10 Creatively Designed Arbors for the Ceremony

Exchange vows under a work of art.

Regardless of the theme and cultural and/or religious traditions of your special day, there are many ways to craft the arch into a pièce de résistance of your own tastes.

garden-chuppah
Photo: Sheri Whitko

Picture this: you’ve just exchanged vows and shared your first kiss as a married couple while standing beneath a stunning arbor crafted from florals and lush greenery. An arbor can serve as a very special feature of your ceremony décor and is also a terrific opportunity to showcase your favorite flowers, colors, fabrics, even unconventional wedding elements such as bamboo, tassels, seashells, or feathers. If you envision yourself exchanging vows beneath a chandelier or cascading ornaments, “dripping” crystals, or colorful silk ribbons suspended in an intricate pattern – all of this can be incroporated into the arbor and its backdrop. Some couples discuss the design with their planners or work with a structure found at their venue, while others take it upon themselves to create one from scratch. 

Regardless of the theme and cultural and/or religious traditions of your special day, there are many ways to craft the arch into a pièce de résistance of your own tastes. It does not have to display only blooms or linens; you can include as many or as little details as you wish to make it truly special. If you really want a unique, personalized arbor but do not know which designs or elements to pursue just yet, take a look at how some real couples have fashioned the structure to their own liking:

Ornaments

all-white winter ceremony arbor with christmas ornaments

Photo by Nadia D. Photography

Branches

ocean view wedding ceremony with arch made from branches

Photo by Elizabeth Messina; Planning & Design by Mindy Weiss Party Consultants

Iron Structure

ocean view wedding ceremony, wedding arbor with flowers and iron structure

Photo by Christine Bentley Photography; Bridal Gown by Ines Di Santo; Bridal Salon: The White Dress

Chandelier

lush wedding ceremony arbor with amaranthus, pink flowers, and golden chandelier

Photo by Gloria Mesa Photography; Planning & Design by Mindy Weiss Party Consultants

Whimsical Design

large wedding arbor with white flowers and whimsical design

Photo by Brett Matthews Photography; Venue: Oheka Castle; Bridal Salon: Kleinfeld Bridal

Candles

chuppah made of luctire with pillar candles on top

Photo by Rob & Wynter Photography; Aisle Runner by The Original Runner Company; Rentals by Nüage Designs

Trees

wedding ceremony chuppah made from trees indoors

Photo by Elizabeth Messina; Planning & Design by Mindy Weiss Party Consultants; Rentals by Revelry Event Designers

Cascading Flowers

cascading white flowers strung on fishing line for ceremony arbor

Photo by Bob & Dawn Davis Photography; Floral Design by HMR Designs

Multicolored Florals

bramble of branches for chuppah with purple and blue hydrangeas

Photo by Sheri Whitko; Planning & Design by Paulette Wolf Events
Floral Design by HMR Designs

Ribbons

ceremony arbor with flowers suspended from ribbons

Photo by KingenSmith

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