Ceremony Backdrop Inspiration

If you are getting married in a church or a synagogue, there is always a natural altar area and backdrop for you to have your wedding ceremony in front of. Besides some additional flowers or simple decor, the stage is already set for you. When it comes to having a ceremony at another location, especially outdoors, it's often up to you to set the scene. From Chuppahs to altars and arbors to pergolas, whatever you choose to call them, they set the backdrop for your wedding ceremony and especially for all of your ceremony pictures. 

You may have your florist create one, or be inspired to make your own. Either way, here are 10 inspirations for creating a more unique wedding ceremony backdrop. 

1. Paper Petals: A cheaper and easier way to make a bold impact. Simply purchase (or hand make!) paper flowers and attach them to a sturdy freestanding backdrop. 

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2. Chalk It Up: Make it personal by listing your names and the names of your VIPs. This chalkboard backdrop makes a great frame for photos. 

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3. Drape It: Draping helps create a more formal and romantic feel. Try switching out traditional fabrics for lace or even burlap.

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4. Graffiti Wall: Have a graffiti artist create especially for you and then transform it into a great photo booth backdrop after the ceremony. 

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5. Knock Knock: Create your own backdrop by hinging together old salvaged doors. 

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6. Let the Light Shine Through: Hang windows or hinge them and let the light shine through. 

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7. Quote It: Bring in your favorite song lyrics, a meaningful poem, a promise to each other, or even part of your vows. 

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8. Flower Power: Go straight to your florist and let them go crazy with flowers to make a beautiful Chuppah. 

KC and Eli's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Tim Joyce Photography

9. Light it Up: Use lighting to give a soft and romantic feel. String lights or candles will do the trick!

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10. Nature is Your Backdrop: Sometimes all you need are the elements around you to make the perfect ceremony backdrop. 

Lacey and James' Wedding
Photo courtesy of Claire Hudson Photography

-Caitlin

Ceremony Seating

To spice up seating arrangements at a wedding ceremony, many couples are venturing off the beaten path. Depending on the setting, these layouts can help to add some variety to your ceremony while complementing the aesthetic you've worked so hard to achieve. 

Circular/Spiral

Ultimately all of your guests get a prime seat for the ceremony and you are literally surrounded by the ones you love on your special day. With a spiral layout, you are fortunate enough to walk past each wedding guest once you've tied the knot. 

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Outdoorsy

Hay bales have become a favorite at outdoor weddings, but always remember to provide blankets or other decorative covers over the bales. This is a great opportunity to accessorize with vintage laces or even fabrics with complementing colors that add to your wedding day palette. 

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Quilts or blankets can also be a fantastic option for a beach or backyard wedding. If you have family quilts that can be used, all the better to personalize the accent. 

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Unique

To add some flair otherwise reserved for the reception, use vintage seating from movie theaters, stadiums, or just a mix of flea market chairs. Guests will be pleasantly surprised to see these one of a kind pieces. 

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Traditional

Obviously, when your ceremony takes place in a more traditional setting, your options are limited, but you can always opt to encourage individuality with signage stating, "Choose a seat, not a side". 

Colleen and Joe's Wedding
Photo courtesy of LuRey Photography

Another great twist to the traditional look of church pews are wooden benches. These can also be reused at the reception for more informal seating arrangements. Seat cushions can be provided as an additional comfort for guests. 

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-Melanie

Ceremony Music Ideas

It can be hard choosing the music for your ceremony. Some people opt to go the traditional route, while others go modern, or meaningful. Whichever way you're thinking of going, here are the songs the married ladies of Proud to Plan used for their ceremonies. 

Ceremony Processional: 

Parents- 

Christie: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

Laura: In My Life by The Beatles

Christie and Sean's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Shari DeAngelo Photography

Bridal Party- 

Nicole: Selections from Handel's Water Music

Erin: Canon in D by Pachebel

Becky: Trumpet Voluntary

Bride-

Annemarie: Wonderwall by Oasis

Laura: The Wind by Cat Stevens

Lisa: Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve

Erin: Here Comes the Bride

Becky: Canon in D by Pachebel

Annemarie and Jimmy's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Childress Photography

Ceremony Recessional: 

Christie: All You Need Is Love by The Beatles

Nicole: Wedding March by Mendelssohn

Lisa: Clocks by Coldplay

Laura: Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles

Lisa and Ryan's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Spark Photography

Some of used the same songs, but not necessarily for the same thing. I walked down the aisle to Canon in D, while a few of the girls used that for their bridal party. Some people used the actual recorded songs, while others had instrumental versions play by string quartets, etc. There are a ton of options when it comes to ceremony music and how it is played, but if you're struggling with which songs to go with, maybe we gave you some new ideas. 

