Build a budget-friendly garden arbor from 2x4s and other inexpensive structural lumber following our easy building plan. This classic wood arbor is beautiful for a backyard wedding arch or just everyday backyard decor!
A few years back, my sister asked me to build a garden arbor for her backyard wedding. So I got to work designing a classic wood arbor that is easily portable and built with 2x4s and other affordable redwood lumber. You can see more great 2×4 projects here in our 2x4andMore building plan series — plus this gothic arch arbor and vegetable trellis and outdoor coffee table with built-in drink coolers are favorites of mine.
How to Build a Garden Arbor from 2x4s and Structural Lumber
Get the woodworking plan here, then watch how I built this wood arbor for my sister’s wedding and reception – and be sure to subscribe to our channel for more DIY videos!
Backyard Wedding Arch Design
My sister gave me this wedding arch inspiration photo to work from: 
She trusted me and knew that I would be able to come up with something great. (Because that’s what #remodelaholic brothers do!) So I started to look at the inspiration design to see how I could build it. Based on that style, I also knew I wanted a few other features in this wooden wedding arch:
- portable, to be built in sections and easily assembled at the outdoor wedding site
- tall enough to stand under for the ceremony, reception, and photos
- affordable, using inexpensive 2x4s and other structural lumber
- durable redwood lumber, so we could continue using it after the wedding
I had built a gothic arch vegetable arbor before, so I had some ideas of how I wanted to build this mini pergola style arbor. I started sketching my version and this is what I came up with.
As soon as I had a good idea of the design, I built a model in 3d to figure out how I was going to build it. Given my list of requirements above, I found that having a top and two side sections was to best option and corbels would end up holding it all together.
How to Build a Wood Garden Arbor for a Wedding
Wedding Arch Garden Arbor Dimensions
- 120″ wide at the top
- 85″ between outer edges of posts
- 96″ tall
- 19″ deep at the bottom, 24″ at the top
Materials
All pieces were made of redwood lumber purchased at our local hardware store. This post contains affiliate links. Learn more and read our full disclosure policy here.
- (3) 2x4x8 – Redwood (ripped down for the trellis pieces)
- (4) 4x4x8 – Redwood Posts
- (2) 2x8x8 – Redwood (for the corbels)
- (1) 2x6x6 – Redwood (side bracket/beam support)
- (2) 2x6x10 – Redwood (beams)
- (4) Post Brackets (This is what we used to attach to deck. You will have to find out what would work best for your situation.)
- (50+) 2 1/2″ – Deck Screws
- (20+) 1 1/4″ – Deck Screws
- (1) Gal. – Stain ( I stained the pieces first then assembled it. Pick the color that works best for you.)
- Wood Glue (I used wood glue to hold the side trellis pieces together.
Tools
- Circular saw
- Table saw (for ripping 2×4 trellis pieces to width)*
- Jigsaw
- Orbital sander
- Drill
- Drill bits
- Tape Measure
- Pencil
- Saw horses
*If you don’t have a table saw, you could alternately use 2x2s, 1x2s, or even smaller square dowels. Those aren’t as readily available in the redwood lumber, though, so ripping the material down was my preferred option.
Steps to Build a Wood Wedding Arch Garden Arbor
Purchase the woodworking plan with cut list and dimensions here in the shop.
1: Cut Out All The Pieces
Start by cutting out all the pieces as listed in the woodworking plan and shaping any ends. Sketch out the pattern on some card stock, cut out the pattern and transfer it on the ends of the top trellis board. Then cut it out using a jigsaw.
After it is cut to shape, sand it with an orbital sander. (I prefer to also sand the edges round for a softer look.)
2: Stain
Now is the easiest time to stain all the pieces, before assembling.
3: Assemble the Arbor Side Sections
4: Assemble the Top Trellis Section
5: Assemble the Garden Arbor
Installing a Garden Arbor on a Deck
So what do you think of our garden arbor? Will you be building one for a wedding? Where will you be putting yours?
October 2019: Reader Daniel B. sent us this photo of the arch he built for his sister’s wedding ceremony at the picturesque Castle in the Clouds in Multonburough, NH. Such a dreamy setting for a beautiful location wedding!
If you’ve built something using one of our plans, we’d love to see photos! Email us at [email protected] or tag #imaremodelaholic on Instagram.
See more 2×4 and More projects using inexpensive 2x4s and other structural lumber — we love showing off the versatility of readily available lumber. We even hosted a #2x4andMore Challenge with fellow bloggers to show the variety of projects you can build with basic boards — see all of the projects (and share yours) here.
