10+ Unique Ways to Level Up Your Wedding Altar
The most stunning ceremony marker ideas for next year's nuptials.
From exchanging vows and rings to your first kiss as a married couple, the ceremony is undoubtedly the most important part of the wedding day—and, therefore, one of the most photographed. With that in mind, your ceremony marker should be carefully considered; no matter your culture, religion, or denomination, this is a site that symbolizes the unity of two people, and two families, coming together.
While religious ceremonies have specific structural or design requirements—from a Jewish chuppah to an Indian mandap, or the set up of a Persian sofreh—the center of the ceremony is one more place where you can get creative with the help of your planner, designer, and florist. Choose a look that best suits your chosen venue and ceremony space, whether your altar includes a wedding arch, is set in a church or temple, or needs barely any adornments at all, With couples now reflecting on what means the most to them as they plan weddings in a mid-pandemic world, the ceremony marker sets the tone of the type of ceremony and celebration you're hosting, and brings attention to what matters most: the milestone of your commitment to one another. From wow-worthy floral installations to simple structures, we've rounded up our favorite wedding altar ideas to inspire your upcoming ceremony.
Echo Your Setting
Whether you're in your backyard or wedding in a remote, far away destination—like the Malaysian jungle pictured here—look to the natural elements of your surroundings when designing your ceremony's focal point. The floral design of this ceremony may be lush and dramatic, but the tropical blooms were sourced locally, using the flora and fauna of the wedding location as a guide. Other than the blooming altar, this couple kept it simple—and let the landscape speak for itself.
Pictured: Yuna and Adam's wedding in Malaysia; Planning and design by The Calla and YSA Events; Florals by FLORES KL.
Make It Minimal
If you aren't into bold blooms, frills, and froth—skip it. This wedding overlooking Miami Beach was case in point, and void of color and florals per the bride's request, substituting greenery for a natural element as needed. There's no shame in keeping things simple, and as this ceremony illustrates, it can be undeniably chic. Here, a super-strict color palette of black, white, gold, and greenery lent itself to a minimal yet deco feel—coupled with subtle architectural and galactic motifs, like the wrought-iron chuppah that overlooked the ocean. Palm leaves draped delicately to one side of the framework gave this otherwise graphic, industrial chuppah some movement, without compromising its simplicity.
Pictured: Jenna and Kobi's Miami Beach wedding; Planning by Always & Always Events; Florals by Ever After.
Single-Bloom Strands
The decor of a traditional Indian wedding is dramatic, bold, and festive in the most otherworldly of ways. Guests can expect the most jaw-dropping display of color, but it's the fine details that stand out—even at a ceremony packed with plush textures, embroidered fabrics, and vibrant hues.
Take the dangling blooms and candles at Diipa and Oleg's wedding (pictured here), which add texture and visual interest to the look of their mandap, and would just as beautifully complement any wedding altar. Choose a bloom or ornament that works for your color palette, floral design, and overall look. Then, take notes from this ceremony, where fluttering blooms and candles worked to create "walls" around the couple and their family, making the space feel simultaneously intimate and open.
Pictured: Diipa and Oleg's 4-day Wedding in India; Planning by Ankit; Design and florals by Alt Air.
All About the Backdrop
Set the scene by opting for a ceremony location that feels special to you and yours—then design around it. The backdrop will play a major role in all your wedding ceremony photos, and so working your altar around the view will only serve to make the look and feel more cohesive and true to the space. If a wedding arch, chuppah, or ritual table isn't needed for your nuptials, let the venue and some beautiful blooms do all the work, using natural elements like florals and candlelight as accents.
Pictured: Planning by Fallon Carter Events; Florals by Designs By Ahn.
Close Knit
A ceremony arch, frame, or chuppah is designed to form a ceremonial house around the couple and their loved ones, to symbolize the home they'll create together in their partnership. Take that idea a step further, and set your wedding altar inside an open-yet-closed space to mimic the intimate feel for all of the guests. At this wedding in Cartagena, Colombia, a chuppah designed out of tropical greenery and local bougainvillea was set in a sprawling coral courtyard, decked with floors of dangling ivy and surrounded by archways. The architecture and open-air feel of the courtyard mirrored that of the couple's chuppah, making the ceremony that much more intimate and close-knit for all in attendance.
