Church weddings come with built-in beauty — arches, stained glass, stonework. A lot of the decoration work is already done before you spend a single dollar. That’s good news for your budget, and bad news for anyone who got sold a $4,000 floral package thinking they needed one.
Below are our 13 favorite church wedding decorations to buy, plus budget DIY ideas, a buyer’s guide, and the questions couples actually ask. Spend where it changes the look; skip where the church is doing it for you.
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Our Top Picks at a Glance
| Decoration | Best For | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ivory pew bows with tulle | Classic aisle decor | $20–$50 per set |
| Roman column pillars | Statement altar piece | $50–$100 (pair) |
| White scroll aisle runner | Aisle coverage | $15–$40 |
| Hanging ivory pew flowers | Reusable pew decor | $25–$60 (pack) |
| Golden vintage candle lanterns | Aisle lighting (evening) | $25–$80 (set) |
| Artificial wisteria vine | Altar backdrop | $30–$60 |
| LOVE marquee letters | Altar accent / photo op | $25–$50 |
| Clear acrylic welcome sign | Entry decor | $30–$80 (custom) |
| Tall flower pedestals | Altar columns alternative | $60–$120 (pair) |
| Dancing couple sculpture | Gift / dessert table | $25–$40 |
| Boho macrame backdrop | Modern altar backdrop | $40–$80 |
| LED gold flameless candles | Open-flame-restricted venues | $25–$50 (set) |
| Rose gold decorative lanterns | Reusable home decor after | $30–$70 (set) |
The Best Church Wedding Decorations to Buy
1. Ivory Pew Bows with Tulle Tails
Pew bows are the most traditional church wedding decoration, and there’s a reason they’ve stuck around. They’re inexpensive, they go up in minutes, and they instantly signal “wedding” to anyone walking in. Ivory or white bows with tulle tails work in almost any church regardless of style — they read traditional in a traditional church and elegant in a modern one.
Best for: Couples who want classic church pew wedding decorations without a project.
Watch for: Some churches won’t allow adhesive or tape on the pew ends. Look for bows with elastic loops or clip-on attachments to avoid the conversation.
Cheaper alternative: Make them yourself with 4-inch wired ribbon from a craft store — about $15 in materials covers 10–12 pews if you can tie a basic bow.
2. Roman Column Pillars
Roman columns frame the altar without competing with the church’s existing architecture. You can dress them with flowers, ivy, candles, or lights, which makes them the most versatile single decoration on this list. They come in sets of two with some light assembly required, and despite being plastic, they look convincingly heavy in photos.
Best for: Larger churches where the altar feels small in the camera frame, or any couple who wants a defined ceremony backdrop without renting one.
Watch for: Confirm column height vs. ceiling proportions before buying — a 5-foot column reads great in a small chapel and looks dwarfed in a cathedral.
Cheaper alternative: Many churches own a set of columns already and will let you borrow them. Always ask before buying.
3. White Scroll Print Aisle Runner
A scroll-print aisle runner is the easiest way to make a tired church aisle look intentional. The print is subtle enough not to fight the rest of the decor, and the runner covers up scuffed carpet, dated tile, or worn wood without anyone noticing.
Best for: Older churches with aisles that need a refresh.
Watch for: Trip hazard. Secure the runner with double-sided carpet tape or aisle runner weights. Heels catching on loose runners is the single most common wedding-ceremony mishap, and the fix takes about 30 seconds of prep.
Cheaper alternative: Skip the runner entirely and use scattered fresh or silk flower petals along the aisle. Costs about $10 in petals and looks cleaner in photos than most cheap fabric runners.
4. Hanging Ivory Pew Flowers
These are silk, not fresh — and for pew decor that nobody touches and that gets photographed from 15 feet away, that’s an advantage, not a compromise. They arrive ready to clip onto the pew end, they don’t wilt over a long ceremony, and you can reuse them for an anniversary party or pass them to another couple after the wedding.
Best for: Couples who want fuller pew decoration than bows without the $200/pew florist quote.
Watch for: Quality varies a lot. Read recent reviews specifically for color accuracy and stem fullness before ordering — silk flowers that look great in product photos can look plastic in person.
Cheaper alternative: Bunches of fresh baby’s breath wrapped at the pew with twine or ribbon. Wholesale baby’s breath runs $15–$25 for enough to cover 12 pews.
