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Bring your altar to the next level with these designs.
Molly Allen is a previous bakery owner with expertise in wedding orders, as well as a former event planner. She is now a freelance writer focused on lifestyle, travel, and food and beverage.
It goes without saying that the ceremony setting for your wedding may just be the most important component you plan. After all, that’s where you’ll say your vows, make a commitment, and say “I do.”
While a breathtaking backdrop can certainly speak for itself, incorporating a wooden wedding arch is a beautiful way to create a focal point and enhance the setting. “Wooden arches are great for settings that don't need elaborate florals, as the exposed wood is part of the design,” says Amanda Theodoropoulos of Twisted Willow Flowers. “They're also great in more natural settings that complement the outdoor aesthetic.”
If you’re planning an outdoor or rustic wedding, a wooden arch may be the perfect fit. But they can also be utilized in other settings. According to Cynthia West, owner of Creative Flow Co., rectangular structures are most common and very popular, allowing you to keep your accents symmetrical or to add a touch of character with asymmetrical accents. “Emerging on the scene recently, and we will definitely be seeing more of them, are beautiful cathedral styles and geometric shapes,” she says.
As for dressing up a wooden wedding arch, the options are endless! "Arches are so versatile in the sense that you can dress them up or dress them down, and they still add so much to your ceremony," says West. "Adding a chiffon drape with floral accents arranged asymmetrically can add a sense of romance to your overall design. In a natural setting like a winery or among the redwoods, an abundance of greenery would be the perfect accent. If you love colors and flowers, a plethora of vibrant blooms is always a showstopper." According to Theodoropoulos, painting or staining the wood to match your color scheme is another great way to complement your wedding aesthetic.
Ready to choose a wooden wedding arch design for your big day? Here are 38 striking ideas.
PHOTO BY JULIE LIVINGSTON PHOTOGRAPHY
Think a wooden wedding arch is too rustic for a beachside ceremony? Think again. Incorporating birch lightens the look, making it the ideal pairing for white hydrangeas, peonies, and ranunculus.
Photo by Henry Tieu; Floral design by Rusted Vase Floral Co.
Setting up two planks of wood in a crisscrossed pattern makes for a simple wooden wedding arch. But the beauty of that simplicity is that it's primed for decoration. With lovely bunches of florals, including pops of golden hues, this display is ready for any outdoor celebration.
While the backdrop of this ceremony setup is beautifully framed and nothing short of breathtaking, it's the personal touches that really drive it home. This real wedding couple decorated their wooden wedding arch with dream catchers to later take home as mementos of the big day.
Hoping to truly embrace a rustic look? Using natural wood is the way to go. This bride's father built the couple's custom altar out of fallen oak branches. The couple decorated the structure with eucalyptus and garden roses for the perfect bohemian vibe.
We love the natural, live-edge design of this wooden structure. And with such unique qualities, it could certainly stand on its own. But dressed up in lush greenery and beautifully bold blooms, it's taken to a whole new level.
Photo by Dillon Phommasa; Event Planning by Everbloom Floral Design
Want something a little different? Opt for a handcrafted square design, but turn it on its side. With two tones and pretty blooms, this rustic-meets-modern display is truly unique.
Photo by Jillian Mitchell Photography
There's just something so beautiful about slender pieces of wood forming a structure. It adds just a bit of a modern feel but also serves as a statement piece. Paired with a few vibrant bundles of flowers and greenery, this was the ideal design for a celebration in Sayulita, Mexico.
We love the distinctive look of a geometric design, and this setup certainly embraced it. With gorgeous stained wood and a few stunning blooms, this wooden arch frames a waterfront backdrop beautifully.
A simple wooden arch makes for the perfect place to make a bold statement, but incorporating custom pieces to pull it together within the ceremony space adds an extra special touch. Framed on each side, this look featured pampas grass, dried palm leaves, and pink, white, and gold flowers for a gorgeous boho vibe.
PHOTO BY ASIA PIMENTEL PHOTOGRAPHY
We love the way this display made such a statement during the ceremony with its towering height. Draping it in fabric and adding flowers to the center made it that much prettier to pair with a seaside backdrop.
For many couples, the shape and design of a wooden wedding arch may be all about energy. That's exactly what this couple embraced during their ceremony in the round. The guests sat in a circle, while the couple said their vows underneath a wooden pyramid.
PHOTO BY JAMIE LAREE JESKEY
Planning a wedding with a modern aesthetic? Black and white may be the ideal color scheme, and it can certainly come into play with a wooden wedding arch. This structure, featuring a square and a triangle with a few blooms, served as a stunning backdrop with plenty of contrast for a rooftop celebration.
While bringing in a wooden arch is a possibility, your venue may already have a natural setting to embrace. This couple was lucky enough to find a space with plenty of whimsical branches to serve as their altar for a cabin resort wedding.
Photo by DANA FERNANDEZ PHOTOGRAPHY
Dark wood certainly isn't the only way to go! If you love a light and bright aesthetic, birch wood pairs perfectly with plenty of bright florals for a gorgeous spring look.
PHOTO BY AMRIT PHOTOGRAPHY; EVENT PLANNING BY FINESSE DÉCOR; FLORAL DESIGN BY DA FIORI FLORAL DESIGN
This handmade wooden pergola is incredible on its own. It's even more special because it was built by the bride's father. But delicate pastel draping, pampas grass, and roses took it to a whole new level of stunning.
