What flowers for wedding arches do modern decorators use?

A dacha is a place not only for work, but also for relaxation. After all, how nice it is to go out into the garden after work, take a deep breath and relax with a cup of tea, allow yourself not to think about anything, and enjoy the surrounding beauty. Making your garden special is the dream of any garden owner. An effective and elegant solution would be to organize an arch for flowers. A beautiful structure located in the right place will be the subject of your pride and the envy of your neighbors.

Brief overview of the article

What is a flower arch

Humanity has been using the arch as an architectural element for a very long time. It would seem that there was nothing remarkable: two pillars and a crossbar. The ancient Romans thought that they had put an end to the issue of improving the design by creating a monumental structure - the Arc de Triomphe.

However, an inquisitive mind, a variety of materials, functions and forms make it possible to create a truly masterpiece, albeit on a separate summer cottage. For inspiration, you can look at photos of arches for flowers on the Internet.

Name letters

Dmitry and Marina initially decided that a wedding was the brightest, most brilliant and unforgettable event in life. At a wedding in the European Urban chic style with a touch of glamor, the central figure was an arch made in the form of huge volumetric letters - the initials of the bride and groom in English. It was against their backdrop that they pronounced their vows.

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Functions of arches

The building can perform many tasks:

creating a general style - the arch should not be a “foreign” object in the overall picture. Its task is to fit smoothly into the design and not attract attention with its bulkiness;
zoning of the site - a successfully installed decorative element will help you create a secluded corner or arrange a place for receiving guests;
plant support – a classic of the genre;
a shady place to relax - a gazebo or swing, where you will be reliably hidden from the scorching rays;
additional support for the main supports of a gate or gate;
lighting – you can install a lantern (or several) on the arch, and you are guaranteed a romantic evening.

Arch decoration options

The most enjoyable and creative process is decorating the arch.

Photo of a wedding arch made of balloons

This can be done in several ways:

Decorating with balloons is the most budget option. The design is lightweight, but it is necessary to ensure good fastenings if an outdoor ceremony is planned to prevent it from falling in the wind. Balloons are chosen of the same size, no more than two colors corresponding to the wedding design - these can be delicate pastel colors or a combination of white and contrasting. They are attached to the fishing line. You can also add satin or tulle bows.
Fabric design looks great on rectangular and tent-shaped arches. It can be draped organza or satin, opening the entrance to the arch. You can run flower vines along the perimeter of the frame. Thick candles suspended in transparent spherical vessels look very original. The arch can also be decorated with light bulbs, which will be especially impressive in the evening, adding enchantment to the event.
Decorating with floral arrangements is one of the most favorite options. Lush garlands of artificial flowers and cascading vines will give the arch a luxurious look. To secure them, pins, tape, glue, and satin ribbons are used. Additionally, you can use small decorative elements: beads, rhinestones, sparkles. The main thing is that they are in harmony with the overall design. It’s a good idea to complement fresh flowers with decorative butterflies.

If the wedding is focused on a specific theme, the design of the arch should include elements that correspond to it. For example, for a nautical-style celebration, the arch can be decorated with long green vines, blue ribbons, translucent blue and turquoise organza, starfish, shells and chains of pearl beads.

Photo of a wedding arch in blue and white colors

Show creativity, taste and creativity, and your arch will be exclusive and impressive.

We also invite you to watch a video that tells you how to make a wedding arch with your own hands:

Forms of arched structures

The versatility of the arch also determines the variety of designs:

Actually, an arch - a vault can look like a straight line, resemble a roof, or have an arched shape (standard option). Also, the decorative element is used in the form of a circle or semicircle;
pergola – has a three-dimensional shape and consists of several arches connected to each other by a transverse element;
arch using a trellis - the arch or side pillars look like a lattice. This shape creates cross-ventilation, necessary for some crops.

Whatever design you choose, the strength of your desire and imagination will allow you to create a unique structure. And, perhaps, it is your architectural masterpiece that will give rise to a new type of arches.