5. Golden Vintage Candle Lanterns with Fairy Lights
For an evening ceremony, lanterns lining the aisle do more for the mood than almost any other decoration on this list. The brushed gold finish photographs warmly, and pairing the lantern with battery-operated fairy lights gives you that romantic glow without an open flame.
Best for: Evening church weddings and any venue that prohibits open flames (most do).
Watch for: Real-flame candles inside lanterns are still real flames. Check your church’s policy before assuming the glass enclosure makes it OK.
Cheaper alternative: Plain white lanterns from the same retailers run about a third of the cost of the brushed-gold version and look nearly identical in evening photos.
6. Artificial Wisteria Vine
Wisteria does something for a backdrop that very few other artificial flowers manage — it actually looks like real wisteria, especially at the distance most ceremony photos are taken. Drape it from an existing arch, the Roman columns above, or pin it directly to a back wall if the church allows. The full effect costs about $30–$60 in vines plus another $15 in floral tape and zip ties.
Best for: Plain or visually busy back walls where you want a defined ceremony backdrop.
Watch for: Some churches won’t allow you to attach anything to existing walls or fixtures. A free-standing arch or column system is the workaround.
Cheaper alternative: Eucalyptus garland costs about half as much per linear foot, photographs beautifully, and reads as more modern.
7. Large LOVE Marquee Letters
A marquee LOVE sign is a small touch that does outsized work in photos. Place it at the altar, on a gift table, or at the end of the aisle for an evening ceremony and it pulls the eye in every wide shot. Most versions run on 2 AA batteries with a simple on/off switch, so there’s no extension cord situation to manage.
Best for: Evening church weddings or any venue with low ambient light.
Watch for: Marquee letters read either charming or kitschy depending on the rest of your decor. They work with rustic, modern, and boho aesthetics; they fight against very traditional or formal church setups.
Cheaper alternative: A simple “Mr. & Mrs.” wood sign for under $20 photographs nearly as well without the marquee-letter polarization.
8. Clear Acrylic Welcome Sign
A welcome sign at the church entrance accomplishes two things: it tells late or confused guests they’re in the right place, and it gives the photographer a clean detail shot for the album. Acrylic is the current SERP-winner of welcome sign materials because it works in every aesthetic and doesn’t compete with the church’s existing architecture the way a chalkboard might.
Best for: Any ceremony — this is one of the few decorations that’s hard to do wrong.
Watch for: Read the customization listing carefully. Some Etsy shops only allow 2 lines of text; others let you upload a full layout. Get this right the first time.
Cheaper alternative: A printed sign in a thrift-store frame costs about $10 and reads nearly as well from 6 feet away.
9. Tall Twisted Flower Pedestals
Pedestals are the more modern alternative to Roman columns. They take up less floor space, they read as intentional rather than rented, and you can use them for flowers, candles, or both. A pair on either side of the altar replaces about $400 worth of professional florist staging at most price points.
Best for: Modern or transitional church spaces where Roman columns would feel overdressed.
Watch for: Stability with flower arrangements on top. Some pedestals tip in a stiff breeze (relevant for outdoor church courtyards). Read reviews for weight tolerance.
Cheaper alternative: A pair of large nursery plant stands from a garden center costs about $40 total and works identically once they have flowers on top.
10. Dancing Couple Sculpture
The dancing couple sculpture is the small, specific accent piece that gives photographers something to feature in their detail shots. Place it on the gift table, the cake table, or the wedding party’s seating area. At about a foot tall, it’s the kind of decoration guests notice without being a focal point.
Best for: Couples who want one or two small statement pieces rather than overall room dressing.
Watch for: Resin can chip in shipping. Check the piece carefully on arrival and request a replacement if needed — most sellers ship one immediately.
Cheaper alternative: A framed photo of you and your partner in a meaningful pose, displayed on the same table, does similar work for free.
11. Boho Hanging Macrame Backdrop
For couples who don’t want a traditional church-wedding look, a hand-knotted macrame backdrop pushes the visual style toward modern boho without renovating anything. The standard size (around 59″ wide by 78″ long) covers a small altar wall convincingly. After the wedding, it hangs in your living room.
Best for: Modern, boho, or rustic ceremony aesthetics in churches with a plain back wall.
