How To Build Your Own DIY Backdrop Frames

It’s hard to tell these days just how much the average American couple spends on a wedding. One estimate gives a total north of $35,000. With an average of 2.4 million weddings in the United States each year, there’s a lot of money spent no matter which way you slice it. In fact one estimate for the total amount spent on weddings in the U.S. annually is $72 billion.

Everyone wants their wedding day to be perfect from beginning to end, but you don’t need to break the bank to make that happen. If you’re big on doing a DIY wedding, all that matters is that it’s what you and your spouse want.

When it comes to creating your own DIY décor, one easy option is to build your own backdrop poles. Building your own backdrop poles allows you to create a pipe and drape system that can allow you to put up some creative backdrops for your wedding and reception.

Building your own backdrop poles using the following guide will give you backdrop poles that are:

• Portable
• Lightweight
• Not expensive
• Easily configurable

Here’s a helpful guide to building your own PVC pipe backdrop:

What You’ll Need

• 4 PVC pipes, 1-inch by 4-foot
• 6 1-inch T-connectors
• 2 1-inch elbow connectors
• Miter box and saw

Before you start, figure out exactly how big you want your backdrop to be. Keep in mind that the PVC pipe comes in 4-foot and 10-foot section, so depending on the size you’re looking for, you may have to trim some of the pieces down.

You also have to figure out if you’ll want freestanding backdrop poles or a pipe and drape system that will rest against something. Depending on your answer, you’ll have to create a different base.

The Freestanding Frame

The Freestanding frame works well in narrow spaces where you’re able to rest the backdrop against something, such as a table. The freestanding version will measure about 4-foot by 6-foot.

1. Trim your pipe to the desired size with the miter box and saw.
2. Starting at the bottom with a pair of 1.5 foot sections, add a T-connector to each section.
3. Add a 4-foot section horizontally between the T-connectors.
4. Add two more 1.5-foot sections in the T-connectors and add another 4-foot section.
5. Add two more 1.5-foot sections in your T-connectors and a third 4-foot section.
6. Add two more 1.5-foot connections and put elbow connectors atop those and add your last piece of 4-foot pipe.

This type of backdrop frame should give you a four-tier setup to drape your backdrop over.

The Resting Frame

This frame gives you a 4-foot by 5.5-foot frame, almost in the shape of a soccer net, that can rest along a wall.

1. Trim your pipe with the miter box and saw. For the vertical sections, 1.5-foot pipes are recommended.
2. Starting at the bottom with a 2-foot by 4-foot pipe on the ground, add elbow connectors to both ends.
3. In the those elbow connectors, add a 2-inch by 3-foot pipe so that you have something that resembles a lowercase “n.”
4. Add two 2-inch T-connectors to each of the 3-foot pipes.
5. Add two 1-inch by 4-foot sections upright in the T-connectors. Top those pieces with two more T-connectors.
6. Add a pair of 1.5-foot sections to those new T-connectors and put two elbow connectors on top of those.
8. Add the last 4-foot section horizontally in between the top elbow connectors to complete the job.

Either way you decide to build your backdrop poles and backdrop frames, this is a good DIY way to build your own space for colorful backdrops that will fit the décor of your wedding or reception. Whether you opt for white drapery for a wedding, sheer drapes for a wedding, satin drapes or something like curtains, these poles and backdrop frames will enable you to show off your creativity and add something unique to your big day.