How to Make Wedding Ceremony Backdrops

Elaborate architecture can make beautiful ceremony backdrops.

Sheer gossamer fabric, greenery and tiny roses all conspire to create a romantic backdrop for a wedding ceremony. While some churches will not allow you to decorate the alter, you can certainly decorate other venues for your wedding ceremony. Use white columns and fabric to make simple or elaborate wedding ceremony backdrops.

Things You'll Need

• White Roman columns
• White miniature lights
• Stepladder
• White electrical or duct tape
• Sheer gossamer fabric
• Double-sided fabric tape
• Wedding floral arrangements, small in containers
• Green ivy garland, 18 feet long

Instructions

Illuminated Columns

1. Rent two, white, Roman columns from the local party rental center. These columns are generally inexpensive to rent for the day.

2. Obtain sheer gossamer fabric to fit the height of the columns and wrap around them one time. You can obtain the fabric cut to specifications at the fabric store.

3. Set the columns 6 feet to 8 feet apart in the area you intend to take your wedding vows. You want the space wide enough to make the backdrop and highlight the officiator and the bride and groom.

4. Wrap miniature white lights around the columns. Stand on a stepladder and begin at the top of each column. Wrap the lights at an angle as you make your way to the bottom. Secure the strands with white electrical or duct tape as you go to keep the strands in place.

5. Cover the columns by wrapping the fabric around them. Begin at the top and secure the fabric around the circumference of the column with white double-sided fabric tape. Let the fabric drape loosely down the length of the columns and secure around the bottom with the fabric tape.

6. Place the small floral arrangement containers on the top of the two columns. Cascading greenery and flowers work well for this backdrop.

Green Garland and Columns

1. Place the two white columns 6 feet to 8 feet apart. The columns should stand just behind the wedding officiator.

2. Stand on the stepladder and secure the one end sheer white gossamer fabric to the top of the column with white double-sided tape. Press down on the tape to secure it well.

3. Stretch the end of the fabric across the width of the two columns. Secure the end of the fabric to the back of the opposite column with the tape.

4. Place the other piece of fabric in the same manner beginning at the top of the opposite column. The gossamer crisscrosses in between the two columns.

5. Measure 6 feet from the end of the green garland and secure the spot on the back of the column, just below the top. Drape the garland across to the other column and secure it to the back. White duct tape works well. Let the remaining 5 feet to 6 feet garland hang down the sides of each column.

Tips & Warnings

• String miniature lights through the green ivy garland for added illumination. You can use pale, colored gossamer fabric, if desired.

Resources

• Project Wedding: Ceremony Decor