-Becky

Choosing an Officiant

Whether you're looking for a religious or non-denominational ceremony, choosing the right officiant is a crucial part of your wedding day- after all, they are the one that is actually marrying you. Here are a few things to keep in mind when making the big decisions. 

Do Your Research: Be sure to do your research first. Ask friends and family and look up reviews of the officiant online. Has anyone you know used this officiant before? What do other brides and grooms have to say about them? 

Meet Up: Meet them in person first before making your decision so you can tell if their personality and vision of your ceremony matches yours. Will they be straightforward and traditional or do they include stories about your relationship and engage your guests at the ceremony?

Sherrie and Howard's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Scott Lewis Images

Availability: Assure they are available not only on the day of your wedding but also for your rehearsal. Though you are not required, you may want to extend the invitation to them for your rehearsal dinner and maybe even your reception, especially if you know the officiant personally. 

Review Role: Review their role and if they will be helpful in choosing readings, songs, or other elements, or if they take a backseat role and let you choose. Either way make sure your plan and their plan for the ceremony is aligned. 

Cost: Though most officiants may charge anywhere from $100-$300, many churches or synagogues often also take donations to the church. Make sure you take these costs into consideration and know that it doesn't always come with the church or synagogue. 

Amy and Sean's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Leave It To Me Photography

Who Can Marry You: If you're looking for a traditional religious ceremony, you will probably choose a priest, minister, or rabbi- depending on your religion. But if you're leaning towards a non-denominational ceremony, you still have many options! Judges, Justices of the Peace, Mayors, and Governors, are all allowed to officiate weddings. Check out your states website to find out exactly who is allowed to marry you in your state. 

If you want to make it more personal, you also have the option of having a family member or friend get ordained and perform your ceremony. In just a few days, you can become ordained by the Universal Life Church. Not only do they accredit your ordainment, you can also order all of the essential elements you might need from their website, including an ordination certificate, marriage certificate, examples of ceremony passages, and more. 

One thing's for sure, if you choose Proud to Plan as your wedding coordinator, you'll be assured that there will always be an officiant onsite, as all of our planners are ordained. You never know when traffic or family emergencies might hit and you'll feel comfortable knowing that we are always ready!

-Caitlin

Ceremony Readings

We are all familiar with the wedding ceremony reading "Love is patient, love is kind..." (1 Corinthians 13:4) but there are many other readings available to choose for your wedding. Here are some ideas when choosing your ceremony readings.

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Religious Readings- If you are getting married in a religious venue, there are plenty of passages and verses to select from the Bible, Torah, etc. Be sure to check with your officiant and make sure they approve your ceremony readings. 

Traditional Readings- Traditional and classic readings are timeless passages and capture the love of the day. 

Literature- Think about great literature for your wedding ceremony readings. Think old and new. Anything from Shakespeare to Twilight can work in a ceremony. Don't forget to consider looking for a poem, quote or essay. 

Songs- Take a few lines from one of your favorite songs or use a line from your wedding song. This is a great way to personalize your ceremony. 

Personalize- Ask your reader to select a reading for you and your future husband and read it during the ceremony. You can also have someone special write a few words and read them. These special words from the heart will be words that you remember forever. 

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-Nicole

Creative and Unique Ceremony Music Ideas

Sherrie and Howard's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Scott Lewis Images

Many brides and grooms are personalizing their weddings more and more today. They are putting their own spin on the traditional wedding and making it their own. One way to personalize your wedding is through the ceremony music. 

Everyone is familiar with the traditional ceremony music such as Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" and Pachelbel's "Canon in D". Although this classic music is beautiful, it's a great idea to choose music that has a special meaning to you and your groom. 

We have all heard a song on the radio at one time and thought "That would make a great wedding song!" Think of songs that make you think of your groom or have a feeling of love and romance. Use those songs in your ceremony!

