A wedding is an undeniably magical event. From the ceremony, to the outfits, the flowers, the centerpieces, and so on, everything contributes to making your wedding day a special one. If you’re a nature lover, and you enjoy building things, you should definitely build a DIY trellis for your wedding. You can use it to frame the area where the ceremony will take place, as well as decorate it as creatively as possible, for truly magical results.
Today, we’re going to take you through the main steps of building a trellis, as well as provide you with 5 DIY trellis ideas for your wedding.
How to Build a Trellis in 7 Simple Steps
1. Gather the Materials
Here’s what you need in order to build a trellis:
- 4 8-foot 2x4s (A)
- 4 8-foot 1x4s (B)
- 13 4-foot 2x2s (C)
- 24 36-inch pieces (D and E)
- 30 2-inch deck screws
- 60 3-inch deck screws
- 50 6d galvanized nails
- 12 1-1/2-inch deck screws
- 3-4 gallons gravel.
Now, the following are things that are optional, but that you can still get for an even more impressive trellis:
All there’s left for you to do in order to complete the list of materials is choose the type of wood you’re going to use. We recommend a rot-resistant one, such as redwood or cedar. Fir is also a good option, and so is pressure-treated pine.
2. Dig the Holes
The next step involves digging four holes for the 2×4 posts. The holes should be about 18 inches deep. Fill them with 6 inches of gravel. This will stop the wood from rotting.
3. Cut the Lumber
You need to cut the B top rails into pieces that measure 7-feet and 3-inches each. The A rails are already cut accordingly.
4. Cut the Spindles
Now, it’s time to cut the C spindles to a length of 3 feet and 6 inches, with the help of a a 45-degree bevel that you use on both ends.
5. Assemble the Sides
The first things you need to assemble are the sides of the trellis. The easiest way to do it is to lay the four A pieces on their narrow sides, with the ends flush. After placing them side by side, use a pencil and a square to mark where you want the lattice to be. Then, lay two of the pieces on the ground, 2 feet apart from each other. Use nails to attach the lath pieces, the same way you would when constructing a ladder. Nail the bottom of the lath piece first, followed by the top. Keep going with the rest of the 6 pieces left.
Next, it’s time to install the diagonal pieces (E) in the same way. Once you’re done, you’ll have two assembled ends ready for you to place them into the two holes.
6. Assemble the Top
Lay the four top rails on the ground with the narrow sides up. Then, mark the location of the 13 top pieces (C), which should be 4 1/2 inches apart. Install the B rails with three 2-inch screws for each joint. Then, install the C rails using 3-inch screws.
7. Put the Finishing Touches
A completely optional step, this is a great option for people who want to make their trellis look even better. For instance, you can use a wood sealer to coat the wood. You can also paint over it, depending on how you want to use it.
5 DIY Trellis Options for Your Wedding Day
1. Twine Trellis
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time building a trellis, or spend a lot of money on the materials, this trellis made of twine is perfect for you. That’s not the only reason why a twine trellis is a great idea. It also provides a rustic charm to any wedding. So, if you’re going to have your wedding outside, and you really want it to be rustic and inspired by nature, you should definitely consider using a twine DIY trellis.
As you can see in the image above, the twine was combined with flowers to create the trellis, which makes it even more effortlessly natural. This trellis can easily blend into the rest of the wedding scenery, especially if you’re going to have your wedding in a garden or forest. Part of its charm comes from the fact that it doesn’t look as if someone made it, but as if it has been there all along. This means you can use it no matter the theme of your wedding, because it won’t clash with the other decorations, but merely emphasize their beauty.
Of course, this option was specifically made to look as natural as possible so as to blend in with any wedding theme. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t made the trellis your own by adding specific flowers, lights, or pieces of fabric to it.
2. Nautical Romanticism
If you’re a fan of nautical elements, as well as romantic ones, this DIY trellis combines them both wonderfully. The trellis in itself is a simple wooden one that has been painted white so as to go with the event and so as not to clash with the rest of the decorations placed on top of it. The real attraction comes from the rope and the flowers that adorn it.
Naturally, the rope is what gives it that nautical charm. As you can see in the image above, the rope has been wrapped around the top of the trellis in a relaxed fashion, which makes it look as if it has been carelessly thrown there by a sailor. The flowers are particularly beautiful as well. Their warm and summery shades make them perfect for a wedding in the warm season. If you don’t enjoy the shades of the flowers used above, you can always replace them with your favorite flowers. For an extra nautical touch, you can use blue flowers instead.
3. Elegant Trellis
Have you always wanted a simple yet elegant wedding? Then you should definitely consider this DIY trellis idea for your big day. The fact that the wood has been left unpainted provides it with a lovely simplicity, which is also highlighted by the delicate white piece of fabric wrapped around it. Since every wedding needs a little bit of color, the flowers come in to balance things out and add a bit of romanticism to the whole structure.
What we like about this DIY trellis is that nothing about it is overpowering. The fabric is just enough to cover part of the trellis but allow the trellis to also shine on its own. Furthermore, the flowers are colorful and definitely noticeable, but they’re not as many as to overcrowd the trellis. The final result is an extremely elegant DIY trellis.
4. Rose Trellis
A classic in what concerns wedding trellises, a rose trellis is something you can’t go wrong with no matter the theme of your wedding. The thing that’s immediately noticeable when you look at this trellis is how thick it is. If you want the same results, you’ll have to use a lot of roses around it, preferably roses that have a rich foliage. When it comes to the color of the roses, the choice is completely up to you.
The white roses in the image above are particularly lovely and suitable for an outdoor wedding, inspiring elegance and purity. However, colorful roses could look equally as charming, be they in a single shade or a combination of multiple shades. Top that off with a white carpet leading up to the trellis, as well as some white (or colorful) petals sprinkled around the aisle, and you’ve got yourself an amazing wedding location.
5. Ribbon and Paper Trellis
Finally, if you’re not a fan of flowers, you don’t have to use them in your wedding. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful trellis under which to get married. For instance, instead of flowers, you can use paper pom-poms and ribbons, like in the image below. The trellis itself is a basic one made of metal and painted white. This is done in order to turn it into a background on which the ribbons and pom-poms can shine.
The ribbons have been tied to the top of the trellis and allowed to fall to the sides, while the pom-poms have been placed in just a few places on the trellis, so as to provide some colorful accents. As you can see, the theme of this arrangement is pink, but you can choose any color you like. It will end up looking beautiful no matter what.
Summing It All Up
We hope today’s guide has provided you with every detail you ever wanted to know about using a DIY trellis at a wedding. As you can see, there are many ways in which you can decorate a trellis to make it suitable for a wedding. Moreover, making your own trellis is also a relatively simple endeavor. Consequently, if you’re planning your wedding and want it to be truly special, we recommend building a trellis and decorating it to your liking.
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