How To Make Your Own Wedding Floral Arch

The Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Stunning Ceremony Backdrop on a Budget

When I first started planning our wedding, I knew I wanted a beautiful floral arch to anchor the ceremony space. Have you seen the gorgeous, over-the-top ones on Pinterest??? I pictured something romantic, a little whimsical, and full of blooms. But when I saw the quotes from florists—ranging anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000—I knew I had to find a more budget-friendly solution.

So I decided to make it myself.

If you’re even just a little crafty, I promise: you can do this too. Below, I’m sharing exactly how we built our floral arch using a gold metal hoop, artificial flowers, pool noodles (!), and zip ties. It turned out beautifully—and cost a fraction of the price of a professional install. And because we used artificial flowers, we were able to build it weeks ahead of time—no last-minute scrambling, and one major wedding task checked off early.

Supplies You’ll Need

Here’s what we used for our 7-foot gold hoop floral arch:

The Structure:

• 7ft Gold Metal Hoop Arch – You can get one from Hobby Lobby for only $16.99 (plus, try to use a 40% off coupon if available!)
• Sandbags or Weights – Optional but helpful for outdoor ceremonies to prevent tipping in the wind

The Base for Attaching Flowers:

• Pool Noodles – Yes, really! These help you create a “base” on the hoop to attach flowers and greenery.  I bought them from our local dollar store!
• Zip Ties – To secure the noodles and florals tightly in place
• Wire Cutters or Scissors – For trimming floral stems

The Flowers:

• Artificial Flowers – Hobby Lobby has a great selection (and they go 50% off almost every other week!) Joann Fabrics is also a good option, especially for greenery.
  • Choose a mix of statement flowers (like roses, peonies, dahlias) and filler flowers (baby’s breath, mini wildflowers)
  • Include greenery stems or garlands for texture and coverage
• Floral Wire (Optional) – For extra security on heavier stems

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Assemble the Gold Hoop Frame

Set up your metal hoop according to the instructions. If you’re outside, consider weighing the base down with sandbags, tent weights, or even a heavy planter to keep it stable. We used not only weights at the bottom of the hoop, but also metal closet bars as poles to stake it into the ground, as it was rather windy on our wedding day!

Tip: Assemble it in the location where it’ll be used, if possible. Once fully decorated, it can be difficult to move. We did not have that option, so we unscrewed the gold hoop and transported it in 4 separate (labeled!) pieces, then assembled on site the morning of the wedding.

2. Attach Pool Noodles to Create a Floral Base

This is your secret weapon! Cut your pool noodles lengthwise (like hot dog buns) and wrap them around parts of the arch where you want the florals to go.

Secure them tightly to the metal hoop using zip ties. This gives you a soft, foam surface to push stems into or zip-tie around—much easier than working with slick metal.

Design tip: You don’t have to cover the full arch. Asymmetrical designs (like florals clustered to one side or at the bottom) look modern and chic—and require fewer materials. I used only 2 pool noodles, and placed them diagonally.

3. Start with Large Blooms

We started by inserting our statement flowers. Think peonies, roses, ranunculus—anything full and eye-catching.

Push stems into the pool noodles or zip-tie them tightly around the frame. Alternate placement to balance the look and create movement.

4. Add in Smaller Blooms & Texture

Now, go in with smaller flowers and filler pieces to add fullness. Smaller wildflowers, baby’s breath, or eucalyptus sprigs can add dimension and charm.

Step back every now and then to check your work from a distance.

5. Fill in with Greenery

Cover any glaring holes with faux greenery. Use long, leafy stems or garlands to cover the pool noodles completely (from the front, at least!). Attach with zip ties or floral wire.

Let some pieces drape down for a natural, romantic feel.

6. Hide Zip Ties or Exposed Foam

Use extra greenery or small florals to camouflage any visible zip ties or bits of pool noodle peeking through.

Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—guests will be sitting far enough away that the overall effect will be what they remember.

7. Add Final Touches

If desired, you can add ribbon tails, fairy lights, or flowing chiffon to soften the look even further. Just make sure it complements your ceremony style and doesn’t distract from the florals.  I draped a white cloth over the base of the hoop to hide the weights!

The Final Look

The end result was everything I’d hoped for—romantic, lush, and completely “us.” Not only did it elevate our ceremony space, but it also made a stunning backdrop for photos all day long. Best of all? It saved me hundreds of dollars!

Why I Loved This DIY

• It seriously cut costs—by hundreds, if not more.
• I had full creative control over the color palette and style.
• We could set it up and tweak it ourselves the day before the wedding.
• It became one of the most talked-about decor pieces at our ceremony.

Final Tips:

• Use Pinterest or florist Instagrams for layout inspiration.
• Start with more flowers than you think you’ll need—you can always return extras if you don’t use them.
• Don’t stress perfection. From a few feet away (and in photos), it will look amazing!

Photos by Shot by Shante Photography | shotbyshante.com