Nov 16 2009
DIY – Trip to Home Depot
Recently, I spent nearly 2 hours in Home Depot, not counting the numerous hours I spent online researching products and pricing to build the main item of my display in the upcoming Brides to Be Shows in January. I decided to use a mandap/chuppah/canopy as the focal point of the booth. Mandaps, are used in the Indian/Hindu ceremonies like the chuppah is in Jewish ceremonies. I love items that cross cultural borders! Of course, the mandap and chuppah are not isolated to a cultural festivity; then can be used as a simple canopy over anyone’s ceremony. It creates a beautiful backdrop for pictures. I’ve also seen the idea used over sweetheart and cake tables. Oh so many ways to use it!
Since the average pipe and drape company here in Michigan quoted me $800 for a day, plus an additional $50 for the second day, I had to find another way to make it cost efficient. I had lots of inspiration from all over the country. There are some elaborate mandap designs out there. Here are a few of my favorites.
(Design by Sachi Sood Partyland Flowers & Event Decor)
As you can see, they can be quite elaborate, or simplistic. Of course my favorite is from Mandap World. The pillar wood work alone is breathtaking.
(from Mandap World)
Of course, I can’t design something like this in a flash, so I opted for the more simplistic designs often found in chuppahs.
(from Flower Duet)
(from Congregation Beth Tivah)
(from Happily Every Chuppah)
(from Fifty Flowers) 
(from Monterey Rentals)
Ok so they’re not always simplistic
But back to Home Depot. I decided to build my mandap/chuppah out of PVC pipe. Relatively inexpensive, sturdy and easy to work with. I developed an initial plan and then set out to make it a reality. I came across a couple great DIY sites providing a bit of construction guidance. My favorite is Blue Bouquet. They created a chuppah for a local synagogue. What I loved about their design is the simplicity of the structure and the lights! Prior to seeing their design, I never thought about adding lights. They also did a great job with the bases. Most of the time, people put them in flower pots and add plaster of paris or cement, but unless you want to decorate them every time, they can be quite ugly. I like the idea of using a cake pan to hold the pole, but don’t know if that is the direction I want to go yet.
I’ve done things a little bit differently, as you will see, but the same basic properties are there. And it’s always fun to come up with ideas even the hardware guy would never have thought of as a solution, especially when he admits it. All the parts are in place, now time to build. More details to come . . .
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