How to Make Ribbon Backdrop DIY (Wedding Photo Ideas)

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How to Make Ribbon Backdrop DIY (Wedding Photo Ideas)

Learn how to make a colorful ribbon backdrop for the perfect event photos.

Weddings, photography backgrounds, birthday's and other fun events will look amazing with a ribbon backdrop!

This simple backdrop can be made to match the event colors by using colored ribbon, yarn, lace or fabric strips!

Make a unique backdrop for the bride and groom to stand in front of...or make the perfect backdrop for a birthday party food, favors and cake spread...or make the perfect accent wall for a bedroom or nursery.

This ribbon backdrop is easy to make and surprisingly, does not use as much ribbon as expected!

I even used this ribbon backdrop for my most recent social media photos and I love how it is bright and colorful amidst me, doodlecraft, always wearing black!

My ribbon photo backdrop is 7 feet tall at the top of the ribbon, and 8 feet wide.

Bonus Tip: You can make your ribbon backdrop as wide and tall as you need to fill your space.

SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR RIBBON BACKDROP:

affiliate links

Photo Backdrop Stand (mine's DIY, more suggestions at the end of post)
Ribbon or Fabric Strips (variety of widths, colors and finishes)
Sharp Scissors
Lighter (optional)
1/2 inch Nylon Rope

I bought tons of ribbon years ago from Papermart, which is a great place for ribbon and I am not an affiliate. I spent about $200 to get all the sizes and colors I wanted for making hair bows.

I ended up with tons of ribbon leftover.

I have an entire laundry basket full of ribbon and my plan was to make this backdrop so I could finally use up my ribbon.

Surprisingly, I still have an entire laundry basket full of ribbon...I'm not sure how that science works out, but this used WAY less ribbon than I expected.

SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR RIBBON BACKDROP: affiliate links Photo Backdrop Stand (mine's DIY, more suggestions at the end of post) Ribbon or Fabric Strips (variety of widths, colors and finishes) Sharp Scissors Lighter (optional) 1/2 inch Nylon Rope I bought tons of ribbon years ago from Papermart, which is a great place for ribbon and I am not an affiliate. I spent about $200 to get all the sizes and colors I wanted for making hair bows. I ended up with tons of ribbon leftover. I have an entire laundry basket full of ribbon and my plan was to make this backdrop so I could finally use up my ribbon. Surprisingly, I still have an entire laundry basket full of ribbon...I'm not sure how that science works out, but this used WAY less ribbon than I expected.

Step 1: Rope Length

Begin by cutting your nylon rope 2-3 feet longer than the desired span.

My rope is 8 feet long with knots tied on both ends to prevent ribbon from slipping off the ends.

Use the lighter to melt the nylon rope on both cut ends to prevent the rope from fraying apart.

Step 1: Rope Length Begin by cutting your nylon rope 2-3 feet longer than the desired span. My rope is 8 feet long with knots tied on both ends to prevent ribbon from slipping off the ends. Use the lighter to melt the nylon rope on both cut ends to prevent the rope from fraying apart.

Step 2: Cutting Ribbon

A darling assistant is very helpful.

I worked on my kitchen table, since I knew this was going to take up a lot of space and didn't want to clean the floor...and then have to kneel down for hours.

My kitten, Sara, oversaw the events of the evening and loved the colorful ribbons.

Cut ribbon into long lengths to double the height of your desired backdrop.

My backdrop is 7 feet tall, so I cut my ribbon at 15 feet long.

I cut about 6 pieces in each color and staggered them symmetrically on my rope...unless I ran out of that ribbon, then I just filled those pieces in randomly.

Step 2: Cutting Ribbon A darling assistant is very helpful. I worked on my kitchen table, since I knew this was going to take up a lot of space and didn't want to clean the floor...and then have to kneel down for hours. My kitten, Sara, oversaw the events of the evening and loved the colorful ribbons. Cut ribbon into long lengths to double the height of your desired backdrop. My backdrop is 7 feet tall, so I cut my ribbon at 15 feet long. I cut about 6 pieces in each color and staggered them symmetrically on my rope...unless I ran out of that ribbon, then I just filled those pieces in randomly.

Step 2: Larks Head or Girth Hitch

Once the ribbon is cut, you can use the lighter to melt the edges to prevent fraying if desired.

This was the most tedious part of this project and it didn't seem to make a difference for one or two nights of using the ribbon backdrop.

