Top Ideas for Adding “Wow” to That Wedding Arch
A given arch might not look imposing, but even a simple one has a way of powerfully framing you both, whether you're standing against the giant sweep of the ocean, or saying your "I Do"s in an otherwise undistinguished space like a gym or movie theater.
Finding Your Wedding Arch
You can buy a relatively simple white, metal wedding arch at major craft stores for between $20 and $40. If you want something more elaborate — or wooden, more like a chuppah — you'll want to either hit up a rental shop or have your family construct one. Most wedding arches are a quick build for someone with a little woodshop experience.Want to get yours online? Try simple tubular metal arches from Joann's here (8 feet high, 200 lights) or here (6 feet high). You can also often find more elaborate arches on eBay.
Here's one alternative to the classic metal or wood: balloon arches. If the mere thought of balloons in weddings doesn't break you out in hives, these can sometimes surprise you, with their soft tulle bases and understated balloons resembling pearls. Check into local balloon artists if you think this might work for you.
Special Tips for Beach Brides
Tying the knot in the islands? Try making a quick and easy four-footed chuppah out of bamboo poles. Ask around at hardware or lumber stores for a local supplier (yes, even the islands have hardware stores!).
Or if you don't want the chuppah but do want stability in the inevitable breeze, set each post in the sand, anchoring them in sand-filled buckets. Then pin, wire, tape or tie your ribbons or organza panels to the top for romantic flutter. (Popular tools for making things stick or hang: safety pins, white florist's tape, craft wire or microfilament — also known as fishing line).
Even if you're bringing a prefab arch to a beach site, make sure it's secured properly. A sudden gust of wind can send it tumbling, unless it's dug deeply into the soil or sand. Post hole diggers are what you want for all but the most windless days. Remember to compensate by buying, renting or building a relatively tall arch.
Finally, a word to the wise: if you're having a destination wedding, be sure to check out the wedding arch fees. Sometimes packages merely say, "wedding arch extra," potentially leading the bride to a coronary when she finds that rental and decor costs add up to $300-400 ... or even more. If your guest list contains some handy family members, skip the rental fees and ask them to make you an arch of wood or bamboo. It's not that hard, even on site.
The Zen of Decorating
You buy your arch. You set it up. Your heart sinks as you wonder, "What do I do with this bare, white thing?"Don't panic. Adding a touch of romance to your arch is simpler than it looks.
The Classic Arch
Most brides want to soften the arch's hard lines. A great place to start: drape it in a gauzy base of tulle or organza. If you're starting with a prefab arch and long, narrow rolls of tulle, try draping the tulle down the top of the front and back U-shapes, pinning every rung or two, leaving a little extra fabric at each rung so it "pools." Or if your fabric's almost as wide as the arch is deep, cover the whole thing, again pinning at every one or two rungs.Done? Clap yourself on the back (or break into one of those celebratory bottles of bubbly). Now, you could pin a sash across the back, or attach more tulle to the front on the left and right sides, pulling it out to create a long, gauzy aisle. Form this aisle fabric into swags that dip from pedestals, tiki torches, shepherd's hooks or whatever fits your decor.
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But enough of tulle: now for the real fun. You can quickly finish this project off by tarting up the arch's top with a garland. It can be silk or natural, maple leaves or ivy, sunflowers or roses.
Or, get slightly fancier: wire a single floral wreath or pomander ball to the apex of the arch. Or, take the three-point approach, tying floral arrangements at the top and both sides, about halfway down or a little higher (heavier elements like these require wire).
And if that's still not enough, decorate with three-point florals, and add a tall arrangement — think bare branches, bittersweet or topiaries — to the base on each side.
The Gothic Arch
Use a simple, dark arch that rises to a dramatic point; leave the lines clean and unadorned. Hang an enormous floral kissing ball in pale white or pink from the apex.The Asian Arch
Create a simple, square "arch" out of lashed-together bamboo poles. Adorn the corners and the base with bright red anthuriums, red heliconias, dendrobium orchid sprays and plenty of tropical foliage.The Autumn Arch
Anchor this arch in large vintage milk jugs or urns filled with cattails, and trail strands of faux maple leaves over the sides. Dress the arch with more faux leaves, coneflowers, red lobelia, salvia and Lavender Lady. Tuck bright red apples into the foliage. Accent the base with potted millet grass and mums.The Floral Arch
Covered from top to toe, the floral arch is a living sculpture that shouts "major occasion." The greens and blooms and on this arch seem to be floating in air, with the flowers appearing immensely heavy and the arch insubstantial. The floral arch is a job for the pro — grand, with a price tag to match.
The Woodsy Arch
Add a more unexpected texture by strapping birch branches (available at craft stores) or grapevines to the sides of your arch. Or instead of a fabric or ivy base, attach garlands of ferns.The Beachy Arch
Beach wedding arches often go the classic route, but a beautiful alternative for your beach wedding is to attach organza in simple, free-flowing swags, and dangle large seashells and starfish from the apex (the larger, the better).The Tropical Arch
Made entirely of palm tree fronds, the tropical arch creates a sharp, dramatic and slightly masculine silhouette.
