Creating A Bamboo Wedding Arbour: A Step-By-Step Guide

Bamboo wedding arbours are a popular choice for couples looking for an eco-friendly, affordable, and beautiful way to frame their wedding ceremony. With its natural and organic aesthetic, bamboo serves as a symbol of sustainability and elegance. Building a bamboo wedding arbour is a straightforward process that can be achieved through a few simple steps, and it can even be assembled on-site at the wedding location. In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a stunning bamboo wedding arbour, from selecting the right materials to adding the perfect decorative touches.

Choosing bamboo

Bamboo is an excellent choice of material for a wedding arbour, being environmentally friendly, affordable, and easy to work with. When choosing bamboo, there are several factors to consider to ensure the best result.

Firstly, it is important to select bamboo poles of the appropriate length and thickness for your arbour design. For example, if you are creating an arbour that is 7 feet tall, wide, and deep, you will need eight bamboo poles, including four 8-foot-tall base support poles and four 7-foot-long crosshatch poles. The thickness of the poles may vary, but typically, the base support poles should be thicker, around 3 inches in diameter, while the crosshatch poles can be thinner, such as 1 5/8 inches in diameter.

When sourcing your bamboo, opt for poles that are straight and free of cracks or splits. Bamboo is a natural material, and each piece is unique, so take the time to select poles that are relatively consistent in colour, texture, and width. Consider the intended height of your arbour and choose poles that are slightly longer to accommodate the portion that will be staked into the ground for stability.

Before using the bamboo, it is essential to prepare the poles properly. Cut the poles to the desired length, being cautious to prevent cracking or shedding. Remove any nodes from the extremities to reduce the possibility of splitting due to climate changes. Drill holes in the support poles to accommodate the crosshatch poles, ensuring they are perpendicular to each other. Test the fit by inserting the crosshatch poles into the base poles before disassembling and drilling additional holes for wooden dowel fasteners, providing extra security.

To enhance the durability of your bamboo arbour, particularly if it will be exposed to the elements, consider moisture-proofing the bamboo. Start by cleaning the poles with a mild detergent, then coat them with a mixture of linseed oil and paint thinner to remove any natural oils. Finally, finish with a clear polyurethane coating to protect against humidity or rain. Allow the bamboo to dry completely before reassembling your arbour.

Cutting and preparing bamboo

Bamboo is a great material for a wedding arbour as it is environmentally friendly, sustainable, affordable, and easy to use. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cut and prepare bamboo for your wedding arbour:

Cutting the Bamboo:

• Determine the desired height and width of your arbour. A standard arbour is typically around 7 feet tall, wide, and deep.
• Select bamboo poles with diameters that fit your design. For example, you may choose four 3-inch diameter poles for the base supports and four 1 5/8-inch diameter poles for the crosshatched top.
• Cut the bamboo poles to the appropriate lengths using a power saw or hand saw with a fine-tooth blade. Remember to account for any length that will be staked into the ground and to cut carefully to prevent cracking or shedding, as bamboo is hollow.
• Cut away any unnecessary length from the poles, ensuring that the base poles are long enough to be securely staked into the ground.

Preparing the Bamboo:

• Remove any remaining nodes from the extremities of the bamboo poles. This will reduce the possibility of splitting due to contraction and expansion caused by climate changes. Use a rod to ram down the centre of the node for easy removal.
• Drill holes in the support poles: create two holes of the same size, perpendicular to each other, 4 inches down from the upper end of each pole. The holes should accommodate the diameter of the crosshatched bamboo poles.
• Treat the bamboo for moisture-proofing: clean the poles with a mild detergent, coat them with a mixture of equal parts linseed oil and paint thinner to remove oils, and finish with a clear polyurethane coating. Allow the bamboo to dry completely before proceeding.
• (Optional) To enhance the appearance of the bamboo, you can apply a UV clear coat to protect against fading and discolouration.

Constructing the arbour

Planning and Materials

Before you begin, it is important to plan the size and design of your arbour. The standard size for a wedding arbour is around 7 feet tall by 7 feet wide and deep. You will need several bamboo poles of varying lengths and diameters to create the structure. For example, you can use four 8-foot-tall poles with a 3-inch diameter for the base supports and four 7-foot-long poles with a smaller diameter for the crosshatched top. You will also need tools for cutting and drilling the bamboo, such as a power saw or hand saw, and materials for decorating the arbour, such as fabric, flowers, or greenery.

