Anyone else ditching the alter/arch?

I'm definitely curious for the responses. My MOH was horrified that I'm not having an arch. She's doing her best to convince me I need one.

I'm torn. I want to but the arch is permanent and the other places to get married mean sun will be in the guests eyes. I'm thinking alter it is. You don't need one though!

@Erica, I need to do some research. Does the arch symbolize something?

@CeCe, my memory's not serving me well at the moment, but at least in the picture it looks like the seating is under some trees. Luckily, this venue has a few different options, but this is my favorite.

I think it looks fine the way it is. I'm getting married in a similar setting, but they provide an arch so we're going with that. No alter, though. Not really worried about it.

I don't believe I am having one either. Where my ceremoney will be held it outlooks the bay and is beautiful. I might have the things where you can set flowers on them. I can't think of what they are called :/ but thats about it.

@Kesselertobe1018, I thought about flowers too, but flowers are already in the background! Haha!

My ceremony space just has s waterfall backdrop. Its gorgeous and I have seen plenty of pics frm previous wedding s held there without any time of alter and it was still gorgeous. I dont think there is anything that says you NEED to be married with an alter by you both. Hope this helps

Right now, we don't have an alter. I was thinking of getting something to have at the end of the aisle (either an arch or trees, something like that) to be a focal point.

I am having a podium, but not an alter. I am getting married in the statehouse. It's beautiful but definitely different. I also can't decorate. Just kind of whatever is there is what I get. (Which is fine by me)

@Felicia, it does. That's the thing! Apparently I'm unconventional for this venue because I haven't seen ANY pictures of weddings that took place in this setting. This venue has 3-4 different options. I know they've done ceremonies with this set up, but it may have been a long time since they did. So, that's another reason why I made this thread.

I don't think the arch symbolizes anything - it just looks better in pictures for framing purposes. If the weather is cooperating, we're getting married in a gazebo. If it's not, we're getting married inside the reception place on the dance floor. Honestly, there's no room in the gazebo for an arch, and I don't want to buy one if I'm not going to use it.

Ugh.

@rusticbride - Yea that is true. lol Are you guys having a unity candle or anything along those lines ?

I really like it how it looks.

@Kesslertobe1018, no, we just couldn't find a unity ceremony that said, "this is us," so we just annexed it from the ceremony.

@Erica, yes, we have a back up plan also which is inside. We would be getting married in front of a rustic, old fire place, so that could count as an alter, thing. I wouldn't try to smoosh an arch into a gazebo. I think a gazebo is honestly the best of both worlds!

@Angela, I do too... I just wish more people had gotten married in this same setting more often at my venue. I cannot find any pictures that show me what it would actually look like with an arch/alter, etc.

We are not doing an arch or alter. I had thought about it but thought it would take away from the beauty of the space. I will have a small table to the side of where we will be standing holding a vase with roses for loved ones that have passed away. The picture has an arch but I feel I feel it breaks up the windows too much.

My dad built us a stained glass window thing...I can't share a picture though because I reached my WW data limit...I think your ceremony space would look beautiful either way but I kind of like it without

@Renee, that's exactly what I am concerned about. I don't want the arch to distract from the beauty of the house behind us. I feel like arches are just a habitual thing that people do, but I'm thinking it's not the best fit for my ceremony space.

@Laudie, that sounds cool! The stained glass window.. not hitting your data limit, haha.

Wishing I had your "problem" of not wanting to take away from already beautiful scenery! Our vineyard is beautiful with grapevines and such...but they have a HUGE stage because they actually hosts well known musical names...so we HAVE to have an arch (renting one a friend made for her sons wedding) to soften the giant stage! LOL

I;m using a arch but that looks really great!!

I think it looks beautiful the way it is. We're having our wedding in a ballroom and we're trying to decide on arch or have two columns at the end of the aisle with floral arrangements on them.