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Wedding Ceremony Backdrop Ideas: Altars, Pillars, Arches, and More

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Looking for the perfect wedding ceremony backdrop idea? Look no further! Check out these creative ideas for crafting the perfect backdrop for your wedding altar.

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You have finally found your venue, now it’s time to start thinking about the decor for your wedding ceremony and reception. This isn’t just about the flowers you want as centerpieces. We’re talking about the centerpiece of the entire event: your wedding ceremony, and the backdrop for where you’ll exchange your vows! The details of your ceremony decor set the stage for the rest of your wedding day.

So, let’s talk about the ceremony backdrop. The focal point of your wedding ceremony is you and your love at the end of the aisle at the altar. What you place behind you can give visual interest and impact. What you decide to use for your ceremony backdrop will likely depend on your location, so we’ll share a few of our favorites for indoor weddings as well as outdoor weddings.

Most of these ceremony backdrop ideas could also be switched between indoor and outdoor depending on your venue, style, and set-up. The best thing is most of these can be done yourself, or at least very inexpensively.

Indoor Ceremony Backdrop Ideas

Indoor backdrop 1

Drapery

Via Wedding Chicks

Drapes can change the overall look of your wedding in several ways. They can be used as a backdrop, to hide tent poles, or even just to add texture to different areas of your event. You can use several for a very drastic backdrop or just a few for a more subtle romantic look.


Ceremony_Backdrop_Ribbon

Ribbon

via Green Wedding Shoes

Different shades and lengths of ribbon, lace, and/or tulle can add variety to a backdrop. This simple solution can work in many different types of wedding venues. A rustic barn or urban loft would be the perfect area for a romantic backdrop like this one.


Ceremony_Chuppah

Decorated Chuppah

via Hative

The Chuppah is a part of the Jewish traditional wedding, and we love how they transform a room. They can be decorated in so many different ways and can really create a huge impact on your ceremony space. Take a plain, white-walled room, and add a Chuppah with aisle flowers to change the setting into a fairytale!


DIY Floral Pillar Tutorial from Bloom Culture Flowers

Floral Pillars

via Bloom Culture Flowers

Looking for something floral to flank your wedding altar? Try floral pillars! They are relatively easy to put together, thanks to this excellent tutorial from our friends at Bloom Culture Flowers.

Outdoor Ceremony Backdrop Ideas

Ceremony_Backdrop_Burlap

Burlap

via Bespoke Bride

This inexpensive material has been a mainstay in rustic weddings for decades, so of course, we had to include it. The burlap could be customized with your initials and would be a perfect match to a burlap aisle runner. We love the rustic look this has with such a soft setting on the water.


Ceremony_Backdrop_Books

Books

via Green Wedding Shoes

If you are going for a magical fairytale wedding, you might need this Ceremony piece. It is such a cute and quaint addition without making it seem like too much. If you couldn’t have your wedding in Belle’s library, this is a close second.


Ceremony_FlowerWall

Flower Walls

via Colin Cowie Weddings

We are huge fans of flowers, and the greenery added to this backdrop is a huge hit. We love the way it looks together, and it really has such a natural feel. A backdrop like this could be done in so many ways. You could even repurpose it as a photo booth backdrop during the reception to get more bang for your buck!


Hexagon floral arch backdrop

Flower Arch

via Bloom Culture Flowers

Another floral option you’ll love is a flower-covered arch. Choose an arch of your choice, such as this hexagon wooden arch used in this tutorial from Bloom Culture Flowers.


DIY Flower Grid Backdrop Tutorial - DIY Wedding Flowers from Bloom Culture Flowers

Flower Backdrop

via Bloom Culture Flowers

Yet another floral option to consider — this one uses fewer flowers for a budget-friendly backdrop. Love this look and want to re-create it yourself? Don’t miss this tutorial from Bloom Culture Flowers.


Have you decided to use a ceremony backdrop? Which of these is your favorite?

Join us in the community to talk about all things wedding ceremony decorations, backdrops, and more.


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