20+ Breathtaking Wedding Backdrop Ideas You’ll Love

Whether it’s capturing a tender post-ceremony moment walking through an oak grove or a posed pre-reception portrait session in front of a colorful flower wall, the best wedding photos tell a visual story with the help of a thoughtfully chosen backdrop.

From arches adorned with flowers to unique architectural elements, memorialize the beauty and romance of your wedding day with gorgeous photos that perfectly capture those special moments.

Below, we’ve gathered all the best ways to dress up your photo sessions with wedding backdrop ideas to inspire your big day plans.

How do you make a good backdrop for wedding photos?

When deciding on a wedding photo backdrop, you’ll want to consider how to best showcase you, your partner, and your personalities. Think about your wedding theme and colors, favorite places, and any other influences from your lifestyle and likes that you want immortalized in your official wedding portraits.

Look for locations or DIY your decor with visual interest and peaceful symmetry in mind. Often, wedding photo backdrops do double duty during the wedding ceremony or reception, so choosing something that inspires your romantic sentiments will help to make the day extra special.

How big should a wedding photo backdrop be?

When planning your wedding pictures, consider a photo backdrop that creates a frame around you and your partner. You don’t want something so small that it’s lost in print, or something so large that it overpowers the focus of the portrait session—you and your partner.

For installations and walls, make sure they’re large enough to not reveal the wall/space behind it. Ideally, you want it to be tall and wide enough to comfortably fit you and the backdrop decor in the camera frame.

Photo by @bushelpeckphoto

If you’re planning to use your wedding backdrop for larger group or family photos, you’ll want to make sure it’s wide enough to comfortably fit everyone within the designated area. It’s better to make a photo wall too large than too small!

What is the best color for a wedding backdrop?

From soft pastel linens to bold and bright floral bunches, there’s many ways to incorporate color into your wedding photo backdrop. While there’s no one color that’s best, think about how the shades you choose influence the mood of your photos:

• Complementary colors from opposite sides of the color wheel create a bold and exciting combination to liven up your photo backdrop.
• Monochrome gives your wedding backdrop a timeless and classic look, especially if you’re working with shades of black and white.
• Multicolor wedding backdrops are attention-grabbing and bold.
• Neutrals add warmth and vintage vibes without being visually overpowering.
• Greens evoke the calmness of nature and the outdoors and accentuate your natural beauty.

Other things to consider are how the backdrop will look with your wedding dress, groom’s attire, bridal party style, and wedding bouquets. If you have a bold color scheme for your flowers and dresses, you’ll want to make sure they’re complemented by the backdrop and not clashing or overpowering each other. 

Do a pre-wedding walkthrough with your photographer

Plan ahead by scouting out locations and lighting before the main event to lessen your wedding day stress and give you a roadmap for what, when, and where you want to take your photos. Your photographer will give the venue an experienced eye and might notice details or locations you wouldn’t initially think of using, so bring them along, too, if you can!

Classic and creative wedding photo backdrop ideas

Ready to explore options for your wedding backdrop? Try some of these unique ways to elevate your wedding picture sessions:

Shape your backdrop with wedding arches

Wedding arches are always a good choice for photo backdrops. Available in a variety of shapes, styles, and materials, you’ll be sure to find the perfect match for your wedding mood, and they’re easy to dress up with premade wedding arch decor and coordinating linens.

Here’s some of our favorite shapes and styling ideas for arches:

Triangle arch

Stately and architectural, triangle arches evoke imagery of mountaintops and church steeples. Soften the angularity with floral installations and airy draped fabrics. Triangle arches also work really well with textural additions like pampas grass and other long, spiked grasses and branches that highlight the arch’s linear shape.

Round arch

One of the most popular wedding arch shapes, a round arch encircles you and your partner for a classic and sophisticated wedding photo backdrop. Try covering the whole hoop in flower garlands, or having high and low focal points for the floral arch decor.

Rectangular arch

Rectangular arches are frequently made of sturdy wood and are ideal for weddings with a rustic theme. With a simple, classic shape, there’s endless options for dressing them for your backdrop. For example, they look lovely with a large floral installation at one corner and drapes of chiffon or other linens to add airiness to the frame.

