Designed to replace a traditional altar for an outdoor wedding ceremony, these custom arches honored both family history and new beginnings. Inspired by the stained glass windows of the bride’s childhood church—a stunning Gothic Revival landmark in Kansas City where her family’s roots trace back to the early 1930s—these custom oak arches brought a sense of home to the couple’s vineyard wedding in Charlottesville, VA.

Hand-drawn by Ericka Howill and expertly crafted by Kansas City-based carpenter Matt Hissong, the three 10-foot-tall arches seamlessly connected with hidden joints behind the center pillars. Built for both beauty and function, they traveled over 1,000 miles to Virginia and back without compromising their delicate details. Disassembled, they now adorn the walls of the couples’s home in Kansas City.