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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Hello! I’m getting married in our backyard on Aug.15, 2010. My fiance made a beautiful gothic (square at the top) style arbor out of cedar, like what you see when you google wooden arches. Now…I can’t seem to decide on how to decorating it since we have temporily set it up on the cedar sauna porch. So, you see, it is wood on wood. Does anyone have any ideas for me? I have white tulle, but don’t want to hide the entire beauty of the arbor…I also have several bundles of freshly cut lavendar bundles drying upside down in which I would love to incorporate somehow with my roses. I have order 100 stems of baby’s breath too. Also in the backyard, we have a very large deck only 2 steps from the ground. I’ve placed 9 baskets along the railing in which I’ll be filling with fresh blue hydrendes, white roses and lavendar. But the arbor…any suggestions? Since my colors are royal blue & lavendar, I kind of wanted to keep the arbor mainly in the lavendar and white tones. So…I have baby’s breath, lavendar to work with. I can get ivy if I want…HELP! I’ve got too many ideas and can’t put it all together in my head!!!
Susan,
* love how they arranged this
Susan,
* or more natural liek this
Susan,
I would keep the arbor as natural as possible.
You could take ivy, babys breath, lavender and make garlands by twisting wire to secure to ivy and then wrap around the arbor like this pic….
* white arbor
Susan,
* or this
* more pics
Thank you Stacey for sharing some pictures and ideas. What do think about a swag? The arbor is in natural cedar wood and we’ve placed it on the porch of our cedar sauna. It is beautiful but looks so tall and a bit overwhelming, nearly as high as the beginning of the roof. What do you think of the 3 pointer idea with using tulle? Is tulle still “in”?
Susan,
I think that would be beautiful. Yes tulle is still in but go for the more billowy tulle instead of the stiff tulle. The 3 point would help break up the height of the arbor. Let some tulle gently puddle to the ground. I wouldnt secure it to tight that way it will have billowy folds and would look ethereal( but still secured firm).
I’m getting married on Oct. 16 at on old farmhouse type inn. I’m going with the whole pumpkin/wheat/fall leaves them. Is there a way to decorate an arch with cornstalks? Or can I eliminate the arch and just use 2 bunches of cornstalks? Do you have any pictures of this?
Stacey,
* some pics here
* DIY instructions
Stacey,
* more pics
* brides mag.
Stacey,
* other ideas
* love the candles in corn idea
Stacey,
I gave you other ideas I found but didn’t have much luck with your request. There are fall decor articles that say you can do this but no pics.
I’m getting married in Maui this November 13th. We’re renting a 4-pole bamboo with tulle. The flower arrangements are ridiculously expensive so I’m trying to think of alternatives to decorate it without being too tacky. I’m already using paper lanterns with ribbons hanging on each chair lining up the aisle. Will the same lanterns be too much if I use them on the poles too? Help!
Jasmin,
* why not keep it simple or use native greenery? Like this pic
* see how gorgeous this is
Keeping it simple will let the maui beauty shine though.
By the way what is your paper lantern colors? Cause I would head straight to Wal mart or a local craft store and buy up the same grade tulle for cheap and add to the bamboo canopy. Just drape it like in these *pics
Our bamboo canopy looks exactly like your pics complete with the tulle draping. Adding flower arrangements to it made it look even more spectacular. But they’re too pricey, hence the lantern idea. The aisle is going to look like this picture, turquoise/aqua lanterns with red ribbons on each chair. So will it be too much if I carry same decor in the canopy?
Jasmin,
I think it will be a tad to much. Do you know what would look nice? If they would only charge a small fee and swap out the white tulle for tulle or add aqua tulle. Anothe thing you could do is add red ribbons flowing from where the tulle gathers, now THAT would work very well to tie it in. Just have them tied real pretty with or without greenery, and let them flutter in the breeze. One ide to add some florals is to hang red flower heads upside down from clear fishing wire under the canopy. Then add the ribbons. You could have white blossoms with the red ribbons( you could actually use silk here and noone would notice).
Stacey, thank you so much for your wonderful ideas. I love the combination of white/turquoise tulle tied with red ribbons. That will incorporate all my wedding colors beautifully.
Jasmin,
You are most welcome!
My sister is getting married August 28th. I was wondering if anyone had pictures of tulle backdrop with white lights to use behind bridal table/cake table. Thanks, Sandy
Sandy Rocco,
* here ya go! Enjoy!