Don't forget to think about tv shows, movies, and musicals. There is a ton of great music from these sources. A personal favorite song, "Dream", comes from the movie Bride Wars. It is a beautiful song that would work great as you walk down the aisle. 

A few other songs from movies:

"Come What May" from Moulin Rouge

"Storybook Love" from The Princess Bride

"Wedding Processional" from The Sound of Music

"Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera

Along with the music, think about what types of instruments you want to play the music during the ceremony. A string quartet is traditional, but you could also have a piano, a harp, or guitar. A modern song can sound beautiful and classical played by one of these instruments. 

A few other songs to think about using:

"My Immortal" by Evanescense

"Christmas Cannon Rock" by Transiberian Orchestra

"Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars

"Everlong" by Foo Fighters

"All I Want is You" by U2

"I Will" by The Beatles/Allison Krauss

"All You Need is Love" by The Beatles

"Grow Old With Me" by John Lennon

There are many types of songs to choose from! If you are looking for some modern songs that can sound classical by being played by classical instruments, head over to iTunes and check out Vitamin String Quartet. They play all kinds of music that you can hear on the radio but played by strings! The music that you select will show your personality and will create lasting memories for you and your groom. 

-Nicole

Aisle Decor

The wedding ceremony will be the most memorable part of the day. One of the first things that your guests will notice when they arrive at your wedding is the aisle decor at the ceremony. The aisle decor sets the look and feel of your wedding dramatically. Whether you're planning a classical church ceremony, a casual beach ceremony, or a romantic garden wedding; the aisle decor really can set the stage for the rest of your event.

Classic or romantic ceremony decor for your aisle could include floral pomanders, rose petals, candles or luminaries, and/or potted plants. Rose petals could line your aisle, or if you're looking for something altered, ask your florist to arrange the rose petals in a pattern or design down the aisle. Using luminaries can light the way down the aisle, adding an intimate feel to your ceremony. Even tall trees overarching the the aisle way could incorporate a dramatic entrance.

Jennifer and Eddy's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Justin & Mary Photography

Mary Lee and Lenny's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Childress Photography

Vintage weddings in venues such as mansions, a rose garden or even an old barnyard, aisle decor is almost inevitable. Glass mason jars are a great option for this instance. In the jars, you can place a flameless candle or a small cluster of flowers. The jars can easily be hung by ribbon off the side of the chairs lining the aisle or could be placed on the ground lining the aisle. Very cute, yet very simple! To add more height to your ceremony space, you can hang lanterns on sheperd's hooks. Incorporate a candle and simply decorate with flowers and ribbon to complete the look. 

Katie and Brady's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Sarah DiCicco Photography

Kaylan and Dan's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Lloydlee Heite

Modern ceremonies can typically display the more out-of-the-box concepts, such as garlands made from paper, fabric or yarn pom-poms, paper pinwheels, wreaths, pew bows and much more. Simple, yet beautiful, wreaths represent the circle of unity that you are celebrating with your marriage vows. Consider hanging wreaths by ribbon of your chosen color over the end of the pew. Ribbons also leave room for creativity; try something different and attach many long strands of think, colorful ribbon off the back of your ceremony chairs. Pinwheels can also be used and are whimsical, happy touches. Instead of flowers, use pinwheels to decorate a lawn aisle. Pinwheels can be made out of interesting paper or certain colors, or get really creative and use maps of where your honeymoon will be taking place!

Beth and Mike's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Misty Dawn Photography

Liz and Mike's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Kerry Harrison

An aisle runner is perfect for either an indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony. These runners add interest to your wedding photographs and protect the bride's dress. Wedding aisle runners in a variety of colors and you can get them customized to add a personal touch.

Chrissy and Joe's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Laura Eaton Photography

Melissa and Carl's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Childress Photography

-Amanda

Ceremonies Within Your Ceremony

Wedding ceremonies can be a true expression of your relationship and a meaningful start to your marriage. One way to make your wedding day more personal is through the incorporation of symbolic rituals and unity ceremonies. Here are some examples of ceremonies you can include as part of your “I Do’s.”

(Find this unity candle set here.)