Watch for: Some churches consider this too informal. Send a photo to the venue coordinator before you buy.
Cheaper alternative: A linen or muslin fabric panel hung the same way costs about $15 and reads as more neutral.
12. LED Gold Flameless Candles
Most churches don’t allow open flames. LED flameless candles solve this without making it obvious you’re using an LED candle — the better ones have real wax exteriors with a moving flame effect and a built-in timer. A set of six tall gold-coated candles gives you altar lighting that photographs the same as the real thing, minus the fire-marshal conversation.
Best for: Any church wedding where real candles are restricted (most of them).
Watch for: Cheap LED candles look cheap. Spend the extra $10 for ones with a real wax shell and a moving flame element.
Cheaper alternative: Battery tea lights in glass holders. About $10 for two dozen, and once they’re inside a frosted holder, almost no one can tell they’re battery powered.
13. Rose Gold Decorative Lanterns
These rose-gold lanterns work whether you put candles inside them or leave them empty as standalone decor. The tempered glass and rectangular design feel more contemporary than the brushed-gold vintage lanterns earlier on this list — different look, similar function. They also work brilliantly as porch decor or coffee-table pieces in your house after the wedding.
Best for: Reception flow-through. Use them at the church, then move them to the venue, then take them home.
Watch for: Color consistency on rose gold varies more than other finishes. If you buy multiple sets, order them all from the same listing.
Cheaper alternative: Plain matte black lanterns from the same retailer are roughly 40% cheaper and read as more upscale in some lighting.
Church Wedding Decoration Ideas on a Budget
If most of the picks above are out of budget — or you’d just rather not buy something new — these are the church decoration ideas that cost almost nothing and frequently photograph as well as the paid versions.
Ask the church what’s included
Many churches keep a closet of wedding decorations available to borrow at no charge: candelabras, candle stands, sometimes Roman columns, often hand-tied bouquet stands. Ask before you spend a dollar. The same question often surfaces volunteers from the congregation who help set up — another way to save money you didn’t know was available.
Use flower petals instead of an aisle runner
Real or silk flower petals scattered along the aisle look fuller in photos than most fabric runners and run about $10–$15 for enough to cover a standard church aisle. Bonus: no trip hazard, no securing required, no awkward bunching halfway down the aisle.
Focus everything on the altar
Most wedding photos are taken at the altar. So put your decoration budget there and leave the rest of the church alone. A single statement arrangement at the altar — flowers, candles, an arch, whatever fits the venue — does more for the photos than spreading the same dollars across pew bows, aisle runners, and back-wall decor.
Use baby’s breath to fill big spaces cheaply
Baby’s breath is the workhorse flower of budget weddings. It costs about $25–$40 wholesale for enough to fill 12 mason jars or line a full aisle. It looks fuller than its price suggests, it’s neutral enough not to clash with any color scheme, and most florists will sell it to you direct without a full wedding-package commitment.
Add succulents instead of flowers
Small succulents bought in bulk run about $2 per plant from wholesale suppliers. They don’t wilt during the ceremony, they survive transport to the reception, and at the end of the night, they become guest favors. Look for indoor-friendly varieties.
Repurpose Christmas string lights
White Christmas string lights are the same lights as “wedding fairy lights” — just sold under a different name 11 months of the year. If you have them in storage already, use them. If you need to buy them, get them in January when they’re 70% off and store them for the wedding date.
Line the stairway with flowers and candles
If the church has an entry stairway, dressing it does more for first impressions than almost any interior decoration. Greenery bunches along the railing, a few candles on the steps if allowed, and one larger arrangement at the top. Total cost can stay under $50 if the greenery is sourced from a flower wholesaler rather than a florist.
Use the church’s outdoor space
If your church has a courtyard or adjacent garden, ask about holding part of the ceremony or reception out there. Outdoor church spaces are usually free to use and often need less decoration than the interior.
Where to Shop for Church Wedding Decorations
The big three for affordable church wedding decoration shopping:
- Amazon — Largest inventory and fastest shipping. Best for product picks where you’ve already decided what you want and need it in a hurry. Read recent reviews; quality varies more than on smaller specialty sites.
- Oriental Trading — Strong on themed and matching item sets. Hundreds of wedding decorations under $20, which is useful if you’re decorating a larger church and need volume rather than statement pieces.
