Creating Wedding Columns: A Guide To Diy Wedding Columns

Wedding columns can be expensive to rent, but they create a beautiful focal point for your ceremony. To save money, you can make your own columns using styrofoam, plastic foam sheets, or even cardboard tubes. This introduction will explore the different ways to create DIY wedding columns, including the materials needed, step-by-step instructions, and decorative touches to make your columns truly unique. By the end, you'll be able to craft your own stunning wedding columns that won't break the bank.

Characteristics of making your own wedding columns

Use cardboard tubes from a carpet store

Using Cardboard Tubes from a Carpet Store to Make Wedding Columns

If you're looking to create your own wedding columns, one creative and cost-effective approach is to use cardboard tubes from a carpet store. These tubes are typically large, heavy-duty, and available at a low cost or even for free since carpet stores often discard them. Here's a step-by-step guide to making wedding columns using this method:

Step 1: Source the Cardboard Tubes

Visit your nearest carpet store and ask if they have any cardboard tubes available. These tubes are usually discarded, so you might be able to obtain them for free or at a minimal cost. Ensure you get tubes that are long and thick enough to serve as sturdy columns.

Step 2: Paint the Tubes

Once you have the cardboard tubes, paint them in your desired colour. White paint is a popular choice, as it gives a elegant and classic look. You can use regular paint or spray paint specifically designed for covering large areas. Allow the paint to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.

Step 3: Assemble the Columns

After the paint has dried, it's time to assemble your columns. Use zip ties to securely fasten three tubes together, forming a sturdy column. Ensure the tubes are evenly spaced and securely attached to each other.

Step 4: Decorate the Columns

Now comes the fun part – decorating your wedding columns! Tulle fabric and twinkle lights are a beautiful combination. Drape the tulle around the columns and intertwine the lights to create a magical, romantic effect. You can also add other decorations like flowers, ribbons, or ivy garlands to enhance the overall aesthetic.

Step 5: Position the Columns

Finally, position your handmade wedding columns at the desired location. Wedding columns are typically placed in pairs, one on each side of the ceremony aisle, creating a stunning focal point for your special day. You can also add weights or hardcover books inside the columns to ensure they remain stable and steady.

By following these steps and using cardboard tubes from a carpet store, you can create beautiful, unique wedding columns while saving money on decorations. This DIY project allows you to personalise your wedding and showcase your creativity, all while staying within your budget.

Decorate with tulle and twinkle lights

Tulle and twinkle lights can be used to create a romantic and ethereal atmosphere at your wedding. Tulle is a thin, finely-woven, lightweight, and sheer fabric that is often used in weddings for the bride's veil or other decorative elements. When combined with twinkle lights, tulle can create a dreamy and romantic ambiance.

To decorate your wedding columns with tulle and twinkle lights, start by purchasing the necessary materials. Tulle is available in fabric stores and comes in a variety of colours, including white, as well as matte and shimmering versions. For the lights, look for "twinkle lights", "sparkle lights", "holiday lights", or "mini lights". These lights come in different lengths and styles, so you can choose the ones that best suit your columns.

Once you have your materials, the decoration process is simple. Unroll the tulle and place a strand or two of lights along the centre of the fabric. Gather the fabric together around the lights and drape it over the column. You can use pins or sewing to secure the tulle in place and create a swagged effect. Repeat this process for each column.

To enhance the look, measure the distance between the columns and the centre of the room, and create tulle and twinkle light swags to connect the columns to the centre point. This will create a spectacular effect and incorporate the columns into the decor of the entire room.

For a unique touch, consider combining two or more colours of tulle, or using lights in colours other than traditional white. You can also bundle the tulle and lights together by wrapping them with faux ivy or coloured ribbons before draping them over the columns.

Remember to consult with the venue coordinator before hanging any decorations, as some venues may have restrictions on the use of staples, nails, or tape. An alternative option is to use elastic bands to secure the decorations in place.