Check out all of the other 2×4 and More Challenge posts here:
- garden arbor | Remodelaholic
- 15 minute coffee table | The Ugly Duckling House
- tiered corner plant stand | Charleston Crafted
- single-board rolling bar cart | Woodshop Diaries
- outdoor bench w/rope detail | At Charlotte’s House
- wall planter and herb garden | Making Joy and Pretty Things
- upholstered x-base bench | Frazzled Joy
- jumbo tic tac toe | Ginger Snap Crafts
- porch bench | Everyday Party Magazine
- console table | Hertoolbelt
- farmhouse patio table | North Country Nest
- easy flower planters | Our House Now a Home
- treadmill incline | Practical and Pretty
- patio side table | Girl Just DIY
Oh gosh… what a lovely project! So impressed you were able to keep track of all the angles… mine would have been completely off kilter. 🙂 Thanks for organized this fun challenge! xx
Thanks, Charlotte!
Your arbor is beautiful!
Thank you, Ginger!
This is so beautiful, it looks fantastic with snow on it. I’d love to have one of these on my side yard as it’s the perfect size for that space.
Thanks for hosting the challenge and giving me the courage to build my first piece of furniture 😀
Thanks for joining in, Toni! Your tables are wonderful!
What a beautiful project and what a special gift! I love it!
Thanks, Denise!
Such a creative idea! I love the garden arbor. Thanks for hosting the 2×4 challenge!
I’ll be getting started on this soon for my son’s wedding in September! Thanks for the great design and details!
You’re welcome! We’d love to see photos when you finish. https://www.remodelaholic.com/share-brag-post/
What color stain did you use and brand for the arch? Thank you!
I believe the brand was Thompson’s water seal acorn brown.
Are the plans for the garden arbor still available? Looking forward to building the arch for my son’s wedding next month. Thanks!
Hi Bob,
Yes, there’s a button/link below in the post — click that and enter your email, and we’ll send you the printable plans. (or you can click here 🙂 https://remodelaholic.lpages.co/leadbox/14019ed73f72a2%3A10b2bf937f46dc/5735049026600960/)
Enjoy! We’d love to see photos!
Thank you for sharing these plans. We are in the process of getting the materials to build this for our wedding and have a couple of questions. Are there 2x6x10’s that are needed but not included in the materials list? How long were the 2×4’s that you used? On the corbels, what is the length from point to point (lengthwise) and what is the length from the top of the board to the points at the bottom (the bottom of the arches)? Thank you for your help?
Jennifer, the 2x6x10’s are for the top trellis of 120″ long. I had some wrong numbers in the cut list that were confusing but I fixed them. The 2×4’s are for the top trellis pieces that you have to rip in half. The corbels are about 32″ long. Send us a photo after you get it done. We would love to see it. Sorry about the delayed reply.
This is a really good looking arbor, but there are some errors in your materials list and cut list. As a result there was another trip to the lumber yard for 3 2x6s. We had a finished product that was not a wide as your diagram as we didn’t figure it out until we had already made decorative cuts and didn’t want to pay for another pair of 2x6s of cedar, as they are spendy.
Suggestions:
The top trellis beams are 2×6 (5 1/2″ x 1 1/2) and are not included in the materials list. Although the beams are on the cut list and as (2) 96″ x 5 1/2″ x 1 1/2″, the diagram shows the top beams to be 120″.
The Top Side Brackets are also missing from the materials list which also would add a 2×6 (5 1/2″ x 1 1/2).
Thanks for pointing that out and sorry for the mix up! I’m excited you are building it. I would love to see pictures.
Hello, thank you for sharing all of your ideas/plans w/ us DIY’ers!
We are going to be building 2 of the arbors(w/ slight mods) for a rose garden. Looking at the plans it seems that the cut list has a typ-o. The “top trellis beams” need to be cut to 120″ not 96″. Based on your drawing, those beams measure 120″.
Thanks!
Thanks for the heads up I will fix that now.
Good Evening,
We are in the process of building the Arbor. But we noticed, thankfully before we cut wood, that the top rails are the wrong size on the materials cut list. But yet I’ve noticed many comments above with the same problem. Stating you will update the plans and fix the dimensions. Well…It’s not fixed yet! And we did pay money for these plans. We still got the old plans. Frustrating:/
Heather thank you for letting us know. I am so sorry for the mix up. I will get the one for sale fixed. Should I send you a new one when I get it fixed? If you have the change could you email me a photo of the material cut list? [email protected]
Hi – I ordered the DIY Garden Arbor & Trellis plans, to build one for my daughters’ upcoming wedding (3 weeks). The one thing I’m not seeing is a plan for finishing the ends of the beams. I watched the video also, but likewise didn’t see how he cut the original piece. Is there a template or something I’m missing that shows how to layout the cut for the beam ends?
Thanks
Hi John, Thanks for the comment. On page 6 of the plans, the photos of step 1 show the shape that Justin used for the ends of the beams. He traced the shape he wanted onto cardstock and then traced it onto each end of the boards. We don’t currently have a template available, but I will put it on our list!