Now, find the center of the cut ribbon piece, and tie a larks head or girth hitch around the rope.

The center loop of the ribbon goes behind the rope and above it about 2 inches.

Then pull the 2 ends of the ribbon over the top of the rope and through the center loop of the ribbon.
Pull tight onto the rope.

Step 2: Larks Head or Girth Hitch Once the ribbon is cut, you can use the lighter to melt the edges to prevent fraying if desired. This was the most tedious part of this project and it didn't seem to make a difference for one or two nights of using the ribbon backdrop. Now, find the center of the cut ribbon piece, and tie a larks head or girth hitch around the rope. The center loop of the ribbon goes behind the rope and above it about 2 inches. Then pull the 2 ends of the ribbon over the top of the rope and through the center loop of the ribbon. Pull tight onto the rope.

Now repeat the ribbon cutting, melting and tying process until the rope is full of ribbon!

Then lift it up and secure it to the backdrop stand by tying it up in intervals with short pieces of ribbon.

(This requires the use of a buddy...it's just too risky to dump all these ribbons on the ground when setting up.)

This creates a little swag at the top...if you don't love the look, you can wrap it up tighter or staple it in place.

Add more ribbon to fill in any gaps after hanging.

Then lift it up and secure it to the backdrop stand by tying it up in intervals with short pieces of ribbon. (This requires the use of a buddy...it's just too risky to dump all these ribbons on the ground when setting up.) This creates a little swag at the top...if you don't love the look, you can wrap it up tighter or staple it in place. Add more ribbon to fill in any gaps after hanging.

How to Hang your Ribbon Backdrop:

There are several options for hanging a backdrop.

I did a DIY version, using some old chain link pipes, 1x2's and recycled soup cans, plus a bit of aqua spray paint.

The 1x2's slide into the pipes, the tin cans were shaped to fit the 1x2 across the top for the perfect adjustable and removable backdrop holder.

--If you are doing a permanent installation, you can attach L Brackets right into the wall studs and hang the rope on them.

--If you have the right space, you can use curtain rods to go across a span and secure to the wall.

These might not be the best option for ribbons, if they get pulled on the whole curtain rod could crash down.

Here's some Amazon options:

How to Hang your Ribbon Backdrop: There are several options for hanging a backdrop. I did a DIY version, using some old chain link pipes, 1x2's and recycled soup cans, plus a bit of aqua spray paint. The 1x2's slide into the pipes, the tin cans were shaped to fit the 1x2 across the top for the perfect adjustable and removable backdrop holder. --If you are doing a permanent installation, you can attach L Brackets right into the wall studs and hang the rope on them. --If you have the right space, you can use curtain rods to go across a span and secure to the wall. These might not be the best option for ribbons, if they get pulled on the whole curtain rod could crash down. Here's some Amazon options: Photo Backdrop Stand Heavy Duty Kit 10x10 Photo Backdrop Stand Light Duty Kit 10x7

ENJOY YOUR NEW PHOTO BACKDROP WALL

I love how bright and cheery the ribbon wall looks!

I had a few patterned ribbons that I added on here and there...ripped strips of fabric work great too.

If you have long pieces of lace, add those in for some texture.

Even adding in eyelash yarn or other kinds of yarn would look fantastic!

I love how bright and cheery the ribbon wall looks! I had a few patterned ribbons that I added on here and there...ripped strips of fabric work great too. If you have long pieces of lace, add those in for some texture. Even adding in eyelash yarn or other kinds of yarn would look fantastic!

That's it!

A Ribbon Backdrop wall is easy to make with brightly colored ribbons, bows, fabric, yarn and lace!

This fun photo op wall is perfect for elegant events like weddings and Proms...it's perfect for a birthday party and it would be an awesome accent wall (especially for renters that can't paint) in a bedroom or nursery.

It's a really fun curtain wall too--since making it we added it to an opening in our back patio as a breeze curtain, it's fun to walk through and have the breeze blow the ribbons around!

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A Ribbon Backdrop wall is easy to make with brightly colored ribbons, bows, fabric, yarn and lace! This fun photo op wall is perfect for elegant events like weddings and Proms...it's perfect for a birthday party and it would be an awesome accent wall (especially for renters that can't paint) in a bedroom or nursery. It's a really fun curtain wall too--since making it we added it to an opening in our back patio as a breeze curtain, it's fun to walk through and have the breeze blow the ribbons around!

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