Hexagon arch

Hexagonal arches provide an interesting honeycomb shape with lots of angles to decorate with linens, flowers, and garlands that can be arranged in a wide variety of ways. Try weaving the fabric around and through the different sides, or keeping it simple with a focal floral adornment.

Photo by @spencerlucasphoto

Asymmetrical arch

For a truly unique backdrop, consider an asymmetrical wedding arch. Typically sold in two pieces of varying heights, the structure adds whimsical romance when covered in soft florals and greenery. These are also perfect for adding floral flair to doorways as reception decor.

Photo by @thaliacameraist

Double arch

Similar to an arbor, a double arch uses multiple surfaces to create a three-dimensional space for the archway. Take advantage of the extra surface area by using your floral arch decor to extend the look and add visual depth.

Photo by @photographybystephanielynne

Try thoughtfully placed flower arrangements

Big or small, tall or short, flower arrangements provide an instant upgrade to every part of your wedding day. Create a regal space with floral arrangements placed on pillars or pedestals, and add some rose petals and flickering candles for an extra romantic touch.

Drape your wedding backdrop with floral garlands

Stunning on their own or in combination with other decorative elements like string lights and structures, floral garlands add romance to your wedding photo backdrop. Whether they’re atop a wedding arch, adorning a mantle, or dressing up a wall display, they quickly cover lots of square footage and add depth and drama to your backdrop design.

Build a flower wall

What’s better than a flower bouquet? A floor to ceiling wall of gorgeous florals, of course! Whether you want a monochrome look to keep visuals simple or want to try multi-color or gradient designs, flower walls are a popular and beautiful way to give your wedding photos a textural pop. 

Photo by @nadinemariephotography

Grow your love with greenery

A greenery wedding backdrop is both simple and beautiful, with monochrome shades and varying textures that leave the attention on the photo subjects. Luscious green leaves make for lovely wedding photos that make you feel like you’re wandering the forest hand in hand.

Give your backdrop a lift with balloons

More than just a kid’s party decoration, balloons can make beautiful event installations and photo backdrops. With sophisticated color schemes and thoughtful designs, balloons add the perfect combination of beauty and fun to your day. Try incorporating floral details like garlands, bunches, or single stem roses into a balloon installation for an extra level of romance. 

Illuminate your pics with string lights

Whether it’s fairy lights, edison bulbs, or specialty shapes and colors, string lights add an enchanting element to your wedding photo backdrop. Use them on their own, or incorporate them in with other elements like florals, garlands, and arches for a unique and otherworldly mood.

Photo by @emilyrosephotos

Paper lanterns make a whimsical backdrop

Paper lanterns add a delicate glow and lively color pop to wedding photo backdrops. Try staggering different sizes and colors against a wall for a decorative installation, or hang them in groups from the ceiling at varying heights.

Add radiance with neon signage

The glow of neon lights brings a unique vibe to your photo backdrop. Go with a favorite saying like “I’m Yours” or try a symbolic expression of love with neon hearts and wedding bands. Give the lights extra oomph by incorporating them into a greenery or flower wall to stand out.

Photo by @maggieportzlinephoto

Put your name center stage

Whether it’s monograms or your newly official last name, try creating a wedding photo backdrop that announces your union in big, bold letters. You can light it up, write it on a chalkboard easel, outline it in flowers, or any other creative way you can think of to immortalize the moment and your next steps as partners in life.

Dress up the walls with a gorgeous floral wreath

Create a focal wall with a wreath that brings in elements of your wedding theme. Not only will it make the venue look spectacular, it’ll provide a visual anchor for wedding portraits. Try one big wreath of flowers and greenery, or smaller hoop wreaths of varying sizes for a more modern, eclectic look.

Photo by @maggieportraits

Accent your rustic vintage style with macrame

Natural fibers are a great way to add texture to a rustic wedding photo backdrop. In lieu of linens, try draping your wedding arch with a dangling display of macrame, and adorn it with flowers for a free-spirited display to frame your romance. The varying lengths of a macrame swag work especially well with tall rectangular or hexagon arches or tall wooden beams.

