A wedding arch not only creates a wonderful space under which to say your vows but also provides an ideal frame for your photographs. The aim is to build an arch that is beautiful, simple, easy to construct and strong enough to carry the adorning flowers and ferns. When planning the overall floral display, think about what will be in the background. Our backdrop was selected because the green shrubbery and fern hedge complements the finished design. A hanging floral curtain was added to provide more colour and texture to enhance the visual treat.
ο Three 2m bamboo poles
ο Two metal buckets
ο Hand drill
ο Wire and wire cutters
ο Rocks, sand or cement (optional)
ο An assortment of flowers and greenery
How to construct:
– Measure and mark 13cm from one end of each of the two upright poles and from each end of the cross bar pole.
– For the cross bar, line up the markings for the holes to correspond to the markings on the two uprights. Drill a large hole at each of the marked spots.
– Wire the cross bar of the frame to the two uprights. See image 1.
– Decide where you want to set up the arbour before finishing construction. Place the two upright poles into buckets and fill with rocks, sand or cement (optional). Fill the buckets to only two thirds their volume leaving enough space for potted plants. See image 2.
– The buckets can be wrapped with Hessian or left bare.
Bamboo poles were purchased from a garden centre. Metal buckets, wire, wire cutters, sand, rocks and cement can be obtained from hardware stores.
To Make the Leis (Hanging flowers)
You will need a ball of string, and a long needle. Make sure the eye of the needle is big enough to thread string through. Needles can be purchased from haberdashery or craft stores. Cut the stems off the carnations and roses. Tie a knot in one end of the string and thread it through the centre of each flower leaving approximately 10cm between each bloom.
Decorating the Arch
1. Prepare the flowers by removing the lower two thirds of leaves from the stems and placing them in buckets of water in the shade.
2. Attach three oasis blocks which have been pre-soaked in water with cable ties, one on each upright pole and one in the middle of the cross bar.
3. Start the floral decorations by inserting some ferns into the oasis blocks. Continue adding greenery until the arbour is covered and looking lush.
5. Arrange the accent flowers by inserting the stems into the oasis blocks and tying any long stems to the poles.
6. Finish off the floral décor by placing masses of hydrangeas into the metal buckets around the base of the arbour.
7. Make the leis and tie them individually to the cross bar to create a floral curtain.
Floral stylist Aleksandra Schutz advises how to prepare and care for your flower arch.
– For quick and easy fastening, use cable ties instead of wire when attaching flowers and oasis blocks to the bamboo structure.
– Use a long upholsterer’s needle to thread flowers to make the leis.
– Keep the flowers cool and fresh in the heat of the day by spraying them with a mist of water.
– For the leis, choose flowers that hold their shape and not droop or lose their petals, for example, carnations and roses.