The Christmas Arch
Cover your arch in pine or fir branches (a DIYer can do this; just cut and arrange your branches the day before the wedding). Wrap twinkle lights around the arch in a candy cane pattern, and hang a silk poinsetta kissing ball from the top.
Okay, But What About Arch Alternatives?
Sometimes you need a focal point, but arches just aren't firing you up. Some great-looking alternatives:
- A simple chuppah or mandap (Indian)
- A flat arbor screen, with potted arrangements on each side
- A large, low-hanging tree
- A gazebo
- A grape trellis
Finally, it's nice to remember that many wedding professionals jazz up their arches by hanging satin ribbons or silk filament from the back in long, even strands. This creates a hanging curtain of sorts, which you can personalize even more with items that match your theme: seashells and starfish, pinecones and maple leaves, or silk plumeria, orchids or gerbers. And if Mother Nature gives you a slight breeze that day, so much the better.
You Might Also Like ...
- Plan a Destination Dream Wedding
- A Garden Theme Wedding
- A Butterfly Wedding Primer
- Search Google Images for "Wedding Arch"
Talk the Tulle!
What types of goodies are you putting on your arch? How does it fit with the rest of your wedding style? Trade ideas ... and pics ... below!
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I live in the twin island of Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
I have a wedding to decorate on May 02, 2009 and I am interested in acquiring some grape vines and flowers for decorating arches.
How do I do my purchasing? Remember CHEAP IS THE KEY WORD
cherryl, your local craft store may have grapevine garland. sometimes it has grapes attached. they also have faux grapes separate. they do look real. so you might wanna check them out. they have more at links below, the prices here is so amazing!!! for more type in grapevine and also grapes at save on crafts. i would also ask if they will have a special bulk price. but remember you do not have to have a LOT of grapes on your arch, just add a few and keep them in odd numbers.(an art and decor rule!! smile.)
but add them in place of flowers for a spectacular setting, also add them in simple bowls for centerpieces and around your cake. keep you flowers to a minimum, just the wedding party.
*save on crafts grapevine
*artificial grapes
oops! you didnt say anything anything about grapes!!
Hey! My future is Trini! Congrats on the upcoming wedding!!
I just recently accepted a wedding decorating job of a golf course. It’s not going to be very elaborate or expensive but i already have most of the materials i would need to make it like she wants it…i just dont know how to elaborate golf into the decoration without hanging golfballs from the arch…help if you can…
Hi Elizabeth! Have you seen the golf decor page? It has some suggestions for an overall golf theme, some great pics from brides around the web, too, esp. in the comments section.
* Golf Theme Weddings (link)
Or do you have the wedding decor down but are wondering how to decorate the arch specifically in a golfy way? Write back!
amy,its not the same one but similar, i’m not sure, where that pic was found but i will keep looking!! smile!! ask your florist or wedding planner to help, they should be able to pinpoint an exact rental!! it looks like it was a destination wedding??? so it may be a bit harder to track down.
* Under the Chuppah
* Arches/Canopies/Chuppa ( here are some more ideas, check ceremony too!!)
* Chuppah / Canopy rental collection ( here are some style descriptions)
Hope this helps!!
I’m really looking for a beautiful but simple autumn wedding color arch example to have for my wedding inside of the house with the colors or red, orange,yellow,with green and little brown please help me anyone!
Shenika, see the pics, put these colors on grapevine, for the brown — check out the gorgeous outdoor swag arch in the red, peach, and green and then see the matching aisle decor. isnt it gorgeous!!!
ive ran across this wedding before at Boutwell Studio. This is a flash site so I can’t give you the most direct link but go to boutwellstudio, just click on boutwell weddings then folio’ and jennifer and mike’s wedding to see the entire decor. and for mofe info just google image fall wedding arch for tons of ideas!!!
I had a fall wedding and got bulk fall leave garlands and used a silk plant spray with a hint of gold glitter to have the extra something. I also filled in the top and sides with a sheer white tulle.
i think great autmns colors are persimmon which is something like a burnt orange but a little lighter, mint green, and ivory.
hi, i am planning a summer wedding, we are going to get married in pa. my fiance is from there. it is so pretty ,all country and farm land. i am from ny. i always wanted a country wedding, i am pretty crafty and have so many ideas. you would be surprised what you have lying around the house,that would make such nice decorations.
My fiance and I are having a farm wedding in May, We will have a Double Wedding Ring quilt as a backdrop, Seating will be straw bales with quilts draped over them. Our cake table will be draped with a quilt, covered by clear plastic. Our punch bowl and Ice bucket will be food grade galvanized buckets from the feed store.
