When I offerred this, I had no clue what she wanted or how I was going to do it. But I did know it needed to be simple, elegant, and well, temporary. After a few different design discussion, we settled on one she'd found in a magazine. It mimicked the look of a formal window with drapery and flowers. It was beautiful.
So how was I, with my limited DIY skills, going to replicate this gorgeous backdrop? I realized the responsibility. This would be the very setting where she and her hubby would vow to love and honor each other for all eternity....oh crap, it had to be really nice!
The great thing about this design, aside from the ease of installation is that it can be completely customized to suit your wedding. Using different colored draperies, or different paint on the wood, and different tie backs or embellishments, it can enhance the look of any outdoor wedding. A bamboo rod with only sheers would feel like an island paradise, whereas heavy formal drapes would be an elegant contrast to the outdoor setting.
So here was how I did it:
Materials:
2 8' 4x4 beams
2 metal decking stakes with 30" spikes (designed to support low decks)
6 1.5" screws
2 8' drapery rods with finials
2 drapery rod holders (with two small screws to attach them)
2 very long drapery panels (108")
6-8 sheer drapery panels (96-108")
Process:
1. Paint or stain the 8' beams to somewhat match the drapery rods and finials that you purchased.
2. Attach the drapery rod holders along one side each beam - they should be centered but at the very top of the beam.
3. Decide where the backdrop will be placed and mark off a distance of about 7'8 to sink the decking stakes.
4. Using a good sized piece of scrap wood and a sledgehammer, sink the decking stakes into the ground. This might be a team effort.
5. Insert the beams into the stakes and attach with the 2" screws. Ensure the beams are straight up and down by using a level.
6. Put all of the sheer panels onto one rod and the solid panels onto the other. Attach the finials on the rod with the solid panels. Hang the rod on the holders attached at the top of the beams.
7. Arrange curtains so they are neatly and evenly across. If it's windy, secure the sheers to the ground with garden stakes/staples.
8. Tie back the solid curtains using coordinating ribbon or even foliage from the floral arrangements.
