| At an outdoor wedding site you generally have two | | | | of paper, is rolled down the grassy aisle and the bride |
| things to walk on - grass or concrete. There is the | | | | comes in, beautiful in her stunning gown with the long |
| occasional gravel path or stones of some kind, | | | | train. Her spiked heals sink down catching in the runner |
| perhaps even good old-fashioned dirt. (in a church or | | | | and she hangs on to dad to keep from falling. |
| other indoor venue, you have a clean, hard surface | | | | Sometimes the heels sink down through the runner |
| that can be easily covered with a satin runner to keep | | | | almost tripping the bride and, like her attendants, leaving |
| the train clean). This presents some interesting | | | | stains on her shoes. The train, full behind her, is wider |
| challenges when choosing wedding attire. | | | | than the runner and the outer sides of the train glide |
| Many wedding gowns come with trains - those yards | | | | across the grass. |
| of material on the back of the dress that are | | | | If no one removes the runner prior to the processional, |
| supposed to flow behind the bride as she walks up | | | | the entire wedding party has to navigate the runner on |
| and down the aisle. Beautiful? Yes. Many are beaded | | | | their way out. It is not safe but it does lend some |
| and bejeweled on a gown that ranges in price from | | | | comic relief. |
| hundreds to thousands of dollars. | | | | Now come pictures. The train is probably dragged |
| She also has selected beautiful satin shoes with four | | | | over more lawn, more gravel and more dirt. By the |
| inch heels. Her attendants have the same style shoes | | | | time she is ready for the reception or dinner, the |
| in the colors that match their gowns. Gorgeous and | | | | underside of the train is probably quite dirty and grass |
| stylish! | | | | stained. |
| And the processional begins. The officiant is several | | | | This is not made up. As an officiant I see this over and |
| hundred feet away standing with the groom across an | | | | over. The solution? The solution is three fold and very, |
| expanse of freshly cut grass that probably has been | | | | very simple: |
| recently watered. The goal is for everyone to | | | | 1. Purchase a beautiful gown that has no train. |
| maneuver through the grass in those spiked heels and | | | | 2. Wear shoes that don't sink down into the ground. |
| arrive safely beside the officiant. | | | | (At one wedding the bride and her attendants wore |
| The bride's maids, followed by the maid or matron of | | | | white flip-flops and the groom and his attendants wore |
| honor come in and with each step the spiked heels go | | | | black ones. They were dressed elegantly. The |
| down into the grass. (As the waiting officiant I often | | | | flip-flops did not detract from the elegance and |
| think the gardeners should pay the wedding party for | | | | everyone walked safely up and down the aisle). |
| aerating the lawn). It is not only difficult for the women | | | | 3. Never use a paper runner. (In my opinion these are |
| to walk in the grass with spiked heels but also leaves | | | | unsafe both inside and outside). |
| the shoes with green and brown stains from the grass | | | | It seems like safety should outrank high heels and |
| and dirt. | | | | trains but this is just one officiant's opinion. The choice |
| When the wedding party is arranged appropriately on | | | | is always the bride's. |
| each side of the officiant, the runner, generally made | | | | |