Inspiring indoor wedding backdrop ideas

When you’ve got a stunning structure for your wedding venue, take advantage of the location’s uniqueness for your wedding photo backdrop. Interesting architectural and historical details are the perfect way to frame your posed photos without any extra design effort. Plus, you’ll have forever memories of a place that’s close to your heart.

Photo by @michellegodfreyphoto

Use windows to frame your shot

Find a big, beautiful window to pose lovingly in front of for your wedding photos. Not only will you have beautiful architectural details, you’ll get a glimpse of the gorgeous scenery outside, as well. For extra romance, consider framing the window with a flower garland or staging floral arrangements around the base.

Ascend a grand staircase

With visual height and architectural details, staircases make a perfect place to pose for wedding photos. Try wrapping the banister in garlands or adding a floral aisle decoration to the newel post for an elegant upgrade.

Open the door to gorgeous wedding pictures

Capture the symbolism of entering a new phase of your relationship by taking wedding photos in front of a decorative doorway. Try it as a solid backdrop, or open the door to reveal whatever beautiful place is hiding behind it, like your elegant reception space or a secret garden.

Stroll the hallways

Try a stunning hallway shot that creates visual depth and linear interest. Think vintage hotels with long corridors full of parlor palms and decorative columns for a timeless couple’s portrait.

Relax on decorative vintage furniture

Antique and vintage furniture, such as a velvet sofa or aged leather wingback chairs, offer stylish options for mixing up your wedding photo poses. Historic venues might already have options throughout the space, or you can even rent upscale furniture from event coordinators.

Photo by @emilyrosephotos

Outstanding ideas for outdoor wedding backdrops

Does the venue’s property have an old flagstone wall, a decorative fountain, or a covered bridge with just the right amount of moss and aged patina? Memorialize your wedding’s natural beauty by choosing instagram-worthy locations around your venue to snap wedding photos. 

Dress up an arbor or gazebo

Garden structures like arbors and gazebos create a romantic place to gather for wedding pictures. While they make lovely addition to your wedding backdrop on their own, consider adding decorative touches to create a dreamy space:

• Flower garlands are an easy way to dress up an existing outdoor structure. Hang them from the top as a swag, or wrap them around a railing or fence. 
• Flower arrangements placed around the structure add depth, especially if you use varied heights with pedestals or tables for display. 
• Drape lovely linens over a garden arbor that match your wedding theme. Different types of fabric add different feels — chiffon evokes soft romance, while burlap gives a rustic touch.
• Sparkling string lights and lanterns add whimsy, especially when you’re planning early evening photos when sunlight is minimal.

Warm up in a greenhouse

Gorgeous glass greenhouses provide a structural, light-reflecting backdrop for wedding pictures. Pose outside and have the structure anchor the frame of your portrait, or use the inside space with flower arrangements and foliage for a mix of indoors and out. If the greenhouse is in use, utilize the tropical indoor plants and water features for photos, as well!

Photo by @mazlinrheaphoto

Let Mother Nature design your wedding photo backdrop

Take advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings on or near your wedding venue with stunning backdrop designs only nature could create:

Find a favorite tree

A big, old oak tree, a birch grove, or even a tall and stately cactus can make your wedding photo backdrop unique while giving a nod to your love of nature.

Highlight a water feature

If you chose to wed near a lake, river, or waterfall, it’s likely because you feel a connection to the water. Bring the sparkling blues of the locale into your wedding photos as a natural and beautiful photo backdrop.

Stroll the rolling hills and fields

When the light hits the landscape just right during golden hour, you don’t need much more for your wedding photos beyond your beautiful bridal bouquet and a romantic embrace. Whether it’s a wheat field in fall, a summer lakeside sunset, or a colorful Southwestern desert at dusk, scope out a lovely landscape for a memorable photo session.