Becky,
Do you still have the Fall Wedding Arch? My daughter is getting married late Sept and we are looking for one.
debbiesgibbs@bellsouth.net
Here are some beach wedding arch ideas.
i was wondering if i could be sent a picture of the middle arch , i absolutely love it . i cant quite see the detail with th epic being so small. thank you
As Lori requested a larger pic, I would like to see this larger also. I am having a each wedding and love this arch
Okay Ladies,
If you are looking for cheap in bulk garlands, vines, twigs, bamboo, you name it they’ve got it……
Go to: “save-on crafts.com”
They have it all for great prices pretty much anything you could want to decorate a wedding with. Seriously. Check it out. Even with paying shipping cost, they are far better priced and way better selection than any craft store where I live (in the LA, Ventura County area of California.) They have in BULK and that’s what you would need.
Madison, look up the “natural grapevine twig garland” from that site, and see if you like it for your possible arch.
Ladies, you could even do a google search under “twig branches for crafts” or “garland for crafts” and see what comes up.
A good idea would be to go to Michaels craft store and buy a metal arch anyway. You could wrap twig branches or berry garland, and fall leaves garland around the rungs. You could make it look really rustic, country, or shabby chic. My sisters wedding is in April in a garden and I just got an arch from Michael’s craft store for her wedding on sale and it cost me $23.00. We are going to decorate it with sheer curtain material (cheaper than tulle, and prettier-2 long panels). Then add the vines, garlands and flowers. You could also just have a row of evenly shaped pumpkins along the aisles and behind the officiant, and leave the backround open with a layer of fall leaves around and under where you will be standing in the front. It’s all up to you. Try taking pictures of the ceremony site, then drawing out on a blank piece of paper the ideas that you have. See if you like what you’ve drawn. It will help to get your mind thinking more visually. Are there any other couples that have been married in the same location before? Do they have pictures you could look at? Does the site have pictures of past weddings in a portfolio? You could also buy little trees and position them in the front. If you shape your own arch you are still going to need to attach it to something stable, so you will need to either buy an arch, or make one. Quite a few hardware stores also have wooden trellises for gardens, that are not painted or stained. You would probably be better off getting one of those, as it all ready looks rustic. Anything you add onto it from in the way of branches could only make it look better. Do a bunch of comparison shopping looking at prices, and pulling pictures into a file on your desktop to help keep ideas fresh in your mind. When you next step into a bridal or craft store, your keen crafty ideas will simply flow.
my wedding is in the country in november and its an autunm theme with twigs, branches and leaves with a few pumpkins, there isnt an arch its jsut plain open land, any ideas that we caould do to make a backdrop behind us? or do you know where to purchase long branches to shape and make your own arch?
Hey ladys, Ok so where on a tight budget and we need help deciding what to do with are arch way. Its an old style metal arch way with white paint on it. We thought about doing the fake flowers and kinda making it look like vines going around it…but those tend to be Very pricy…Can any one help use out……:(( It is an out side wedding, july 27th so..help use please…feel free to e-mail me with your ideas… mrsangelajones@yahoo.com
Here’s an unbelievable arch snapped by harpist Devon Haupt at a gorgeous Indiana garden wedding. Maybe not much of a DIY project but guaranteed to IMPRESS your guests!
I am having a beach weddding and need to figure out where I can purchace large bamboo shoots that I can decorate. Cheap is the key word. Any ideas?
does anybody have any ideas on how to decorate an arch for my outdoor wedding. simple but cut???
should i use brass or white candelabras
Hello, I wanted to decorate the celing at a reception hall with tulle, organza and lights. I was told by a profesional decorator thay you have to have some kind of insurance to decorate and must use fire retardant material. Is this true or did she just want to be hired?
Hi Nikki, don’t panic! This is easier than you think.
If you don’t see images here that are helpful, just plug wedding arch into Google images (or just click on that link). Browse until you find a couple of pics that show what you want. I see a few photos of the Michael’s-type arch in the first few pages of google Images. One shows a simple 4″ wide spool of tulle woven through the bars, and a garland draped over that — couldn’t be simpler.
Some of your nervousness may be not knowing what materials to buy, or how much. I know it sounds a little crazy, but mock it up before you go shopping! Use any material you have on hand, even sheets. (Great chance to change your sheets
). Play with it, you will quickly get an idea of what you like, and then you can measure exactly how much tulle etc. to go shopping for.
Hope that helps!
Help!!! I am getting married May 25th. The wedding is outside, and I have purchased an arch (from michaels, that seems to be the place to go) but have no idea what to do with it. It is pre-lit, but it needs something else. I’ve heard i should use tulle and maybe some greenery, but i’m not very crafty and have no idea how to decorate it. The wedding is outside in a garden and nothing else in the wedding is very elaborate, so i want to keep it simple but still beautiful. What do you think?
hello, i could really use some ideas for my wedding arch. it is going to be inside at a church. i want simple and cheap. my colors arewatermelon and white. i could really use some pictures. can u help me PLEASE?! i only have 33 days left
Michael’s craft store sells arches under $20.00 and actually have speicals … grab the 50% off coupons they offer in the paper and you can get it for 10.00… oh, and did I tell you it also has all the little lights on it : )
Great buy!