DIY Wedding Arches

DIY Wedding Arches: how do you make these? This was a recent request I received. Not a problem! There are a few ways; permanent, semi-permanent, or non-permanent arches. The materials used are available from most timber yards, DIY stores, or DIY warehouses. If you have no carpentry skills that does not matter as I have some alternatives.

DIY Wedding Arches: Permanent Structures

If building a permanent structure an assumption is that you are building it in your back garden/yard and have no carpentry skills, so the arch is very basic. First you need to decide upon:

(i) the positioning - consider the climate, where there is sun/shade, the type of flowers you wish to grow up your arch
(ii) the width - ideally it should be wide enough for two people to stand under side by side. The length will depend upon the space available/personal choice.
(iii) the height - again personal choice, but between 7 to 8 foot is normal

DIY Wedding Arches: Materials for a Permanent Structure

Then you need to purchase the materials, wood, rose bushes/other shrubs, and decorations as follows:

wooden uprights a minimum of 4 for the smallest arch, length 9 – 10 foot (two foot needs to be sunk for stability), diameter minimum of 8 ¾ /9cm’s. You may be lucky to find some old railway sleepers if looking for a rustic effect, or discarded weathered telegraph poles.
cross beams a minimum of four 2cm x 4cm’s for the smallest arch. The length is determined by the width of the arch (minimum 4 foot/120 cms) plus an overhang of 9 inches/22.5 cms either side and 2 ½ foot depth with 9 inch overhang. OR
wooden lattice, that can be cut to size by the timber yard for the top and you may even consider part way up the two arch sides.
plants - scented plants such as roses, honey suckle, jasmine
net/tulle - sufficient to drape over the arch and fall to the ground on both sides
ribbon - sufficient to decorate any bare wooden structure. Unless the arch is made a year or two in advance the plants will not be sufficiently established to cover the arch. The ribbon looks great woven between lattice work.

DIY Wedding Arches: Permanent Structure Assembly

You will require a shovel, or hole digger, spirit level, saw, hammer and 6 inch nails and a staple gun.

- dig four 2 foot holes, the front two a minimum of 4 foot apart (width) and the back two 2 ½ foot in (depth). (Think 4 ft x 2 ½ ft rectangle.)
- place the four 9 foot uprights in the holes and temper in firmly, checking with a spirit level that they are vertical.
- place the two 5 1/2 foot cross beams horizontally widthwise across the top of the uprights and then the remaining shorter two 4 foot beams on top of them across the 2 ½ foot span.
- take a six inch nail and hammer through the two cross beams into the upright below. OR - place the lattice work (5 foot x 3 ½ foot) across the uprights and hammer into place.
- place your plants to the outside of the uprights and training them up the arch.
- decorate by twisting the ribbon around the uprights and cross beams, placing bows on the four inside top corners. (Or weave the ribbon between the lattice work.)
- drape the netting/tulle over staple gunning the top edges to the cross beams/lattice work.
- gather the sides in at the 3 foot height and tie with a suitable large bow

For an added dramatic effect, use florist’s wire and freshly cut flowers, e.g. roses and rose buds and weave them in with some gypsum along the edges. Use ribbon of contrasting shades.

DIY Wedding Arches: Semi-Permanent Structure

Go and buy a DIY garden arch kit from you hardware store. They are usually made of metal and lightweight in structure. Assemble following the manufacturers directions. When sinking into the ground you may need to place a heavy object (one either side) across the first horizontal rung to keep the arch grounded, or ensure it is pegged firmly down.

Decorate as above, with ribbon, netting/tulle, flowers real or silk, both of which may be interwoven using florists wire. Rose bushes (or other plants of your choice) may be planted in free standing tubs/urns and placed either side of the arch.

Fresh blooms should be sprayed with a water mist to keep them perky.

DIY Wedding Arches: Non-Permanent Structure

Materials Required:

- Hula Hoop
- Ribbon
- Net/Tulle
- Real or Silk Flowers + Foliage
- Florists Wire
- Sequins/Glass beads/Crystal beads
- Two four-foot sacred bamboo shoots, or 4 foot dowel, or 4 ft sticks

Equipment Required:

- Drill with small/find drill bit
- Needle and cotton
- Spray mist bottle

Image: the floral/decorative hula hoop will form a large halo to be held above the bride and groom’s head by the two rods/sticks. This is not unlike the Filipino tradition of holding a floral arch above the bride and groom.

DIY Wedding Arches: Non-Permanent Structure Assembly

Step 1: Take the Hula hoop and ribbon. Pull out 9 inches of ribbon to hang down. Then start winding the ribbon around the hula hoop until it is completely covered. When the end is reached allow for another 9 inches. Tie a knot with both ends and make a bow.

Step 2: Take the two rods/sticks and drill a fine hole through both ¾ inch down from the top through which florist wire may be passed. Having done this, securely wrap the florist’s wire around the hula hoop and rods at an angle of 45 degrees to the hoop. Test that the hula hoop is secure by getting two people to hold the hula hoop aloft. (If the hoop remains wobbly try some electrical tape.)

Step 3.: Starting at the top wrap ribbon around the top of the rods/sticks covering the florists wire and work downwards to the end. Finish with a knot and bow.

Step 4: Drape the net/tulle over the hula hoop, gathering ¼ and ¾’s of the way down the rods/sticks with a ribbon bow.

Step 5: Decorate! The flowers and foliage should be used to decorate the hula hoop ring. The sequins, glass beads/crystals should be used to decorate the centre tulle/net of the hula hoop and edges. The effect is to create a floral sparkling halo to be held aloft above the bride and groom.

I hope you have great fun making you DIY wedding arches.