Make columns from styrofoam or plastic foam sheets

Wedding columns can be expensive to rent, but you can save money by making your own using styrofoam or plastic foam sheets. Here is a step-by-step guide to making your own wedding columns:

Materials:

• 8 plastic foam sheets (36 by 12 by 1/2 inches)
• 2 plastic foam sheets (36 by 12 by 2 inches)
• 2 10-inch plastic foam balls
• Plastic foam glue or a low-heat glue gun
• Stone-texture spray paint
• Serrated knife
• Hardcover book
• Silk flowers
• Lace or ivy (optional)

Instructions:

• Use the serrated knife to saw both 12 by 36 by 2-inch sheets in half widthwise. These four small sheets will be the tops and bases of the columns.
• Place one of the base sheets on a flat surface.
• Glue four 12 by 36 by 1/2-inch sheets to the base along their 12-inch edges.
• Glue two of the 36-inch edges together to form a 90-degree angle. Continue until you have four column walls.
• Wait 20 minutes to an hour for the glue to dry.
• Place a hardcover book inside the column to weigh it down and ensure it doesn't get knocked over by the wind.
• Cover the edges of the top piece with glue. Hold the glue gun at a 10-degree angle and gently apply glue along the edges.
• Secure the top piece to the column walls.
• Use the foam ball as an accent piece by centering and gluing it to the middle of the top.
• Spray paint the columns with stone-texture spray paint.
• Insert silk flowers around the foam balls by pushing their sharp stems into the column.
• Optionally, drape lace or wrap ivy around the columns for added decoration.

Your DIY wedding columns are now ready! Remember to keep burning candles away from the columns.

Glue the sheets together to form walls

To make your own wedding columns, you can use styrofoam or plastic foam sheets, which are available at craft stores. You will need eight 36" by 12" by 1/2" sheets and two 36" by 12" by 2" sheets of plastic foam. You will also require plastic foam glue or a low-heat glue gun.

Now, here is a detailed, step-by-step guide for the process of gluing the sheets together to form walls:

• Take the four 12" by 36" by 2" sheets, which will form the tops and bases of the columns.
• Place one of the base sheets on a flat surface.
• Take the eight 12" by 36" by 1/2" sheets and glue them to the base along their 12" edges.
• Apply glue to two of the 36" edges of these sheets and join them together to form a 90-degree angle.
• Repeat this process to create a total of four column walls.
• Allow the glue to dry for 20 minutes to an hour.

Once the glue is dry, you can continue with the next steps to complete your wedding columns, including adding weight to the base, attaching the top piece, and decorating the columns.

Spray paint the columns with stone-textured paint

To achieve a beautiful stone-textured finish on your wedding columns, you can use stone-textured spray paint. This type of paint can be applied to almost any surface, including wood, metal, plastic, craft foam, paper, wicker, glass, and ceramic. It is a quick and easy way to transform your columns into elegant, textured stonework.

There are several brands of stone-textured spray paint available on the market, including Rust-Oleum and Krylon. Rust-Oleum offers a range of colours such as Gray Stone, Black Granite, and Sierra Stone, while Krylon's Coarse Stone Texture Finish Spray Paint is available in White Onyx. These paints can be found at retailers like Amazon and Home Depot.

When using stone-textured spray paint, it is important to follow the application conditions for the best results. The ideal temperature range is between 55° F and 75° F, and the humidity should be below 60%. Applying the paint outside of these conditions may impact the finish. Each can of paint typically cover 4 to 6 square feet of surface area.

Before spraying, ensure that your wedding columns are clean and dry. Follow the instructions on the paint can for proper application techniques and safety precautions. Hold the can at the recommended distance from the surface and spray in steady, even strokes. Allow the paint to dry completely between coats, if multiple coats are needed.

With stone-textured spray paint, you can easily and affordably create the elegant look of stone columns for your wedding.

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