Pictured: Virginia and Ian's colorful wedding in Colombia; Planning and design by RobbinsOtoya.
Two of a Kind
Oversized urns filled with the most romantic, gestural arrangements in varying sizes flanked the epic view of Lake Como this couple wed in front of—but no matter where you wed, this design concept would suit any ceremony. Opt for arrangements in the color palette and aesthetic of the day; this couple chose moody jewel tones, and adorned their urns with a garland of greenery. Interpret your arrangements as you see fit—whether you opt for bold colors, all white, floral arrangements in different scales and sizes, or a perfectly symmetrical pair.
Pictured: Chris and Simon's epic Lake Como wedding. Planning by The Lake Como Wedding Planner; Design by Hessney & Co.; Florals by Putnam & Putnam and Rattiflora.
Memory Marker
Whether you're planning an elopement or a small wedding, create an intimate and secluded ceremony that fosters a sacred, sentimental feel. Whether that entails a trip to a far-flung place for just the two of you, or a gathering in a nearby garden, forest, or reserve, tucking away into nature is a surefire way to make your nuptials special, simple, and all the more thoughtful as you exchange vows, and for all those you invite to witness it.
This couple surrounded themselves with natural beauty in a forest in Nara, Japan, incorporating traditional Japanese elements along the way, like a cord ceremony and traditional kimonos. Their elopement at Tsukihitei utilized a cultural landmark as their altar; rather than hosting a reception, it was followed by a day of exploring the city.
Pictured: Planning by Lisa Vorce.
Light It Up
Candles and natural light exude a natural feeling of warmth, romance, and intimacy, and a circular design brings everyone in the room together. A collection of candelabras and pillar candles set the mood for this small ceremony—and yours could follow suit. Use candles of all kinds to create an unconventional wedding altar that feels romantic and sentimental. Trust us: This setup is ideal for a wedding with a limited guest count.
Pictured: Design by Joy Proctor.
Go Green
Celebrating the season and setting and letting your floral designs shine is far more chic than living design elements that look, on the whole, unnatural. Skip the geometric contortions and spherical floral shapes and let your blooms—or a living ceremony marker—live in their natural state. After all, garden-inspired grandeur is at its most regal when it speaks for itself, and when its produced sustainably. Case in point: this wedding in the Northern California forest that used an age-old tree as the altar for a couple promising themselves to one another for years to come.
When it comes to designs that truly honor nature, ask whether your designers use floral foam, which is harmful to the environment; take efforts a step further and ensure installations are compostable, whenever possible, once broken down.
Pictured: Kelsey and Cole's wedding in Carmel, California; Planning by Laurie Arons.
Wed in Technicolor
Opt for color—in a different way. Skip the over-the-top flower installations or wedding arches and go for colorful streamers a la Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli's ceremony in Palm Springs, CA. Inspired by confetti cake and all things fun, the pair kept their altar carefree, lively, and a reflection of their vibrant, zest for life as individuals, and a couple.
Pictured: Planning by Beth Helmstetter; Florals by Holly Flora.
Field in a Field
If you're after all things floral but don't feel like you've found arrangements or arches to fit the bill, have your design lay low to the ground—and look as though it's stemming from it. A field of fresh flowers built within a sprawling landscape might just be the most romantic way to evoke a secret garden feel that's just for you and your guests—and it gives a poetic, intimate feel to your gathering that feels magical yet organic and natural—all at the same time.
Planning and Design by Laurie Arons.
Heather Hall is a weddings, fashion, and lifestyle writer and editor. Her career in weddings began at The Knot, where she worked as a bridal fashion editor. She then worked as a PR Manager at Amsale, a bridal design house, before starting her own events and digital marketing business. She has been featured on Today.com, MSN.com, Yahoo.com, Racked.com, Huffington Post, Verily Magazine, and Style Me Pretty. Heather loves music, travel, and practicing yoga. In her spare time she's typically researching the next fun workout class to try, or finding a new concert to attend. Her latest goal: become a DJ.
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