Before your wedding plans are signed, sealed, and delivered, there are usually a handful of elements that require a bit more thought than others to make sure they’re absolutely perfect on the day. But one of the most challenging decisions for any couple is choosing the right wedding entrance.
As one of the most iconic parts of any wedding, the entrance should be a sight to behold. While many prefer something more traditional, sometimes the occasion calls for a bold, awe-inspiring entrance to take your day to the next level.
Do you want an entrance that really delivers for your wedding? Something only a luxury destination wedding planner can arrange? Here are a few ideas that will shock, wow, or amaze your guests. And just a few tips on what to avoid or double-check as well.
What are the best show-stopping wedding entrance ideas?
That special something that makes your luxury wedding entrance seriously show-stopping could make your moment even more memorable for you and, dare we say it, Instagrammable for your guests. Which are you choosing for your dream day?
The Grand Venue Entrance
Sometimes the most spectacular entrance is the setting itself. A historic castle, a clifftop terrace overlooking the sea or a clearing deep in ancient woodland can take your guests’ breath away before you’ve even appeared, and couples are pushing the idea further every year, with some now booking disused quarries for their ceremonies, where towering rock walls form a natural amphitheatre.
The catch with more unusual spaces tends to be logistics, so it’s worth checking guest access, power for lighting and sound, and whether the site is licensed for ceremonies or needs a separate legal service beforehand.
One of our favourite entrances for our couples in historic buildings such as French chateaus or country houses is to make a sweeping entrance down the grand staircase. It will be the moment when all eyes are entranced on the happy couple.
A staircase entrance makes fine use of a venue’s impressive centrepiece, and when it’s adorned with flowers and lights (or candles) and draped with lightweight chiffon or a fine tulle on either side, the final look can be as breathtaking as it is enchanting.
The Live Performance Entrance
Bringing in professional performers is one of the most reliable ways to turn your entrance into a moment nobody forgets. A costumed troupe of professional dancers can deliver a polished, fully choreographed, high-energy routine set to the tune of your choice as you make your grand entrance.
And of course, you’d be a fully committed part of that routine. But as a high-impact entrance to wow your guests, it’ll be hard to beat. However, be cautious about using pyro or smoke. If the routine calls for it, your wedding planner can arrange it well in advance with a local vendor and confirm the venue will allow it.
It doesn’t have to be a full dance number either. We’ve had ballerinas dance down the aisle ahead of the couple, setting the tone beautifully before the main event, and the options go well beyond dance, from a string quartet in sweeping, floor-length gowns to trapeze artists and aerialists performing above the aisle!
The Arrival from Above
If you want an entrance that’s genuinely out of the ordinary, arrive from the air. A helicopter touching down on the lawn is a real show-stopper, while a hot air balloon drifting in over the venue feels slower and more romantic.
Each option needs careful planning, though. Helicopters are loud and create a powerful downdraught, so you’ll need a clear landing area well away from guests, décor and anything lightweight, along with permission from the venue and whatever local aviation rules apply. Balloons and skydives depend heavily on wind and weather, which is why it’s wise to have a grounded backup that still feels special if conditions turn on the day.
The Flower-Filled Entrance
Why settle for a few arrangements when you could go completely over the top?
Picture walking through an arch so dense with blooms that it feels like a tunnel, with petals lining the aisle, hanging installations overhead and fragrant flowers such as garden roses, peonies, jasmine and gardenia scenting the air as you pass.
Choosing blooms that are in season locally usually means they’ll look fresher and cope better with the heat of a summer destination wedding, and if any guests suffer from hay fever, lower-pollen varieties near the seating will be appreciated.
The Signature Scent Entrance
Scent is closely tied to memory, which is why a particular perfume can carry you straight back to a moment years later. Some couples now create a bespoke fragrance for their wedding and diffuse it through the entrance or ceremony space, so that whenever guests come across it again, it takes them right back to your day. You could carry the same scent through candles and room sprays at the reception, or send guests home with small bottles as favours.
It’s worth keeping the fragrance subtle, as diffused scent builds up quickly in enclosed spaces and shouldn’t compete with your flowers or the food.
The Secret Location Entrance
Who says your ceremony has to be outdoors, or even in daylight? For something truly unexpected, keep the location a secret until the last moment and lead guests into a hidden room where draping and lighting do all the talking.
An evening ceremony indoors needs a little extra thought. Many venues don’t allow naked flames, in which case LED candles can give a similar glow, and it’s worth making sure your photographer is comfortable working in low light so the atmosphere comes through in your pictures. If guests are being guided to a secret space, clear directions and a few friendly faces along the way will stop anyone getting lost.
Create a stylish entrance with Matthew Oliver Weddings
Of course, there are plenty of spectacular wedding entrance ideas out there, and these are just the tip of the iceberg. But just let your imagination run free. You’ll find the right entrance for you – and it will be spectacular.
But if you need an expert touch to plan and arrange your wedding entrance or any of the finer details, get in touch with your dream luxury destination wedding planner team today. We have the experience and ideas to help you kick-start your wedding in style.