Choosing a wedding arch: 3 main steps

1. Shape and dimensions. If your groom is of average height, a height of 2 meters is enough. Often the width of the arch is standard - 1.5 meters, but it can be adjusted depending on the decorations used. For example, if you want to decorate it with balloons or voluminous garlands, the width must be appropriate. Any of the forms can be played out in an interesting way, this will be discussed further;

2. Frame - often made of wood or metal. In good windless weather, metal-plastic will also do - you can make any squiggle out of it, but its stability is worse. The finished frame needs to be further strengthened (to do this, the ends are immersed in containers with cement and then carefully decorated);

3. Decorations – depends on the style of the wedding; you can decorate the wedding arch with anything you can get your hands on – give free rein to your imagination.

Natural flowers. The most common type of decor - such arches look harmonious both indoors and outdoors. Consult with florists, they will recommend the best option for your ceremony: astromerias (also called “lilies of the Incas”), roses, orchids, freesias, and carnations are considered to be the most durable flowers. However, after appropriate processing, other types of flora can be used;

Branches. An interesting choice for a wedding in the style of Eco, Rustic, Provence, shabby chic, country. This is not a capricious and durable natural material, and by combining branches of coniferous, deciduous trees and dried flowers, you can get a special decoration;

Balloons. They are mounted on a metal and wooden structure, previously decorated with fabric. You can choose balloons of similar shades, you can play with contrasts - the decision should be based on the style of your celebration;

Drapery. Often the fabric is combined with bouquets of artificial or fresh flowers. However, the lightweight material itself, which forms beautiful folds, looks very impressive. It is possible to make it in the form of a lambrequin or canopy; for this purpose, flowing fabrics like tulle or organza are interspersed with silk or satin;

Paper flowers and garlands. Economical and effective decoration: you can limit yourself to a few shades, but you can also organize a real rainbow. The main thing is to skillfully drape the fastening points and make flowers, umbrellas, pom-poms, garlands, etc. very carefully;

Fruits and berries. In the summer season, you can opt for exclusivity: venerable designers manage to create real masterpieces from the gifts of the garden. Ears of cereals and clusters of bright berries also look beautiful;
Ice and glass. It’s interesting, but in the winter season there are no less opportunities to create something unique than in spring or summer. Of course, the ceremony will be short, but intriguing and exclusive! You can create an arch of extraordinary beauty from a block of ice! Glass also looks great - all kinds of pendants and small figures will shimmer in the rays of the sun and create a rainbow mood;

Ribbons. The easiest way to decorate an arch is to cut many strips of fabric of different colors and tie them to the base. You can combine it with paper figures, Christmas balls, tree branches - whatever your heart desires.

Vintage. Recently, a trend has emerged such as the use of vintage products - all kinds of beautiful pots, frames, beads, even birdcages can find their place near the bridal arch. It’s interesting, but true, even with the help of books and photographs you can decorate your wedding area in a stylish and unusual way!

Plastic

The most budget option. Even a beginner can assemble an arch from plastic pipes connected to each other with fittings. The product will be lightweight, resistant to corrosion and moisture. By the way, you can purchase a ready-made arch.

The structure also has disadvantages: the fragility and lightness of the frame, short service life, sensitivity to high and low temperatures.

Brick

To create an architectural structure made of brick, you will need a decent amount of space, so the practicality of building a brick arch on a small summer cottage is questionable.

If there is room for engineering in the vast expanses of your garden, then upon completion of construction you will receive a self-sufficient and solid structure that can withstand heavy loads.

Features of arch organization

Before building or purchasing an arch, you need to think through the technical points:

installation location - directly related to the purpose of the structure;
take into account the dimensions - standard: height 2 m, width 1 m 20 cm;
the base must support the weight of the arch along with the flowers (if the structure is year-round). If the element is collapsible, then soil will do;
aesthetics - during the period of absence of plants, the structure should not spoil the overall appearance (for example, by the presence of rust or traces of mold).