Don't be afraid to add plenty of color to your ceremony setting if that's what you've always dreamed of. This wooden arch made a stunning statement decked out in pretty peonies, hydrangeas, and roses.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN LEE Photography
There's no rule that says a wooden wedding arch needs to stay brown. Elevate the look of your structure with a coat of white paint to provide a lovely setting for a relaxed summer wedding.
PHOTO BY FORGED IN THE NORTH
While many arches or chuppahs may have a floral statement or two, this look kicked it up a notch. With hanging chrysanthemums in a variety of hues, which come with the meaning of happiness, love, and longevity, this couple was surrounded by beauty as they tied the knot.
PHOTO BY SHANNON VON ESCHEN
The options for shapes and sizes of wooden wedding arches are truly endless. While this wooden altar draped in greenery was simple, its shape, designed to mimic a house, certainly elevated the look.
PHOTO BY THUNDER & LOVE Photography
If you're planning a ceremony in a naturally beautiful setting, it may be easier to keep the décor to a minimum. This couple opted to spread dried leaves down their aisle, leading up to a wooden arch accented with greenery and a few blooms.
Photo by CKC Image; Event Planning by J29 Events; Floral Design by Flora Organica
A simple wooden triangle arch, colorful blooms, potted plants, and draped macramé? Talk about the perfect setup to frame a dreamy setting and add a hint of a boho vibe.
PHOTO BY PAT FUREY PHOTOGRAPHY
Pampas grass is such a lovely addition to dressing up any wooden arch. And paired with bold king proteas, this design made a beautiful statement set amongst olive trees in Italy.
PHOTO BY CARRIE PATTERSON PHOTOGRAPHY
While your backdrop may make for an incredible spot to say "I do," it can certainly be enhanced with a beautiful arch. This chuppah was handmade by the bride's father out of natural wood to truly celebrate nature. One giant floral arrangement was a gorgeous way to add a pop of color to an already special display.
Photo by Nick Plus Danee; Event Planning by The Greatest Adventure Weddings; Floral design by Rusted Vase Floral Co.;
Planning an adventure elopement? Or even an intimate forest wedding? Embrace your surroundings and opt for a special arch made out of branches and twigs to frame your nuptials in the most eye-catching, natural way.
Photo by Lauren Kearns Photography; Floral design by Twisted Willow Flowers
Embrace the beauty of your ceremony location and kick it up a notch with additional greenery. This simple, dark wood arch served as the ideal canvas for plenty of lush greenery, white roses, and even a few hops!
Photo by Adria Lea Photography; Floral design by Wild Rose Events
We can't get over the incredible detail of this eternity circle. This arch was crafted with multiple pieces of wood to create a beautiful canvas to be decked out in pretty greenery and pastel blooms.
Photo by Space Wolf Grace; Event Planning by J29 events; Floral design by SELVA Floral Design;
Opt to make your wedding arch a bit unexpected. This double-triangle arch added a touch of whimsy, set against a magical forest backdrop.
Photo by JBJ Photography; Event Planning by Creative Flow Co.
While a wooden arch can certainly stand on its own, it's also the ideal canvas to dress up. This design incorporated a drapery of pretty pink fabric with plenty of greenery and fresh blooms for a romantic look.
Photo by Sweetlife Photography; Event Planning by J29 events; Floral design by Heirbloom Floral Design
Setting up a simple wooden wedding arch is such a great way to bring the outdoors inside for your ceremony. But why stop there? This setup brought plenty of greenery into the mix, draping it to create an even prettier focal point.
Photo by Sweetlife Photography; Event Planning by J29 Events; Floral design by Distinctive Designs by Denice
Think a wooden wedding arch is too rustic to give off a feminine vibe? This stunning structure played with geometric shapes, particularly a hexagonal design. Paired with plenty of pink roses, this display made for the perfect frame for an outdoor ceremony.
Photo by Lauren Fair Photography; Floral design by Twisted Willow Flowers
Planning a winter wedding? We can't get over this stunning look. Bring the outdoors in with plenty of natural branches and white blooms to form an organic arch.
There's no shame in embracing a minimalistic design, and this simple wooden structure pulled it off beautifully. Of course, adding a few colorful blooms to enhance the look doesn't hurt.
PHOTO BY D'ARCY BENINCOSA; FLORAL DESIGN BY PHOEBE MA
When you have your ceremony on a rooftop, you certainly don't want to detract from the view. However, adding a simple, light wooden arch makes for the perfect pairing for greenery and pastel blooms. Plus, this structure came straight from the heart. The groom built it the night before the wedding with the help of his trusted groomsmen.
Photo by True Grace Photography; Event Planning by J29 Events; Floral design by SELVA Floral Design
While a wooden wedding arch can stand as a stunning display piece without décor, it does make for an ideal canvas. This circular design was simply covered with lush ferns and neutral blooms to match the surrounding ceremony site.
PHOTO BY SYDNEY MONSON PHOTOGRAPHY
While a triangular wedding arch made of wood may seem simple, the options for dressing it up are plentiful. This happy couple chose to add a bundle of greenery and white blooms, paired with a stunning rug and white lanterns, to complete the look.
PHOTO BY O'MALLEY PHOTOGRAPHERS
There's just something so pretty and slightly whimsical about hanging florals. We love the way this wooden arch was draped with white gauzy fabric and paired with strings of white flowers to create a meaningful space.
Photo by CHELSEA MARAS PHOTOGRAPHY
Make a showy statement by dressing up your wooden altar with plenty of beautiful additions. This couple paired big palm leaves, orange buds, and a draping of macramé for a unique look.
Go for wood, but add a modern twist. This couple opted for a wooden structure painted black, but they paired it with sprawling branches for an elegant-meets-boho vibe.
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