15 Romantic & Unique Wedding Arch Ideas
From bold color to daring shapes and styles, these are the go-to ceremony markers for next year's nuptials.
The wedding arch is a traditional design element often used as the ceremony's focal point, as entries and exits, or even in the reception design. Sometimes referred to as "an arbor," this design feature provides a frame for vows, establishes the doorway to a space, or helps a vast space feel that much more intimate (plus, it looks great in photos). In religious ceremonies, arches symbolize a range of sentiments, from the home a couple will build together, to a sign of protection. Exchanging vows under an arch or is steeped with meaning for many cultures—from ceremonial canopies to Jewish chuppahs.
While certain religious customs have design specifications for this ceremony marker, A wedding arch can consist of flowers, branches, wooden structures, mirrors, and beyond. They can come in any shape as well; think: crescent, pointed, square, rectangular, or geometric. Work with your wedding planner, designer, or florist to create the right style for you—or two or three. For a more romantic setup, opt for round structures with softer edges and gestural floral design. When aiming for a more modern feel, choose unique and asymmetrical shapes. We've gathered our favorite wedding arch ideas—from some of the most stunning real weddings—to serve as inspiration for your very own 2020 ceremony, reception, entryway decor, and beyond.
Go the Distance
Extend your arch by lining the walkway or aisle leading up to the chapel or ceremony setup. For Devon Windsor and Johnny Barbara's St. Barths wedding, this dramatic archway served as the entrance to one of the oldest churches on the island, transforming a simple local landmark into a romantic and regal venue.
Full & Frothy
Wedding arches shouldn't be limited to ceremony setups. Greet your guests with a wow-worthy installation at the door, or entrance, to your ceremony site or reception area—it will not only lead your guests in the right direction, but serve as a sign of what's to come from the remainder of your event's décor. This floral decor by Putnam & Putnam for Jove Meyer Events at the Brooklyn Winery was chock-full of texture and featured subtle color-blocking for a unique take on a traditional archway.
Modern Moment
DJ Tiesto and his bride, model Annika Backes, wed at Amangiri in Antelope Canyon and tapped Colin Cowie to create a dreamy, yet ultra-contemporary feel for their ceremony that suited both the setting and their style. Using only rectangular shapes and mirrors, these wedding arches reflected the landscape back into the design. These custom arches were used for the ceremony and for the reception in the evening, when they reflected the starry night sky.
Party Time
Don't limit your use of arches to just the ceremony. Welcome your guests to the reception with beautiful arches at the entrance, and then use them to create a more intimate yet organic vibe in a larger dinner tent.
Exit Strategy
For a more minimal approach, wrought iron archways are always an elegant option. Christy and Brian opted for arches in the simplest form when they wed at The Frederick Loewe Estate in Palm Springs, but more intricate ironwork would drive home a regal feel.
Half Moon
Rather than a tall and lean shape, think crescent-shaped instead—like this green and white floral arch in Aspen. A half moon-shape feels slightly less formal, and accommodates a larger bridal party and guest count.
Romantic Roses
Tried and true, this traditionally rounded wedding arch was the ultimate backdrop for Jade & Emma's countryside wedding. Combining just the right amount of greenery with pink and blush roses, this look is whimsical, organic, romantic, and not too over-the-top.
Make an Entrance
Use archways in droves to make it clear to all in attendance that they're about to enter a new space or environment—with a completely different look and feel. For Sean Parker's wedding to Alexandra Lenas, guests wandered through this walkway of intricate wooden arches and dangling blooms, aimed at transporting them to the couple's Lord of the Rings-inspired event created by Ken Fulk and Preston Bailey.
Ombre Effect
Arches aren't inherently romantic or bohemian—at times, they can be fun and playful as well. Kristen and Zack's wedding in Lake Como featured an ombré almond-shaped arch in every color of the spectrum at the picturesque Villa Balbiano. Created by BAZAAR Bride top planner Rachel Birthistle of the The Lake Como Wedding Planner, this colorful altar setup was a fun contrast to the ornate villa they wed in front of, and the breathtaking views of the lake behind them.
Simple Structure
For Ricky Fowler's wedding to Allison Stokke, BAZAAR Bride top planner Marcy Blum helped to create a stacked arch of wooden posts for a creative twist on the traditional wedding arch at the altar. Finished with asymmetrical groupings of beautiful blooms, this ceremony marker merged modernity with classicism for a look that framed the couple, without obstructing the stunning view they chose to wed in front of.
World's End
A ceremony and chuppah inspired by this bride's love of fashion—namely, Tory Burch's Fall 2018 runway show—was the start to a breathtaking ceremony designed by Jung Lee of Fete NY for an epic wedding in Capri. What's more stunning than creating a garden on a stone balcony? One that seems to be situated on the edge of the Earth, where guests can gaze at the couple, and then out as far as the eye can see.
Tropic Trio
A three-pronged archway of tropical blooms took Yuna and Adam's otherworldly wedding in the Malaysian jungle to another level, bringing the natural elements around them around and overhead for their ceremony. The couple collaborated with The Calla and YSA Events for their ceremony and reception at Puncak Rimba, a private resort in Bentong.
Posh Palms
When wedding planners and designers Matthew Robbins and Luis Otoya wed at Otoya's family home in Cartageña, Colombia, the two sought to create a ceremony marker that was unique to them and appropriate for their intimate, tropical ceremony on the water. The result? A tropical teepee of sorts, set on the edge of the property's dock to frame their vow exchange, and cap off the effortless, handsome, and beachy décor.
Oh So Luxe
When it comes to the size of a wedding arch, the options are limitless. Celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss tapped florists Hidden Garden Flowers to create this super-lush arch for a wedding in Lake Tahoe, which she notes took inspiration from the event's surroundings, accenting it with the couple's style. Given the lush location of this ceremony's mountaintop landscape, greenery—and tons of blooms—were in order.
Woodland Wonder
Skip the florals if they're not your style—especially if you find yourself in a woodland setting where a custom driftwood chuppah feels much more apropos. This curved wooden ceremony arch by Alison Events thinks far beyond the basic floral arch for a look that's as bohemian as it is contemporary.
Heather Hall is a weddings, fashion, and lifestyle writer and editor. Her career in weddings began at The Knot, where she worked as a bridal fashion editor. She then worked as a PR Manager at Amsale, a bridal design house, before starting her own events and digital marketing business. She has been featured on Today.com, MSN.com, Yahoo.com, Racked.com, Huffington Post, Verily Magazine, and Style Me Pretty. Heather loves music, travel, and practicing yoga. In her spare time she's typically researching the next fun workout class to try, or finding a new concert to attend. Her latest goal: become a DJ.
Carrie Goldberg is meltsflow.com’s Weddings & Travel Director. She oversees the site’s BAZAAR Bride channel, travel & dining content, and styles fashion and bridal editorials for BAZAAR.com. When she’s not traveling, she spends her free time in her hometown–New York City–where there is no shortage of new places to shop, eat, drink, see and explore.