What flowers are suitable

Flowers for an arch in the garden are selected based on the climate in your region and the strength of the structure. For those gardeners who want quick results, annual plants are suitable. For those who are willing to wait, perennials will be an excellent solution.

Wedding arch shapes

Arches at a wedding celebration can have a variety of shapes:

Semicircle (Horseshoe).
Circle.
Quadrangle.
Polygon.
Heart.

The arch can be single, collapsible or solid. But you can often see options with a whole arched enfilade. The elements of this design are lined up one after another, forming a corridor for the newlyweds to pass through. This form is considered auspicious because it symbolizes endless love and a long marriage. The cost of such a design is high, but the design looks impressive and luxurious.

Semicircle

The arched design is the most common option for holiday decor. The shape contains the symbolism of divine union and good luck. A horseshoe-shaped arch is suitable for couples who believe in omens and are faithful to folk traditions.

At a classic wedding, structures of this shape are usually draped with fabric and decorated with flowers, balloons, and ribbons. Contrasting details, for example, electric garlands and wedding-themed figurines, look original.

Weddings in eco-styles mean that the semicircular arch will be decorated with:

Branches, wreaths and bouquets of fresh flowers, ears of corn, dried flowers, greenery.
Wooden pendants.
Shells, pebbles.
Origami paper figures.
Dream catchers, beads, wicker accessories.
LEDs.

Circle

Round designs are suitable for vintage and shabby chic weddings. They are created on the basis of a wicker or wooden frame, sometimes the semicircle is made of forged metal with openwork decorations.

Fresh flowers of delicate shades are used as decoration:

Peonies.
Orchids.
Roses.
Tulips.
Calla lilies.

Dried flowers, ears of corn, and branches also look appropriate. Paper decorations, ribbons, and lanterns will help add decorativeness. The vintage style of the design is emphasized by porcelain pendants, lace, sewing, and old books.

If the arch is draped with fabric, it is better to choose the latter in pale shades of pink, cream, blue, lemon or beige.

The best annual flowers for an arch

An excellent and original option for decorating an arch would be a hanging pot with hanging annuals. Moreover, a pot for a plant can be stylized: old shoes, a tin can, a plastic bottle, an old kettle - if you have imagination, they turn into a unique decorative item.

Petunia, tumbelina, verbena, lobelia, geranium - these plants tolerate the sun well and bloom until frost. A fluffy hat, an intoxicating aroma, a riot of colors - what else is needed to please the eyes.

Another option for using annuals is direct sowing into the ground. The traditional first place is occupied by sweet peas, followed by nasturtium, bindweed and the little-known, but no less beautiful moonflower.

How to make an arch for a wedding yourself: making a frame

First of all, you need to decide on the size of the future vault. Its width should provide free passage for two, and it is better to add more reserves to the free space if a ceremony is planned with the presence of witnesses of the bride and groom. The height of the arch should be at least two meters, but taking into account the height of the couple, as well as a possibly magnificent headdress.

DIY wedding arch photo

Don't make the arch too big. Firstly, it will be bulky during transportation, and secondly, it is necessary that during the photo shoot, the bride and groom in beautiful outfits and jewelry be in the frame against the backdrop of a full view of the arch.

Step-by-step instructions for making a frame:

Flexible metal-plastic pipes are used as a base, which can be bent to give the desired shape to the future arch. The simplest option is an arc. Typically, pipes with a diameter of no more than an inch - 2.5 cm are selected. The length must correspond to the height of the arch, plus reserves for fastenings must be taken into account, at least 50 cm on each side. Usually a length of 3.5 m is taken.
To secure the arch and ensure its stability, they use a simple “Italian mafia” method. Ceramic flower pots are completely filled with plaster or cement and the “legs” of the arch are immersed in them to the very bottom of the pot, after which the entire structure is leveled in compliance with symmetry. The structure should be kept until it hardens completely, making sure that it does not warp. Please note that this is the longest manufacturing process. Gypsum hardens within a day, while cement may take 5 to 7 days. Subsequently, flower pots can be buried in the ground, if this is an outdoor registration, or installed on the floor and decorated. Another more versatile option is to use beautiful massive vases-stands. To make the structure easy to transport, the frame pipe can be cut in half at the top and secured with tape in place.
The final stage of the preparatory process is wrapping the frame with a fabric base: organza, chiffon, securing the layers by stapling or using a glue gun. A fishing line wrapped around a pipe can also be useful for mounting decorations. If necessary, you can use padding polyester to thicken the frame.

