DIY Chuppah

Vows are exchanged underneath the chuppah.

The chuppah is an important aspect of Jewish wedding tradition. It represents the new home the bride and groom will make together and relates back to ancient times when the groom would prepare the chuppah -- meaning a room or a home -- for his bride before marriage. Making your own chuppah allows you to customize the canopy structure you stand under during the wedding so it reflects the personality of you and your mate as well as the theme of the wedding.

Things You'll Need

• 4 wooden dowels, 7 to 8 feet
• 4 PVC pipes, 2 feet tall
• 4 large planter pots
• Cement mix
• Potted plants
• Fabric
• Staple gun or hammer
• Nails or tacks

Instructions

1. Place PVC pipes into four planter pots. Space the pots allowing enough room for your wedding party. Hold the poles steady and straight in the center of each pot.

2. Pour mixed cement into each pot. You could also have an assistant pour the cement while you hold the poles until each pot is about half full. Repeat until all four pots have cement and poles inside. Allow to dry completely.

3. Place soil into the pot. Plant flowers in each pot around the pole to add a natural and unusual touch to the chuppah.

4. Insert a wooden dowel into the top of each PVC pipe to create the frame of the chuppah. The height of the dowels varies depending on how tall you want the chuppah. The dowels should be a minimum of 7 to 8 feet tall.

5. Select fabrics to drape over the frame, such as organza or silk. Choose a fabric that is soft and light and will billow in the wind if the ceremony is outdoors or drape gently if indoors. White or ivory are common chuppah color choices.

6. Drape the selected fabric over the top of the four dowels. Secure with staples or tacks. Wind additional fabric down the sides of the dowels to add another decorative touch to the sides of the chuppah.

References

• Do It Yourself Weddings: Wedding Chuppah