What we are trying to do is cover a refrigerater that can’t be moved that will be behind the bridal table and cake table area. This is the area we chose for the bridal/cake b/c it’s to left of the fireplace where they are having the ceremony–all one focal point. Looking at the pics you sent I don’t think tulle will hide the frig–to see through. Do you suggest another type of fabric and send photos please. Thanks, Sandy
Sandy,
Is there any way I could get a look at a pic? I could see which might work best. One thing is a lattice screen covered in fabric, flowers. Another is having a draping wall in front of the frig. This will need to be rented or built if you have someone crafty. I want to make sure before I give you a idea that might not work. There might be another way without having to spend alot of $$$ or time.
Sandy,
Are you familiar with a “pipe and drape”? With a pipe and drape you can not only hide the fridge but make a lovely backdrop for the cake table.
What about using a bifold screen - picture bifold doors. It could be any color you choose if you wish to paint it. You could line the screen with fabric, lace, toole, decorative wall paper or greenery such as ivy, plumosa, seeded eucalyptus. You could get creative and use a tall white picket fence draped with toole and white lights. Try making a screen out of white birch branches. Then you could drape white satin ribbon tied in knots. Good luck.
I am having a summer/fall wedding. It’s Sept 4th, in Ohio. The ideas are all becoming ver country like, with camo cests and horseshoes. I need a little help in how to decorate my arch… Anything will help :)
Harlie,
* pics/ideas
* more ideas
That’s when I am getting married too!!
I’m trying to locate a place to buy, or someone offering for sale an outdoor arch that is made from vines, has rustic appearance. Prefer one that is light weight for transporting. If anyone can tell me how to make
one, I would consider that, too. Thanks.
Try your local greenhouse, even if they dont have one I bet the can refer you to someone local who does.
Also try looking on craigslist.com you’ll be suprised at the stuff you can find.
Another idea if you have your heart set on vines is buy a wood or metal arch and you can purchase vines and put them on it??
Here is one I made from some scrub brush sapplings. I made some rectangled out of steel and pulled the branches through them. On the corners of the rectangle I wired dome straight thicker branches for stability. The arch I was made in a similar fashion. If you wnat it fuller you just put more branches in. You can also weave small light (patio or xmas) through it as well. I also made drift wood centre pieces with candles moss and lavender sprigs.
You can get pvc pipe and spray paint it brown, then get birchwood and cover the pvc pipe with the birchwood using wire. Where you put the wire you can either cover it with flowers or you can put grapevine wreath there and secure it with more wire. It is not hard to do I know I have already done several this way for weddings. Good Luck.
Daughter is getting married next Saturday, January 16th. Thinking about arch in front of church to stand under, colors are black, white and silver. Any ideas on how to decorate and keep it inexpensive?
Beth,
* I think you will like this article
Thanks Stacey, that does help alot with ideas.
hi! im getting married next month, but until now we havent made up the design like the arch in the church.. our wedding theme is (fairytale/cinderella) and we really needed unique ideas since all the stuff ive read about our concept is too few.. like the common releasing of birds during the reception is really a -no-no to me since i wanted it something unique.. could you help us with this?
HI!
I’m having my wedding in Hawaii, a beach wedding. I found a rental arch for cheap and would like to decorate it myself. I was thinking of hanging seashell ornamentation trands on back of arch ( capiz shells strands) with a drape on the front arch. Can anyone tell me how to come about putting the seashells together and maybe perhaps how to secure the strands into the sand? Or hang the drape so it won’t fly away!
Thank you!
Jess,
* ideas
*wedding decor
Thanks Stacey!!!
Congratulations!!! for the seashells you can drill a smal hole in the top and hang them with seaweed. and for the arch dig holes in the sand and tie sand bags around the bottom of the arch but the sand bags in the hole you dug along with the arch and cover it with sand and or weeds to give it an Island feel.
-Inspire My Wedding by K&S
i really like and love those pictures of an arch decorations. thanks. it is so beautiful
I’m doing a wedding arch on the beach. I have to attach 100 roses but not sure how to do it. Does anyone have any ideas? My friend wants to use oasis but I think the green will be seen. I thought about attaching individual roses in separate vials. I’m not sure how I would attach it.
Thank you!
kathi,
*attach roses to wedding arch
*attach real roses to wedding arch
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
hi! Connie
I lover the first 2 beach wedding pictures and my planning on making my own arch. Could you possibly send me larger sizes
of these so I can have a closer look at the GREAT job they did
and I plan to duplicate.
Thanks for your help
Sandy
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.