Decorating church

My MIL will be in charge of this, but i think she is going to use small wicker hearts with flowers intwined in them for the pew ends and instead of having lots of expensive flowers she is going to fill it with scented candles for a really intimate feel. We'll have some flowers, but less than most people may choose because we're trying to think of ways to economise

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Hi

When I got married in church the decorations (flowers etc) were actually sorted by the ladies that usually did that sort of thing at the church. They seemed to have a rota of which ladies did it when, I believe we had a say in the colours used (so it wouldnt look "odd" with our theme) but if I remember rightly, they went with mainly white so that any weddings before and after us used the same flowers saving having to "mix" in everyones colours

We're keeping ours quite simple - the church is beautiful and don't want to overpower it with lots of things, plus will help us with costs. We're having two pedestals of real flowers (all others flowers are going to be artificial) to stand either side of the altar. Then we are growing our own lavender which will be used for pewends with just some white ribbon, nothing fancy.

Not having anything specifically for the church, its such a beautiful church that I want to keep it simple both for the look and keep cost down.

We have got a pedestal and an altar decoration and a few arrangements for the windows. MIL is making bow things for the pew ends too. But it's my Gran's church so we're leaving it all there for the Sunday service and my Gran has swapped her day on the flower rota so most of it would be done anyway.

We arent having anything for a few reasons:

The normal church flowers will be there anyway.

THe church is beautiful without in my opinion.

We are on a tight budget.

Our church says we HAVE to leave the flowers, cant take them on to the reception, which I think is a bit off! Has anyone else had this?

I'm thinking of getting some organza bows for the pew ends and i might buy some lavender plants if i can find them still in flower and put those in the church.

To be honest though i'm not bothering with all that much. the church is beautifully plain and simple and i don't want to take away from that.

A few churches do this as they see it as a donation to the church. Which is fair enough in my opinion.

We didn't do anything, the church already had a few displays at the altar and font.

We're having two pedestals of real flowers (all others flowers are going to be artificial) to stand either side of the altar.

We had an arrangement on a shelf behond the altar one either side, a bird cage on at the front of the altar with a love sign and cadles, roses on lectern and music stand and ivory bow pew ends.

I am having a church wedding and cannot attach things to the pews that would cause any mark or damage. So I have bought pull bows in our wedding colours and will use a hook of florist/craft wire to attach them by hanging over pew ends.

Does the church mean that you have to have the flowers that would normally be placed in the church and you can't take those... understandably, or do they mean you have to pay for all the flowers done by the flower ladies and you can't take those - again this is understandable as they are normally done for a set fee or less than your florist would charge or, does they mean that if you pay for a florist to do the church flowers for you, you can't take those to the reception?

Usually, flowers will be in church anyway. I've never known of a church not having flowers on display except during Lent even when people aren't getting married. The church ladies do them every week.

If the church ladies do them for you and you are asked to donate to the cost or pay a set fee, they normally insist on them being left in the church for the rest of the week for the benefit of other parishioners.

If you have paid for a florist to do your flowers independently, then strictly speaking you should be allowed to take those with you to the reception as they are your property. This is, of course, provided that your florist has used all her own equipment i.e., used her pedestal stands and not those belonging the church. It depends on your florist as to whether she will transfer them for you because this means she will have to hang around until after the service is finished which could be over an hour. If she has another wedding on that day, this may not be possible.

We only had 2 pew ends and what was already at the altar_ this is the only pic really we have of the altar...