Preparing the Bamboo

Start by cutting any unnecessary length from the poles, being careful to prevent cracking or shedding. Bamboo is hollow, so use a fine-toothed blade and consider that one end of each pole is likely thicker than the other. Remove any remaining nodes from the extremities of the poles to reduce the possibility of splitting due to climate changes. Use a rod to ram down the centre of the node for easy removal.

Assembling the Structure

Drill holes in the top of each support pole, approximately 4 inches from the upper end. These holes should be large enough to accommodate the crosshatched top poles. Drill another set of holes perpendicular to the first set. Insert the crosshatched poles into the base poles to create a mock-up of the arbour structure. Mark the intersections, disassemble, and drill quarter-inch holes for wooden dowel fasteners. Reassemble the structure, using glue and wooden dowels to secure the intersections. You can also reinforce the joints with twine for added stability.

Finishing Touches

To enhance the durability of your arbour, especially in humid or rainy conditions, treat the bamboo with a mild detergent, a mixture of linseed oil and paint thinner, and a clear polyurethane coating. Allow the structure to dry completely before decorating. Decorate your arbour with fabric, flowers, greenery, lanterns, or any other embellishments that suit your wedding theme. Use wire, tape, zip ties, or ribbon to secure the decorations. You can also add designer webbing with wood branches and twigs in the top corners, or hang origami decorations.

Decorating the arbour

Feel free to get creative with colours, too. You could use colourful paper flowers, or style the arch with pink and champagne curtains, pink and white blooms, and greenery for a beach wedding. If you're having a tropical wedding, try using white flowy curtains, tropical leaves, and wicker balls on the floor. For an African safari wedding, decorate the arch with tropical leaves and greenery.

You can also decorate with lanterns, hand-folded white paper cranes, origami lilies, or fresh or fake flowers. If you're worried about the structure of the arch, you can add security by marking where the bamboo poles intersect, drilling quarter-inch holes, and inserting wooden dowels to act as screws.

Setting up the arbour

Step 1: Choose the Right Bamboo

Select bamboo poles that are sturdy and have a diameter between 3 inches and 8 inches, depending on the design of your arbour. You will need at least four poles for the base supports and four crosshatch poles for the top. The length of the poles will depend on your desired height, but they should be long enough to allow about 1 foot to be staked into the ground for stability.

Step 2: Prepare the Bamboo Poles

Use a power saw or hand saw with a fine-tooth blade to cut the bamboo poles to the desired length. Remove any remaining nodes from the extremities to prevent splitting due to climate changes. Drill holes in the support poles to accommodate the crosshatch poles, and consider adding wooden dowels for extra security. Remember to moisture-proof all bamboo to protect it from humidity or rain.

Step 3: Assemble the Arbour

Start by inserting the crosshatch poles into the base poles to create the frame of the arbour. The front and back crosshatch poles should be parallel to each other, as should the side crosshatch poles. Mark the intersections and disassemble the frame. Drill quarter-inch holes at the marks and reassemble the arbour, securing the intersections with wooden dowels and glue. You can also reinforce the intersections with twine for added stability.

Step 4: Decorate the Arbour

Now it's time to make your arbour beautiful! You can drape fabric, organza, or greenery over the frame. Use pins, wire, tape, or zip ties to secure the embellishments. Add flowers, lanterns, or other decorations to create a romantic and elegant atmosphere. You can also hang decorations from the arbour, such as lanterns or origami creations.

Step 5: Set Up the Arbour at the Wedding Venue

Choose a location for your arbour that will provide a beautiful backdrop for the wedding ceremony. Ensure that there are no underground cables or pipes where you will be staking the arbour into the ground. Place the arbour in the desired location and stake the base poles into the ground to prevent it from falling or blowing away. Add any final touches to the decorations, and you're done!

Your bamboo wedding arbour will be a stunning addition to your wedding, providing a romantic setting for the happy couple to exchange their vows and creating a memorable backdrop for photographs.

Frequently asked questions