Wedding Aisle Runners

Aisle Runner Hints
The aisle runner should unrolled after the guests are seated and just before the ceremony starts to indicate that the processional is about to begin. The bride, as well as her attendants, will walk down the aisle runner.

Wedding Aisle Runners are typically only used on carpeted or otherwise non-smooth floors; an aisle runner my slip if it is laid on a smooth surface such as tile or hardwood. The aisle runners we offer are rayon, a tear-resistant material. However, any fabric can tear if stressed too greatly. We recommend that brides and bridesmaids wear wider heals (not spiked) if possible.

Your aisle runner should be slightly longer than you need. If, for example, the aisle is 76' long, you should order a 100' runner rather than a 75'. The reason is bridal trains have been known to get caught in the very end of an unrolled aisle runner, causing it to "roll up" beneath the bride's gown. With extra runner attached to the end of the roll, however, the added weight will help hold the runner down as you step onto it.

History of the Aisle Runner
The history of the wedding aisle runner includes both practical and spiritual accounts. In the days of muddy streets, wedding guests would track dirt and mud into the church. Not wanting to walk through the grime, an aisle runner was laid to protect the bride’s dress. After all the guests were seated, an usher would unroll the aisle runner to give her a clean path to the alter.

It is also said that in ancient times, it was believed that evil spirits lurked just beneath the earth’s surface. The bride, considered to be pure, was therefore particularly vulnerable to these spirits. Fearing the spirits would rise up through the floorboards of the church, an aisle runner was laid for her to walk on to protect her from those spirits and preserve her purity.