Imagine a grand entrance: You and your partner descend a grand staircase adorned with lush greenery, delicate blooms, and glowing lanterns. It's a scene infused with joy, elegance, and a touch of Hollywood magic.

If you think about it, it's amazing how much impact one architectural feature can make on the overall look and feel of a wedding. And few elements can match a staircase when it comes to creating an elegant and luxurious ambiance. Add carefully chosen decor, and you can elevate the atmosphere at your wedding even more.

If your dream wedding includes a stunning staircase, we have some decor ideas and tips to help you bring your vision to life.

Floral Decor: Stairway to Heaven

No wedding staircase decoration is more timeless than lush floral arrangements.

Stunning garlands of greenery, blooms, and trailing vines can be draped along railings or woven through banisters. Elegant topiary trees or boxwood spheres provide sculptural flair on stair landings. And extravagant floral chandeliers or hanging amaranth installations above the first and last steps create a truly jaw-dropping statement as you descend and ascend.

Pure Romance

For a soft, romantic look, consider garlands of blush pink garden roses, pale peony blooms, spray roses, and jasmine vines.

The sweet fragrances of the flowers will perfume the air as guests ascend. Lush white hydrangea blooms also provide a plush, romantic vibe. You also could consider shades of blue, purple, or pink.

A Bit of Drama

If you want a more dramatic, bold feel to your wedding space, go for a garland made of deep red roses or burgundy dahlias combined with trailing amaranthus, seeded eucalyptus, and ruscus.

You could accent this look with tall burgundy calla lily stems in decorative urns on landings.

A Modern Vibe

Love the look of sleek, contemporary arrangements? Play with linear designs of warm-hued callas like orange or yellow arranged in vases with equally warm tones like rust-colored dogwood branches.

Or stick to an all-white palette with classic calla lilies, phalaenopsis orchids, and glossy greenery like monstera leaves.

Going Tropical

For a lush, tropical vibe, weave together garlands of leafy philodendron, monstera deliciosa (Swiss cheese plant or split-leaf philodendron), and ferns, punctuated by birds of paradise blooms, king proteas, and dangling orchids.

Placing tall iron-branched candelabras with cascading greenery between stair rails would add to the jungle-like feel.

As you consider potential flowers, keep in mind that there's no need to strictly match your bridal bouquet with your wedding staircase decor. Have fun with bolder, more dramatic floral selections to make a big impact. Just be sure to thoughtfully incorporate complementary elements like candles and greenery as well.

Vintage Accents

For a touch of old-world glamour and vintage romance, decorate your wedding day stairs with timeless decorative elements.

Wrought-iron lanterns with flickering white pillar candles lining the steps would create a warm, cozy glow. Or, try crystals or beaded garlands intertwined with flowers to add an opulent, jewel-toned shimmer to your decor.

You could also incorporate unique antique elements like gilded birdcages, chalices, urns, candelabras, or cherub sculptures placed on stair landings.

If your venue allows it, another ultra-luxe option is layering stair treads and risers with gorgeous patterned rugs for major texture and visual interest.

Contemporary Chic and Unique Twists

On the flip side, if you'd prefer a more modern, minimalist, or fashion-forward wedding style, focus your staircase design on striking a balance between contemporary chic and sculptural flair.

Stretch slim white or ivory runners across each step, flanked by ultra-modern geometric vases or lanterns with monochromatic florals and greenery. A sleek acrylic rail accented by a cascade of orchids or hanging amaranths could also make a bold artistic statement.

For a playful twist, decorate stair railings and newels with colorful ribbon or streamer garlands, balloons, playful paper shapes, and more.

Another unique take is accenting stairs with edible elements like fruits, veggies, herbs, or greenery with cascading vines. Grapes and vines, figs, artichokes, olives—there are so many beautiful natural details you can incorporate into your staircase decor.

Decorating the Staircase to Complement Your Wedding Theme

One of the best ways to ensure your staircase decor looks cohesive and reinforces your overall wedding vision is to keep your theme or motif in mind when choosing the design elements.

For a romantic garden/secret garden theme, you'll want the staircase draped in lush garlands of ivy, winding roses, trailing jasmine, and plenty of leafy greenery like eucalyptus and ruscus.

Accent with moss-covered urns overflowing with more blooms and vines. Little touches like hanging vintage birdcages could add some whimsy.

If you're going for an enchanted forest vibe, use more woodsy, natural elements like curly willow branches, berries, pinecones, and ferns woven through the railings. Pillar candles nestled in hollowed wood pieces would fit right in. You could even incorporate some fantasy elements like a garland of delicate ombre butterflies fluttering down the stairwell.

For a Tuscan-inspired, winery wedding, adorn stair railings with leafy grapevine garlands and accent with scattered clusters of deep purple and green cabbages or artichokes. Add lots of twinkling votive candles and rustic terracotta urns overflowing with sunflowers or olive branches for an Italian feel.

Glamorous Great Gatsby or 1920s art deco themes call for opulent stair decorations centered around geometry and negative space. Think exaggerated feathery fauna like pampas grass plumes contrasted with rich jewel-toned blooms like dahlias, amaryllis, and anemones. Drippy crystal garlands draped over railings add dazzle.

And, for an ultra-modern look, you could do a cascading "flower rain" effect with thin strands of orchids and dendrobium blooms.

Key Wedding Moments

Beyond infusing your wedding space with style and sophistication, decorated staircases provide the perfect settings for many an iconic wedding moment and for photography opportunities.

The grand staircase entrance of the bride descending the stairs toward her awaiting partner is a quintessential moment that takes everyone's breath away.

Formal wedding party portraits and newlywed photos often utilize stairs for visual interest and variety.

For a fun twist, you could even have your grand exit tossup by showering guests with flower petals from the top of the steps as you depart!

No matter your personal style and vision, strategically decorating the staircase at your wedding venue will create an undeniable focal point, a sense of grandeur, and an abundance of Instagram-worthy photo backdrops for your big day.

The Bell Tower on 34th, one of Houston’s leading wedding venues with a staircase, is dedicated to helping recently engaged couples realize their wedding vision.

Contact us and learn why The Bell Tower on 34th has been described as the best wedding venue in Houston, Texas.

The Bell Tower on 34th

901 W 34th St, Houston, TX 77018

(713) 868-2355