus on other decor aspects of the venue. We are getting married in a redwood grove so we are hoping no one will notice if there aren't any flowers on the ground. Catholic churches are usually very beautiful so perhaps you can try to play up other aspects of the church.

trix1223 · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_runnerflowers-allowed?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:10Discussion:42b7cf54-d879-452a-832d-1509a033a006Post:4f467833-7113-48db-af5a-e40d19496080">No runner/flowers allowed??</a>:
[QUOTE]Ok so I had heard from some florists that church's weren't allowing petals being thrown in the aisle. My fiance and I went to the church today (catholic) and wee looked at the papers they gave us and it says it on there - it's not permitted, they don't even permit the runner? We're going to ask on our next appointment for sure. What do I do? That's the beauty of the ceremony!
Posted by Belsis716[/QUOTE]

The beauty of the ceremony has NOTHING to do with flowers on the floor. The beauty of the ceremony has to do with two people publicly promising to love and cherish each other for the rest of their lives.

Let's get some perspective here: will you be any less married if there are not flowers on the floor? Will your ceremony mean less to you and your FI if there are not flowers on the floor? C'mon.

Now, speaking for the church: I work in a church as an organist, and we do not allow petals, real or fake to be tossed. Real ones can stain our carpet. Fake ones are a huge PITA for our custodian to clean up to prepare the church for worship the next morning.

As for runners, they can be a tripping hazard. Wrinkles in the runner are common. They rarely lay down flat when they are pulled, Again, a strip of cloth isn't the "beauty" of your ceremony.

Please try to keep what is important into perspective. You'll be happier. GL

aerinpegadrak · February 2010

The beauty of the ceremony? Seriously? I'd like to introduce you to my good friend Perspective, you're clearly unacquainted. People aren't coming to your wedding to examine the carpet, they're there to watch you exchange your vows and become husband and wife. Holy immaturity, Batman.

Aisle decor of any kind (including pew bows and whatnot) is a total waste of money because guests only see it for about the 30 seconds it takes for them to find their seats. A flower girl's only job is to look cute, she can do that with a nosegay, a basket of flowers, a pomander, a floral crown, or no props at all.

I sure hope you're putting as much thought into your marriage as you are into these most insignificant of tiny wedding details.

MOBinFL2008 · February 2010

Hmmmm, maybe you should ask your priest. See what he has to say when you tell him that the runner and flower petals on the floor are "the beauty of the ceremony." My guess is that you'd be out looking for another church to get married in real quickly!

As other have said, get some perspective about all of this. Crushed flower petals and a runner do not make a beautiful ceremony.

eloved · February 2010

Ours has the same policy, but it doesn't really bother me, it's just one less thing to think about! Don't worry,like everyone else said, no one else and especially YOU will not notice or care about it on the BIG DAY! : )

banana468 · February 2010

The aisle runner is often not allowed due to the safety issue it poses. It's no longer fabric but a very slippery faux cloth that can lead to accidents. It wasn't forbidden at our church but it was highly discouraged. Our church coordinator saw the bride's veil get caught on it, a MOB slip and almost fall on her face and another person slipped when she walked with a cane! All are just bad things.

As for the flower girl, she could always carry a bouquet or a pomander. And then she gets the flowers as a keepsake!

I have to wonder how important it is to be married in a church if you'd get married in your reception hall just due to those things.

FWIW, we opted for no runner and my dress was not dirty pre-bustle. Plus, how dirty the bottom is pre-bustle shouldn't matter at all. When the dress is bustled, only the top shows.

Here's a picture of DH and me at our wedding. When I see it, the first thing I think isn't "but where's the runner??" :

aerinpegadrak · February 2010

I think it's really sad that an aisle runner would be a deal breaker for you. It's possibly the most useless thing ever invented, and considering all the useless stuff that gets peddled to brides, that's saying a lot.

venessa84 · February 2010

My church doesn't allow flowers or a runner either, because it's a tile floor and there have been accidents with people slipping on the runner or the petals. Trust me, it will not take away from the beauty of the wedding and most people won't even notice that you didn't have it there.

Catwoman708 · February 2010

Yeah, I may be judgmental, but I tend to get that way when brides seem to be more concerned about the superficial decorations and disappointing flower girls than on the actual meaning of the ceremony.

BUT, anyways.... I do understand it's easy to get caught up in the wedding details and your own expectations. And also hard to tell that cute little flower girl she can't throw petals, and watch her face fall.

Are you doing bridal portraits? If so, could you have the flower girl join you and pose for a few pics with you? Then she can do her flower strewing thing while spending a little quality time with the bride to be. I'm sure it would make her day and feel all princessy-like, as well as make some really nice photos.

Belsis716 · February 2010

Yea you're right it's very judgemental to assume that I am more concerned about superficial things when no one knows a single thing about me. There's a reason why you post things - for help, not to tell everyone how much you love your fiance, etc - I don't need help knowing how special this day will be and how we are so excited about it.
My niece and nephew are my loves (besides my fiance and parents,etc - but you know as kids they hold such a special place). My niece goes to the supermarket and asks her mom if she can buy flowers to keep the petals for my wedding! So yes I really don't want to disappoint her so instead of seeing it as being concerned for superficial things its more concern for my favorite little girl. I was thinking of having her throw petals when she's going into the reception hall - I assume they would allow it. I just don't know if it's necessarily a good idea yet - because I feel like real petals may stain the floor and then fake petals might be very slippery. I don't know.

banana468 · February 2010

Just out of curiosity, why does she need to throw petals? Lots of flower girls I've seen just hold the flowers.

The idea of throwing them for some portraits though sounds like a great compromise. You get some petals tossed prior to the wedding as you get photos with her and she holds a bouquet or pomander for the wedding itself.

PLUS, the pomander can be dried and be her keepsake.

dandan83 · February 2010

I think having her for the portraits is a really cute idea! She may be dissapointed about not being able to throw them for the wedding but I'm sure she would love to have a picture with you that she can cherish always!

No runner/flowers allowed??

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