Simple DIY arch

There are many video tutorials on how to make a flower arch. To understand the process, consider the procedure for making a simple wooden arch:

we take measurements, draw a diagram of the future masterpiece;
we prepare wooden beams of the required length and in quantity corresponding to the sketch;
we treat the side supports with waterproofing material;
we install them in prepared holes 1.5 m deep;
we fill it with crushed stone, concrete it;
We carry out work on installing the crossbar after the solution has hardened.

Wedding arch made of flowers - production and decoration

So, first let’s define the size and shape of our fairy-tale structure. There are wedding arches that are attached:

on four bases - used in Jewish wedding ceremonies
on two bases - in the shape of a horseshoe, heart, letter “P”, quadrangle

The second option is traditional, and it is much easier to make such an arch. It’s better to “involve” the groom and his friends in this action - let the finished wedding arch become a pleasant surprise for the bride and guests.

In order to make a flower arch, you will need two metal-plastic pipes (each 3.5 m long, diameter from 2 to 5 cm), a cord plumb line, cement, sand, two flower pots or buckets (height 40 - 50 cm, diameter from 25 cm).

We start with “construction” work - you need to mix a cement solution and fill the pots with it. After this, we “stick” each pipe with one end into the pot, while the other remains free.

Note! The location of the structure must remain strictly vertical. Therefore, until the cement has hardened, the pipes should be carefully leveled using a building level. Watch the step-by-step instructions in the video:

This is the basis of our future wedding arch

Now you need to wait for the cement to completely harden, which will happen no earlier than a week later. It is clear that the ceiling height of modern apartments most often does not allow the placement of such a three-meter structure. So the pipes should be bent at a distance of about two meters from the base and in this form the arch will fit perfectly in any room. The upper part of each pipe must be bent and connected to each other, forming an arc.

How to decorate an arch with flowers? It is better to use artificial flowers for decoration, since live ones are unlikely to retain their pristine freshness for a long time. We begin designing the arch after the cement has completely hardened. First, we drape the structure with organza or tulle, “masking” the base of the arch in the folds of the fabric. Then we wrap the arched vault with garlands of flowers, which need to be secured with tape. That's all - the artificial flower arch is ready. For greater naturalness, the composition can be supplemented with fresh flowers and plants, which need to be secured immediately before the start of the celebration.

Maintenance of the structure

The arch frame requires treatment with special compounds and painting. Wooden structures are coated with an antiseptic against bugs and mold.

Varnish or paint will serve as protection from bad weather. Wood, unlike other materials, is subject to decay. Therefore, regularly inspect the foundations of the structure in order to eliminate the emerging problem in time.

Metal arches are also vulnerable, but to rust. Therefore, treatment with anti-corrosion enamels is the main thing in caring for the frame. With plastic ones, everything is simpler: wipe with a damp cloth, dismantle, and put in the utility room for the winter.

Whether your flower arch is simple, but created with your own hands, or an architectural structure made to order - for you it will become the entrance to your personal Eden.

Fabric with light bulbs

Irina and Nikita’s wedding is a lavender classic with rustic notes. The wedding arch was made in the same spirit - a piece of fabric was beautifully draped over the structure made of wooden blocks, which was decorated with a garland of light bulbs. The guys wanted to get away from the idea of using fresh flowers, and they succeeded!

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Photo of arches for flowers