Unity Candle Ceremony – Prior to the Unity Candle Ceremony, the bride and groom each light their own taper candles as a symbol of their individual lives and experiences. During the ceremony, they will use their respective candles to light a large pillar candle together, signifying the joining of their lives through marriage.

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Sand Ceremony – A similar concept to the Unity Candle, the Sand Ceremony is another physical representation of a couple’s union. The bride and groom take turns pouring their own vials of colored sand into a larger vessel creating a meaningful keepsake. Couples can choose to show the blending of entire families by giving their parents or even their children a color of sand to add to the vessel.  The sand can be kept in a variety of objects, from personalized vases to vintage hourglasses or even special picture frames.

(Find this salt convenant here.)

Salt Covenant – It’s said that during ancient times, agreements and promises were sealed through a Salt Covenant.  A person would take a pinch of salt from his or her pouch and place it into another’s.  Any agreement sealed this way could not be broken unless the person could retrieve his or her own grains of salt from the other’s pouch.  Since this is a pretty impossible task, the agreement was essentially sealed forever. This symbolism works perfectly for wedding vows.

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The Lasso Ceremony – The Lasso Ceremony is another way to bind a husband and wife together. The lasso can be made out of cords, ribbons, rosary beads, flowers, crystals or other precious materials. It is draped around the couple’s shoulders in a figure 8 or infinity shape to symbolize the unending strength of the marriage. This ceremony can be performed by the officiant, family members or anyone else who has had an impact on the couple’s relationship. 

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Handfasting – This is a way to literally “tie the knot.” This particular ceremony usually happens after the ring exchange. The couple joins hands and the officiant ties their hands together with cords, ribbons, or fabric. Hands represent a source of strength and comfort throughout a marriage. Binding them together is the first step in a couple’s journey to build a future together side by side, hand in hand.

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Ring Warming – The Ring Warming Ceremony is a beautiful way to take the ring exchange a step further while including the wedding guests. Early in the ceremony, the rings are tied together and passed around to the guests who are asked to say a silent prayer or blessing for the couple when the rings reach them. By the time the bride and groom exchange the rings, they are filled with the warmth and love of their family and friends. For larger weddings, couples can opt to pass the rings to immediate family or the bridal party rather than all of the guests.

(Find these stones here.)

Stone Ceremony – This is another guest inclusive ceremony that doesn’t require the couple to part with their rings. Each guest makes a wish for the couple on a small polished stone. The stones are collected in a single container to be kept by the bride and groom for years to come. Stones can be substituted with shells, sea glass, crystals, flowers or another object of the couple’s choosing.

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Planting Ceremony – A Planting Ceremony is a perfect example of the effort a marriage takes to grow and thrive.  The bride and groom can place a sapling or plant into a pot and collect a small container of dirt from their respective homes. During the ceremony they can each pour the dirt from their containers into the pot and then water the plant together. After the wedding, the tree or plant can be transferred to the newlyweds’ home as a concrete way to put down roots together.

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Tasting Ceremony – Tasting ceremonies represent the different emotions and phases of a marriage. The Wine and Chocolate Ceremony pairs bitter chocolate with sweet wine, while the Tasting of the Elements uses sour lemon, bitter vinegar, spicy cayenne and sweet honey.  Sampling the flavors in either of these ceremonies acts as a reminder that the future will be full of ups and downs, but if a couple can get through the hard times, they will enjoy the sweetness in the end.

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Wine Box and Love Letter Ceremony – Prior to the wedding, the bride and groom should write a love letter to each other explaining the reasons they fell in love and their hopes for their marriage. They cannot read each other’s letters. During the ceremony, the couple will place their letters along with two glasses and a bottle of wine into a strong wooden box before it is sealed shut. Should the relationship ever hit a rocky point, they should open the box, share the wine and read the letters as a way to remember all of the love they felt before their wedding day. If that difficult time never comes, then they can open the box as a way to celebrate a milestone anniversary. A variation of this ceremony has the couple write a new letter each year as a way to create a time capsule of their relationship.

Remember, these are just some of the many ceremonies you can use. Don’t be afraid to adapt or even combine rituals to make them apply to your relationship or to the look and feel of your wedding day. Get creative! Anything you feel strongly about can be incorporated into a unique ceremony that will make your wedding unforgettable.

-Laura