Arbor Envy

Arbor Envy

November 9th, 2010 @ 8:16 am by Ms. Sloth
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I have been trying very, very hard to stay away from anything wedding related that will take a toll on my stress level or our budget. We’ve been trying so hard to simplify, simplify, simplify, and I’ve been trying to not become bewitched with pretty wedding things that I see on blogs.

Unfortunately, I’ve decided that we absolutely have to have something to stand under during the ceremony. Some kind of arbor, or arch, or pergola, or whatever you call it. Our venue has the outdoor ceremonies out in the garden, and while it is fabulously beautiful, there is no defined area for the ceremony to take place. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; take a look at this ceremony at my venue:

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Pretty, right? Nothing wrong with a backdrop of wildflowers, and although I find this photo breathtaking, I still want more, more, more.

It’s because I keep seeing photos like this:

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Arbor Envy : wedding decor philadelphia 4785152 4785152

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Oh my God, right? Could you die? I am pretty much heartbroken that this type of majesty is not in the cards for us. I could maybe make that many paper flowers in the months leading up to the wedding, but we don’t have any carpentry skills, or tools for that matter. Also, we don’t have any room in our house to store that monster, and we don’t have a free way to transport it to the venue.

Mrs. Paisley and her dad built a driftwood arbor, and apparently, it wasn’t too difficult. It looks amazing, but it looks like it’s pretty permanent, and we need something portable.

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Some cheaper, easier options are less inspiring, in my opinion.

Balloons remind me too much of senior prom.

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I could buy a very affordable metal arch like this, and then decorate it somehow:

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But I don’t think that it’s right for our venue. I want something wilder, more organic.

Are you getting married under an arbor? Did you rent it, buy it, or make it yourself?

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31 Responses to “Arbor Envy”

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Member

7SEVENJ9 (message) 3,701 posts, Sugar bee

I went through the same thing - our outdoor space lacked some defined area for our ceremony… so in the interest of portability, I went to Lowe’s and got some wrought iron garden trellises and spray painted them white… check out my bio of the ceremony for pics!

11/9/10 @ 8:28 am (reply)

Member

blanket (message) 206 posts, Helper bee

I’m just as conflicted as you. I was looking for a very beautiful tree to get married under, but there aren’t many around here. I also don’t want the metal arch -ick-. Either we use the wood arbor that the venue rents which is pretty nice, or we don’t use anything at all. But I bet you could come up with something like the paper flowers. Maybe a simpler, smaller version?

11/9/10 @ 8:30 am (reply)

Member

ChillyBear (message) 175 posts, Blushing bee

What about a chuppah style arch - poles w/ draped fabric and decoration. Ask your venue - they may have something in storage. Or see if a another bee has one you can borrow

11/9/10 @ 8:34 am (reply)

Member

Mrs. AF (message) 132 posts, Blushing bee

have you checked your local party rental store? I have rented a birch arch(for 80$) and we are making the paper flowers. Just a suggestion.

11/9/10 @ 8:40 am (reply)

Guest

bohomum

Have you seen this one? I LOVE LOVE it! Not sure on the price, but it’s definitely organic.

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/altar-and-aisle-decorations#slide_4

11/9/10 @ 9:05 am (reply)

Member

glamfish500 (message) 262 posts, Helper bee

You should try a canopy like this one:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20387891,00.html

You could use cement to weight the poles down instead of having to put them in the ground and it would be easy to store in a closet or the garage until wedding day.

11/9/10 @ 9:06 am (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Trail Mix (message) 6,328 posts, Bee Keeper

Ask your florist! Ours did our Chuppah and it was gorgeous! She might have some sort of arch and you could decorate it yourself!

11/9/10 @ 9:13 am (reply)

Member

TheFutureMcBride (message) 4,479 posts, Honey bee

@Mrs. Trail Mix: That’s exactly what I was going to say! We rented a grape vine arbor, delivered by the florist, and very cheap. They may even hook you up since you’re getting your flowers from them or because your venue uses them often. Check it out.

11/9/10 @ 9:16 am (reply)

Member

Little Lulu (message) 108 posts, Blushing bee

This wedding has a circus theme so their “arch” created more of a big top tent look, but maybe you can adapt it to create something fun that has the look you want but is still portable.

http://www.100layercake.com/blog/archives/6755

11/9/10 @ 9:31 am (reply)

10.

