How to Build a Wedding Arch

Co-authored by Carole Grogan

Last Updated: March 12, 2021

Wedding arches are easily one of the most photographed and appreciated parts of a wedding. They add a level of elegance and can be used where the couple is getting married, as a photo booth, surrounding a gift table, and in other creative ways. While purchasing or renting an arch is one way to go, building your own can be a less expensive and more rewarding approach to take.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the Wood

1
Cut 4 posts so that each one is 80 inches (2.0 m) long. These bigger pieces are going to serve as the legs of your arch. You can put them aside for now while you prepare the smaller pieces.
- To cut the wood evenly make sure you support both sides of the piece by holding one side and placing the other on a flat surface. Using a handsaw is the easiest way to get smooth, straight lines.^{[1]
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- You can alter the size of the legs to your preference.
2
Cut shorter pieces from the last two posts. From each post you'll want to cut: one piece that’s 48 inches (1.2 m) with opposing 45 degree angles on either side, one piece that’s 12 inches (30 cm) with opposing 45 degree angles on either side, and a piece that’s 24 inches (61 cm) with straight angles on the sides. ^{[2]
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3
Clean the pieces. Some of the wooden pieces may have dust or sap on them. You'll want to scrape off any sap or other sticky material and wipe the pieces with a rag.
- A putty knife is the perfect tool to scrape off any sap from the wood.
4
Sand the wood. You can either sand by hand or by using an electric sander. But it's important to do this with even strokes to get rid of any rough patches or bumps in the wood. This is something that'll be in a lot of pictures, so you'll want it to look nice and smooth.
- Medium-grit sandpaper is best for sanding wood.^{[3]
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5
Stain the wood. If you aren't happy with the appearance of the wood, you can always stain them. Apply a wiping motion, using a paint sponge, rather than a brushing motion. ^{[4]
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Research source} Purchase a stain from your local hardware store and paint the wooden pieces on a large piece of cloth.
- Be sure to follow any instructions that come with the stain.
- This is best to do outside.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Assembling the Pieces

1
Mark 2 inches (5.1 cm) from each end of the pieces that are 48 inches (1.2 m) long. Mark the pieces with a pencil, so they won’t show once your arch is assembled. Once you’ve marked at 2 inches (5.1 cm) from either end, cut at a straight angle.^{[5]
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2
Assemble the top frame using the smaller pieces. Line up the pieces that are 24 inches (61 cm) to where the markings are on the pieces that are 48 inches (1.2 m).^{[6]
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Research source} The pieces should fit perfectly in those spots.
- Use a drill and wooden nails to secure these pieces in place. Once you drill these pieces into place you should have a rectangular top frame that will be the top of your arch.
3
Attach the legs to each corner of the top frame. Now that you have the top of your arch done, it's time to give it that beautiful height. Place one of the longer pieces that are 80 inches (2.0 m) long perpendicular to each corner of the top frame and drill these pieces into place using the wooden screws. Make sure they're nice and secure.
- You'll most likely need a few more people to do this part.
- You may need to attach smaller pieces of wood in between the legs (at the very bottom, this part won't be noticeable) to give the legs more support if you feel that they aren't strong enough on their own.
4
Add on the diagonal pieces. These are the pieces that are 12 inches (30 cm) long with angled cuts on the sides. At this point you can position them right under either side of the top of the frame and drill them securely into the legs of the arch.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Decorating Your Arch

1
Pick cloth and/or flowers. This is where your creativity comes in! You may want to coordinate with the season or the theme of the wedding when choosing any specific flowers or items to put onto your arch.
- Make sure the decoration of the arch doesn't clash with other decorations for the wedding.
2
Drape the fabric around the arch. You can either drape it along either side of the arch. If you don’t like that method, you can also gently twirl the fabric up and around each leg.

EXPERT TIP

Carole Grogan
Professional Event Planner
Carole Grogan is the Owner and Head Event Designer for Bright Blue Events, an event planning company that specializes in weddings. Her team has planned beautiful, detailed weddings, as well as social and corporate events for over 10 years, taking care of details such as floral design, décor, staffing, and catering.

Carole Grogan
Professional Event Planner

Our Expert Agrees: If you want to add something creative to your arch, drape it with long fringe, hang dream catchers from it, or hang a backdrop behind it that's decorated with art or calligraphy.
3
Attach the flowers to the arch. Using either a hot glue gun or a staple gun, attach the flowers and other decorative materials that you think will look great. You'll want to attach them so that they're evenly spread out in the arch in the pattern that you like.
- Be sure not to leave any huge gaps of the arch completely uncovered.