- Michaels — Best for DIY church wedding decorations. Ribbon, faux florals, candle holders, and the craft supplies you need if you’re making your own pew bows or altar arrangements. Same-day pickup at most locations.
Etsy is worth a mention for custom signage and macrame backdrops, but expect longer lead times — order anything customized 6–8 weeks before the wedding.
How to Decorate a Church for a Wedding
The decision-making order that gets the best result for the least money:
- Walk the church before you plan anything. What does it already have? What looks dated? What’s the lighting like at the actual ceremony time of day? A 20-minute walk-through saves about $500 in unnecessary decorations.
- Ask what’s allowed and what’s not. Most churches restrict at least one of: open flames, tape on pews, pins in walls, balloons, and live flower petals. The earlier you know the constraints, the cheaper your final decoration list.
- Decorate where the photos happen. The altar gets 80% of the ceremony photos. The aisle gets the rest. Anything elsewhere is for the in-person guests, not the album.
- Buy the focal point, DIY the volume. One statement piece (pedestal arrangement, wisteria backdrop, marquee letters) plus DIY pew decor and aisle petals looks better than spreading the same dollars across mediocre purchased decor everywhere.
- Get the church’s own helpers involved. Most churches that host frequent weddings have volunteers who’ll help set up. Ask the church coordinator — this is free labor most couples don’t realize is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to decorate a church for a wedding?
A reasonable budget for church wedding decorations is $200–$500 for a simple but polished setup, $500–$1,500 for a more decorated look with multiple statement pieces, and $1,500+ if you’re using a florist for the altar and aisle. DIY-heavy approaches can come in under $150 for the whole church if you reuse decor from another event or borrow items from the church itself.
What decorations are needed for a church wedding?
No specific decorations are required for a church wedding — the church itself is the decoration. The most common additions are pew bows or pew flowers at the aisle ends, an altar arrangement (flowers, candles, or both), and a welcome sign at the entrance. Anything beyond that is style, not necessity.
Can I decorate the church for my wedding?
Most churches allow some decoration but have specific restrictions. Common ones: no tape on pews, no pins or nails in walls, no open flames, no balloons. Always speak with the church wedding coordinator or event manager before purchasing decorations. Many churches keep a written policy that they’ll share if you ask.
What do you put on church wedding pews?
Pew bows are the most traditional choice — typically 6–10 inches wide, tied from satin or organza ribbon, in white, ivory, or your wedding color. Other options include hanging pew flowers (silk or fresh), small bunches of baby’s breath wrapped with twine, or small mason-jar candle holders clipped to the pew end. The key constraint is the attachment method — confirm what your church allows.
How much do flowers cost for a church wedding?
Florist-arranged church wedding flowers typically run $1,500–$5,000 depending on church size and arrangement count. Buying wholesale flowers and arranging them yourself reduces that to $200–$600 for a comparable setup. Baby’s breath, eucalyptus, and seasonal local flowers stretch a flower budget the furthest.
Can you decorate a Catholic church for a wedding?
Yes, but Catholic churches usually have stricter decoration policies than most other denominations. Common restrictions include no secular signs near the altar, no flower arrangements that obscure religious symbols, and no decorations placed directly on the altar itself. Ask for the parish’s written wedding policy at least three months before the ceremony.
How do you plan a simple church wedding?
Start by listing only the decisions that affect what guests actually see: the altar, the aisle, the seating, and the entrance. Decorate those areas first and skip everything else. A simple church wedding usually has one altar arrangement, pew bows or flowers, an aisle runner or scattered petals, and a welcome sign — that’s the entire decoration list. Keep the colors to two and the materials to three.
Final Thoughts
The best church wedding decorations are the ones that highlight what your church already brings to the room and add a small number of intentional pieces where the photos happen. Spending more doesn’t make the day look better — spending in the right places does. Walk the church, ask what’s allowed, buy the focal point, DIY the volume, and you’ll end up with a setup that photographs as well as a five-figure floral package for a fraction of the cost.
For more help putting the rest of the day together, browse our wedding planning guides.
Dustin is the founder of Weddings to the Wire, which he started in 2017 while planning his own $15,000 backyard wedding. He writes about budget-conscious wedding planning, vendor recommendations, and the questions couples actually ask.