DIY Wedding Arch Ideas: How to Decorate with Fabric Drapery

Is it possible to create a beautiful arch by draping it yourself?

Yes…

this is

totally possible!

We want your wedding photos to look amazing without costing too much. Your ceremony is filled with emotion & décore! We all have seen those simply gorgeous wedding shots with draping in the background.

How can you create a similar look on your archway or wooden pergola without going over budget? We will share our wedding archway ideas so that you can get an identical look by renting drapery per piece.

learn how the pros drape a ceremony arch

Ship Our Wedding® provides everything you need draping-wise for square trellis & altars. This way you can hang fabric like a pro from your ceremony arch.

We even have base plates available for rental. This gives you more control over the fullness of your draping as it is pulled off to the side.

Ceremony Draping Rentals You Need

The rentals are simple to reserve on our website. Ceremony draping is broken down into two categories (fabric draping and weighted plates).

You will need a couple of handy tools as well (ladder, wire cutters, pipe cleaners, zip ties). We have broken down everything you need so that you know how to make a wedding archway below.

How to Drape a Wedding Arch

• (1-5) Pieces of 25-Foot Draping: The amount of drapery swags you rent will depend on your archway. Some pergolas are very simple (they go up, across, and back down). Some other ceremony arches are much larger. This complexity allows for creativity when hanging and pulling the fabric. If you have a larger pavilion, then you will need more fabric for the wedding arches.
• (1-4) 12lb Base Plate: These base plates are necessary when you are pulling your fabric off to the side and want to keep it in place. This is very important because the wind might take your draping and cause it to move. If you have more wind you will need more weight. Keep this in mind during your setup. You may need some extra weight nearby that you can also place on your base plates.
• Zip Ties & Pipe Cleaners: Your rental will come with a handful of pipe cleaners and/or zip ties. We recommend getting some extra just in case you need to use them to attach your draping to your ceremony backdrop. It is better to have more and not use them, than not have enough. You don’t want to make the wedding mistake of having to run to the store last minute!

When you do it yourself you bypass this unnecessary labor cost because you are in control over your setup. Save the money by getting the look you deserve. Keep reading to learn how to hang ceremony draping on your wedding arch.

Before You Hang Fabric

If this is not your pergola, then make sure you get permission first. You want to double-check your setup times in case your venue will double book the pergola. Typically this takes an hour or less to hang the drapery.

Chances are your DIY wedding arch will be pretty high up. If that’s the case, then have a ladder on hand so that you can reach up to hang/attach all the pipe and drape.

make sure you get permission first & confirm setup times

The more open your space the more wind you will get. If your ceremony is happening off a body of water then you might get A LOT of wind.

Factor this into your setup so you have enough weight on any drapery getting pulled off to the side. Also to keep your setup simple hire friends to work your wedding so that it saves time on your DIY setup.

Decorate a Wedding Arch with Fabric

Are you ready to learn how to decorate a wedding arch with fabric? The steps involved are based on the size and amount of drapes you want to have hanging on your ceremony backdrop.

Have (1) as the centerpieces going across the top and down the sides. Then use more to flank it on the left and right. If you have more panel draping then repeat any of the steps below.

It’s that easy to make a homemade wedding alter. As long as you got the wooden arch setup then drapery will do the trick. Try 2 or 3 different variations of the drapes at different heights before deciding on a style.

Decorate a Wedding Arbor with Lights

Why uplight homemade wedding arches & arbors?

• Creates a focal point in wedding photos

• Lighting improves the photo quality

• Helps complement a wedding style

• Lighting helps tie together stage design

• Patio light stringers are cheap & effective

Lighting is one of the best ideas to decorate a wedding arch or arbor. This is especially true if you are having your ceremony altar in a shaded area. This will help to increase the effectiveness of your lighting.

• Edison Lighting: Light strands are typically used in tents & outdoor events. This lighting decoration can help make your homemade wedding arch or arbor stand out. We recommend using only (1) or (2) strands for a simple clean look. Be sure to read more in our beginner guide on wedding tent lights.

• Uplighting: Is there anything left to be said about this unique and extraordinary form of lighting? Uplights can help accent the (4) corners of a square arbor. You can also place (2) wireless uplights at the bottom of a wooden arch or trellis to highlight drapery, greenery, & other decorations.

• Hanging Tea Light Globes: This simple hanging decoration looks amazing in photos. The only downside is doing it yourself takes time. You need to cut & tie off every candle. We recommend hanging 20-50 glass globes over an archway. Learn more about hanging glass candle globes.

• Lanterns: This is a proven way to decorate ceremony arches. Place 10-20 neutral-colored lanterns at various heights with LED flicker candles for added drama. Work in odd numbers (for example 5 on one side & 5 on the other). Keep in mind where your bridal party will stand so that your lanterns are visible.

Easy DIY Wedding Arch Ideas

So maybe you want to learn how to make a wedding arch. If you don’t want a large project, then you may want to rent a do it yourself kit!

• White Round Backdrop: This simple wedding arch is circular, sets up fast, and looks amazing! The white color goes with any party theme! Use this instead of a large wooden pergola, go for a temporary structure to improve your wedding photos.

• DIY Flower Arch: This backdrop is grand for both entrances & stages. Just imagine walking under this for your introduction. Have this in your background with an open center. This is great to stand under & create a photo area outside.

• Gold Ring for Wedding Altar: Besides a white backdrop you might choose a more traditional color like gold. This stands out well and will accent with a variety of silk flower garlands. This wedding arch is also a great idea when attaching balloons for less formal parties.

• Pillar Column Décor: If you need a wedding trellis idea then checkout our pillars. These are an excellent accent in minimalistic spaces. Since they go straight up they leave more room for decorations. Use these on both sides of a walkway, as stage pillars or the (4) corners of a dance floor.

How to Decorate a Tent with Fabric

Decorating a wedding tent is different than draping an arch with fabric. Tents usually require mounting points instead of simply hanging the fabric. This means you need to rent clamps, cables & turnbuckles.

Some tents have high peaks which require ladders, scaffolding, or scissor lifts. When working high up you need to be concerned about liability for yourself & your guests.

There are also (3) different types of tents to decorate with fabric. These are just some of many factors to consider.

Ceremony Draping Video Tutorial

Did you find the above instructions & ideas helpful? Know what would be even better? A super detailed video tutorial covering wedding arbor ideas.

📦 Rent Drapery Per Piece (24% OFF)

Watch the whole DIY process from start to finish and create your wedding ceremony draping. Learn what every bride needs to make it look like you hired a pro!

Will You Drape Your Ceremony

Tearing down your ceremony drapes is super easy. You might be tempted to grab an end of the fabric and pull, but we advise otherwise! Some wooden beams might not be secured properly to the top of your venue ceiling.

You might damage the structure if you pull too hard. It is safer to use a ladder and manually lift any fabric that is laid over any rafters.

Send us a message on chat if you still need help with how to decorate your ceremony arch

The great thing about do-it-yourself pergola draping is that it comes down very quickly. In 5 or 10 minutes you can have everything completely torn down.

As always if you have any questions about setting up a do-it-yourself wedding arch don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team of event designers would love to help you create a lovely look with draping at an all-inclusive wedding venue or air BnB wedding.