Member

Violet Violet (message) 985 posts, Busy bee

I think you can work with your florist to make it happen–even if you DIY it’s good to have a professional help you figure out the set up/logistics.

11/9/10 @ 9:36 am (reply)

11.

Bee

Miss Brooch (message) 1,721 posts, Bumble bee

I used to be like UGH arbors, but there are some GORGEOUS ones out there and I LOVE personalized ones! I can TOTALLY see you doing something FABULOUS with that metal arch. We’re not going to have an arch, but we are building a huge cross! LOL! Random, I know. More deets soon Love your inspiration!

11/9/10 @ 9:52 am (reply)

12.

Member

fromcharleston (message) 651 posts, Busy bee

What about a simple four poles and canopy (more like Mrs. Trail Mix’s chuppah) and then do flowers and vines climbing up the poles.

PS-The trick to decorating metal arches is using oasis (the green floral foam) and oasis cages which attach to the arch and using vine as filler.

11/9/10 @ 10:04 am (reply)

13.

Guest

Kassie

yea…fromcharleston…I was thinking something like a chuppah. Ms. Sloth you can make it cheap and organic. Find four extra long walking sticks (or another organic material) and attach a cloth to it, not sure what your scheme is, but you can use lace, linen, cavas, even burlap and fand a way to weddify it. If you keep the size small enough for you two to stand under you could probably have it silk screened w/ a monogram or another recurring symbol to match your theme for pretty cheap. Or you could paint/design it yourself if you know how to. And instead of using paper flowers you could use ribbon. A. you can get it at the dollar store, B. If you have any teacher friends w/ a Michaels or AC moore card they can get it discounted, C. Each week both of those stores puts coupons in the circular (or online) for 40-50% off one item. Buy one a week, or make numerous stops if you can get your hands on numeruos coupons.

11/9/10 @ 10:17 am (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Cinnamon Bun (message) 1,100 posts, Bumble bee

We’re getting married indoors, and Cinnamum wants us to have an arbour or two plants on tall pedestals or something. I’m not so sure we need or want that. We’ve got a fun area rug to put down instead!

11/9/10 @ 11:13 am (reply)

15.

Member

ktisthatbees (message) 2,742 posts, Sugar bee

Sloth. . . I was thinking about this post and had to come back to it because I just had a genious idea (well i think it’s freaking cool)

Can you purchase two trees from your local garden supply store a week or so before the wedding. Not the spindly little saplings, but not so huge that you can’t transport them. Have the trees sitting in cute potted containers about 5 feet apart at the front of the isle and drape some bunting or other lovely between the two of them. The trees represent each of you and give a focal point to your ceremony. Afterwards you can plant the trees (your parents house, his parents house, donate them to a park, I dunno, details details, some place that you can visit later). As the trees grow it will be a great place to come visit.

You probably think I’ve completely lost it. . .

11/9/10 @ 11:30 am (reply)

16.

Guest

When thinking about whether or not a chuppah is the answer, it might be worth considering the implications of appropriating a tradition from a community of which one is not a part. I have mixed feelings myself on this but think Meg of A Practical Wedding explains why it can be offensive well in the comments of this post: http://apracticalwedding.com/2010/06/how-a-wedding-can-maybe-shape-a-marriage/

11/9/10 @ 12:16 pm (reply)

17.

Bee

Miss Sloth (message) 3,184 posts, Sugar bee

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

@A: I was raised Jewish, so i don’t think anyone will care if we choose to have a chuppah!

11/9/10 @ 12:19 pm (reply)

18.

Guest

@Sloth– that’s true! Sorry–I wasn’t aware of your background!

11/9/10 @ 12:24 pm (reply)

19.

Bee

Miss Sloth (message) 3,184 posts, Sugar bee

@A: No worries - there was no way you could’ve known!

11/9/10 @ 12:26 pm (reply)

20.

Member

SpicedWine (message) 26 posts, Newbee

ktisthatbees- Great idea with the trees!

We went with two rented columns and bought two large vases from Marshalls and had the florist make large arrangements. Then we brought those large arrangements inside to the reception after the ceremony so they were muti-purpose! My wedding flowers were inspired by this: http://www.mybouquet.ca/blog/?p=285

11/9/10 @ 12:37 pm (reply)

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