Photo by @amongthepinesphoto

Showcase the big city vibes of your urban wedding venue

For a city wedding, highlight the urban landscape of bricks, metal, and glass when you style your wedding photo backdrop. Hit the pavement and take your wedding photos in front of some of your favorite city spots, or set up a rooftop backdrop that highlights the industrial beauty of the city skyline at sunset.

More unique wedding photo backdrops to elevate your day

From pumpkin spice to romantic candlelight, here’s a few more unexpected ways to bring your wedding theme into your wedding photo backdrops. 

Romantic after-dark photos

Consider staging nighttime photos using thoughtfully designed lighting sources for moody and romantic wedding portraits. Light a path with lanterns, arrange floor and tabletop candles, or surround yourselves in a sea of sparklers for one-of-a-kind shots.

Rustic wedding backdrop ideas

Get creative and utilize all the thoughtfully planned decor for your rustic themed wedding day when designing a wedding photo backdrop:

• Incorporate wine barrels topped with floral arrangements
• Create a hay bale wall and decorate it with flowers and gourds
• Add a floral installation surrounding the giant barn doors of your wedding venue

Take your photos on the go

Utilize your dressed-up wedding day transportation for playful photos that celebrate your new journey as partners. Classic cars add vintage glamour to your wedding photo backdrop, while a golf cart decorated with streamers and flowers is a fun way to celebrate speeding off to your honeymoon. For a rustic barn wedding, consider utilizing a vintage wagon or antique tractor for your wedding photos.

Photo by @maggieportzlinephoto

Get playful with bubbles

Not only are bubbles fun for kids and adults of all ages, they add a joyful lightness when you use them in your wedding photos. Picture surrounding you and your partner with a whirlwind of floating bubbles, your wedding party just out of frame manning the bubble machine. Having guests blow bubbles for your ceremony exit is another way to make your wedding action shots literally pop.

Celebrate your holiday wedding with on-theme backdrops

If you’re celebrating your union around a holiday season, try incorporating festive seasonal influences into your photo backdrop display.

FESTIVE CHRISTMAS PHOTO BACKDROPS

Whether you’re going all-in on a Christmas theme or simply adding an elegant nod to the season in your event decor, incorporating a festive touch into your wedding photos will bring back fond memories of your wintertime wedding:

• A trimmed and lit christmas tree brings out all the joys of the season
• Join hands in front of a fireplace decked out in holly garlands and pillar candles
• Create a backdrop from wintery branches, string lights, and poinsettia flowers

Spooky Halloween backdrop decor

No Halloween wedding is complete without wedding photos that show off your spooky fall wedding theme. Whether it’s a dark and moody wedding arch anchored by piles of pastel pumpkins or dark candelabras and jack-o-lanterns lighting up your wedding backdrop, accentuate your favorite parts of the holiday in your own creative way. 

Romantic Valentine’s Day wedding photo backdrops

No day says true love more than Valentine’s day, and if you’re celebrating your wedding on the most romantic day of the year, look to Cupid for wedding photo backdrop inspiration: 

• Try using shades of red, burgundy, and blush to adorn a heart-shaped wedding arch
• Place a heart-shaped wreath made of red roses on a focal wall
• Hang bunting made of paper hearts as part of a wedding photo backdrop display

Bring out your wild side with the animal kingdom

Showcase your love of animals by including some of your favorite furry friends in your wedding backdrops. If you’re hosting your wedding at a unique venue like an aquarium or zoo, there’s likely many places for you to set up a one-of-a-kind photo session. Rustic farm weddings are great for animal lovers too — the serene setting of horses at pasture creates a striking wedding photo backdrop.

Photo by @sailboat_media

Adorn Your Wedding Backdrop With Ling’s Flowers & Decor

From flowers and vases to greenery and linens, find everything you need for dressing up your wedding photo backdrop at Ling’s Moment. Whether you want to DIY your way to a one-of-a-kind wedding backdrop or want the convenience of premade wedding arch decor, our selection of quality artificial florals will be sure to elevate your wedding day.

Don’t forget to share your stunning photos with us on instagram @lingsmoment — we love to see how you interpret your wedding vision!