Decorated wedding arches add a touch of drama and romance in any wedding. It may be set in the church door, dramatically framing the wedding entourage as they walk down the aisle in the wedding procession. Or it may be placed just before the church altar, framing the bride and the groom’s silhouettes during the entire ceremony. It’s also a perfect backdrop for outdoor weddings like beach or garden weddings.
The wedding arch can be made from different types of materials, depending on the venue of the wedding ceremony or reception. For outdoor weddings, a metal or wooden arch with a solid base foundation is desired, so that it’s sturdy enough to stay in its place in case of very windy weather on the day of the wedding. On the other hand, for indoor weddings such as in a function room or a closed gazebo, the wedding arch can be made from lightweight material such as balloons or bamboo materials.
Remember that the type of wedding arch serves only as the base for your wedding arch design, and with lots of creativity and imagination, you can turn any simple arch into an elaborate work of art.
Let’s start off with the classic metal or wood arch. First thing you need to do is to soften the metal or wood by draping soft cloths like organza or tulle all around, until no metal or wood is exposed. Once done, this will then serve as your blank canvass. A wedding arch can have several themes which you can base your design from.
It can be designed as an Autumn Arch, using the leaves and fruits that abound during autumn, or a Christmas Arch, complete with pine leaves, poinsettia and Christmas lights for a December wedding. Other arch themes could be Gothic Arch if you have a Gothic theme wedding, or an Asian Arch using bamboos and exotic plants and flowers for an Asian-inspired wedding.
Likewise, for beach weddings, the design can be derived from the ocean such as adorning the wedding arch with seashells and starfish amid simple flowing fabrics. Other more neutral themes perfect for any wedding are the Woodsy Arch, opting the use of different types of tree branches or grapevines, or the Floral Arch, which is the most grand of all wedding arches, covering the entire arch with various types of blooming flowers.
A simple metal frame may cost roughly about $40 while a metal made from heavy-duty steel will cost around $130. After the wedding, these arches will look great in your garden, to grow some flowering shrubs or vines.
Another alternative to metal arches, especially for indoor weddings, is a balloon wedding arch. For just $10, you may add a touch of elegance to your wedding with balloon strips in muted pearl-like or crystal-like colors. All you need to add are soft organza or tulle fabrics to each of the bases to create a romantic wedding arch that will not blow your budget.
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