When you plan new church pews for your sanctuary, consider what types of events your church is used for regularly. Other than services, does your church provide a venue for weddings, christenings, and other big family events? If so, you’ll want to think about the layout of your pews in terms of events like weddings. Couples with no church home often still want church weddings — and that can be a great way to introduce them to your church. Your church can also benefit from the income derived from being a top venue for weddings for non-members. Here at the things you need to consider when planning the layout for your church:
Sight lines
Everyone wants to be able to see the ceremony, so think about where your altar is and how to position pews to get the best view. Traditionally, pews run in straight lines without any curvature but if your church building is rather large, you can angle the pew pieces as they get further out so seats are angled towards the altar at the points furthest from the middle. By angling pews, people have less heads to try to position themselves around to be able to see. These types of pews are called cross mitered pews and can really add a special feature to your church as a wedding venue.
Sound
Unless your church uses a sound system, you’ll want to make sure that everyone can hear the wedding ceremony. As you plan your layout for your church pews, you’ll want to think about just how far away the last person is and if they’ll be able to hear someone speaking at the front of the church. If you’ve decided to add pews, it might also mean adding a sound system.
Aisle position
The aisle is probably the most important aspect of why a church is selected for wedding ceremonies. Churches with appealing and beautiful aisles provide a focal point for the bride on her big day and allow her to be the center of attention, which is what most brides want, after all. If you want your church to be a wedding venue, make sure to include a central aisle that allows for all the attention to be focused on her walk down to the altar.
Size
Wedding venues often also come down to size for their selection but you’ll also want to take it into consideration when planning. If your church is smaller, it’ll do well as a more intimate setting for weddings and you’ll want to play up that feature by selecting a pew layout that heightens a sense of intimacy. Larger churches are great venues for elaborate and large weddings where sometimes the point is to show off. By creating luxurious touches that impress wedding guests, you’ll become a venue of choice for the wedding elite.
Pictures
Brides want to remember their day forever and keeping pictures in mind is important to planning the layout of your church pews. You’ll want to create spaces where photographers and videographers will be able to perform their job without disrupting the wedding ceremony and get great shots. When planning features that are close to your altar, like the front pews and the position of your pulpit, you’ll want to provide ample space for photographers to work their magic without disrupting shots with furniture that creeps into the frame.
When you’re planning out your pew layout, weddings can make a big impact if they’re a big source of revenue for your church so always be sure to consider the repercussions of your layout on wedding ceremonies. All in all, there’s not a whole lot of difference between planning for a wedding ceremony and planning for weekly church services. Your church members will want the same things, like being able to see and hear the service, as a wedding party guest. We’re more than happy to discuss pew layouts and offer any advice on what has worked well in other churches.
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