How Much Do Wedding Arches Cost to Hire in France?

Wedding arches form an essential part of any wedding. From being the backdrop to the all-important first kiss photo to the centrepiece of your wedding ceremony, they're a fixture that can't be overlooked.

But how much might you expect to pay for a wedding arch or set of arches?

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Wedding Arch?

Wedding arch hire varies quite dramatically in price depending on your specifications. Simple, plain wooden arches can cost as little as €150 per day. However, bespoke arches with custom floral decorations can cost hundreds of euros, with extravagant pieces costing upwards of €1,500.

Several factors go into the cost of your wedding arch hire, so let's discuss them in a little more detail so you can make an informed decision when the time comes.

What Factors Influence the Cost of Wedding Arch Hire?

Arch Materials and Style

One of the principal cost factors is the arch material. While pared-back wooden arches are relatively inexpensive, custom-moulded metal arches in materials such as copper will cost a lot more.

You may find that circular or semi-circular arches often cost more than standard perpendicular frames, as they cost more to produce.

Size of the Wedding Arch

Of course, the larger the arch, the more that will go into its construction and decoration, and therefore costs. Generally speaking, a wedding arch should be at least half a metre taller than the tallest member of the couple and at least two metres wide to best frame the couple.

However, you can get away with a smaller wedding arch if it's placed on top of another object, such as a plinth.

Number and Type of Decorations

Perhaps the most influential aspect of your overall wedding arch hire costs will be your decorations, with custom natural floral decorations commanding a hefty fee. Other decoration options that won't cost as much include fairy lights, artificial flowers, drape and any other wedding decor that’s needed (or a combination of all).

The more decorations you apply to your wedding arch, the more expensive the hire cost is likely to be.

Duration of the Rental

Of course, how long you intend to hire your wedding arch will also impact costs. For French weddings, do you want to have a wedding arch for your civil ceremony as well as your religious or symbolic nuptials? If so, how long will you need the arch for? Hiring the arch for a 3 days instead of 24 hours will significantly affect your hire costs.

Number of Arches

While most couples are happy with one wedding arch, many choose to hire one large arch for the ceremony and then several smaller arches to have as attractive decorative features of their wedding production. Of course, the more arches you hire, the more you will spend.

Your Choices Will Determine How Much You Spend on Your Wedding Arch

While it's difficult to give you a precise figure for wedding arch hire for your French wedding, you can expect to spend a minimum of €200 – €400 once the decorations have also been factored in. The chances are that you will spend more than that if you intend to decorate the arch with real flowers or have a large structure that provides a focal point for your ceremony.

It's best to sit down with your event supplier and talk through all of the different wedding arch options available to you so that you can make an informed decision that you're both happy with. Fête24 stock a number of different wedding arches & rental costs start from 125€ for a wooden arch.