| Free from AI ~ This article is written by Tara Collette (human). Amazon linked products are affiliated links. |
Let’s Talk Wedding Banner Stands
One of the most asked questions I am asked as a custom banner maker, in particular for weddings, is ‘Where can I purchase a stand for my custom banner?’.
While I do have the option for people to purchase a rod directly from me with your custom banner, I understand that this isn’t always particularly helpful when it comes to displaying it in a venue; more often than not, you, of course, can’t start screwing into walls – or at least, you usually can’t do this in wedding venues across Manchester and the UK.
And so, after being asked this question many times, I’ve finally written a blog post to give you all some good directions for standing frames, which can be used to hold wedding banners.
In the blog post, I’ll cover things like what you need to look out for when purchasing a standing frame, like things to avoid and be wary of. I’ll include my wedding banner sizes so you know exactly what size stand you’ll need to purchase, and I’ll compile my own list of stands that I’ve spent time researching to make getting a wedding banner and the perfect stand a hopefully stress-free and enjoyable part of your wedding planning. If you’re searching for help with velvet wedding banners or wedding welcome banners, this will hopefully be the perfect guide to answer all your questions.
Photography: Jim Taylor (A North West UK wedding and music photographer).
Banner size: Small portrait (70cmx 90cm)
If you’re new here, I’m Tara Collette – a fabric banner maker based in Manchester. I create banners full-time from my Salford textile studio for all kinds of occasions, venues, brands and small businesses, and I specialise in custom velvet banners for weddings.
Photography: Rory Clifford (Manchester photogrpaher & designer)
Wedding Banner Stands Are Basically Just Clothes Rails
The secret's out (!) – what people often don't realise about ‘banner stands’ is that they’re actually just … clothes rails. When you tap ‘banner stands’ into Google, you discover almost nothing. But once you know the correct term to search, it’s half the work done. They’re actually super easy to find at an affordable price, too. Searching for “metal clothes rails” or “freestanding clothes rail” will bring up far more useful results.
What to Avoid When Buying a Stand Online
If you want to go off on your own little internet wormhole search for your banner stand, I’ll include some important things to look out for before you go off on your way – this will be especially useful if you’re planning to buy a stand online without seeing it in person.
Does the Stand Break Apart at the Top?
Ideally, you need the clothes stand to come apart at the top; this is so you can slide the banner on easily. Some clothes racks are welded together with no way of you being able to slide a banner on. This is one of the most common mistakes people make when buying a wedding banner stand.
However, if you find your dream banner stand that doesn’t break apart, or you ordered one that doesn't by accident, there are still ways around this. I use S-hooks at my wedding shows to hold a banner rod up. This is also a great hack if you already own a stand that perhaps doesn’t break apart.
What Can Ruin the Hang (Without You Realising)
The long tab I create at the top of my banners (along the back) is for straight rods and rails only. It’s important that the frame is straight. While I understand arched wedding frames are beautiful, they definitely are not suitable for my fabric wedding banners (sorry!).
Welded stoppers can be pesky little buggers if you don’t clock them before purchasing. They need to be wide enough apart so that the banner can fit in between them; if they’re not, they can stop banners from sitting centrally in the frame, as well as causing little lumps across the top of the banner, making the text look wobbly – this is especially noticeable on velvet wedding banners.
Outdoor Wedding? Choose Something Heavier
Of course, stand stability comes into play too when choosing a clothes rail for your wedding banner. This being said, it would be impressive for a clothes rail to not have good stability. The main thing to think about when considering the stability is the placement: a lightweight rail holding a banner may be blown over easily if it is placed in a windy, outdoor setting. This is something to keep in mind if you plan on using your wedding banner as an outdoor welcome sign.
Photographer: Thalia Cameraist (NYC & Destination wedding photographer)
Choosing the Right Colour Stand
It’s good to consider the colour of your rail and what might complement your banner colour best. A black rod or stand definitely seems to be the most popular choice for my previous wedding banners. I think this works well, as it doesn’t draw much attention away from the wedding sign itself.
Banner Sleeve Size + Pole Thickness (Explained)
Mini portrait: 45 cm wide by 55 cm long
Small portrait: 70cm wide by 90cm long
Medium portrait: 100cm wide by 120cm long
Large portrait: 140 cm wide by 160 cm long
My mini portrait banners come supplied with a wooden dowel and string – I wouldn’t recommend this banner for a standing rail, as the sleeve for the dowel to fit through is significantly smaller than the other banner options. This size banner is best suited to hanging rather than being on a stand. I have a whole other blog post about displaying mini banners on tables and sweetheart tables.
Pictured: Mini portrait custom wedding banner 45cm x 55cm (left), small portrait velvet wedding banner 70cm x 90cm (right)
My small, medium and large banners all have a tab/sleeve along the top which can fit a rod with a 2.5 cm diameter through. This is an important measurement to check if you decide to choose your own banner stand rather than one listed below.
When it comes to picking a clothing rail for your banner, you should consider how much clearance you want on either side of it. Often, I have couples drape fabrics or florals over the sides, so in this instance, it would be good to get a larger rail than you actually need. You also need to consider the height of the rail and what might be ideal for wedding photography and styling.
My Recommended Wedding Banner Stands (UK)
Below, I’ll list some recommended stands that would work well for my banner sizes. All of these options will work well as banner stands for cotton and velvet banners (sizes listed).
Best Wedding Banner Stands for my Small Portrait Banners (70cm x 90cm)
Ikea’s MULIG Clothes Rack - £7.00
White, 99cm x 152cm
For banner size: Small Portrait
Link: https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/mulig-clothes-rack-white-60179434/
This clothes rack is by far the cheapest one I have been able to find. Unfortunately, Ikea doesn’t stock it in black, but if you’re simply looking for a cheap and quick free-standing solution, then this will do the trick. From the photos shown on Ikea's website, it appears the top part of the rail lifts, allowing you to slide your banner on over the two welded stoppers, which appear to be far enough apart to allow my small portrait banner to sit flush in between them. As this rail is 99cm wide, you would have approximately 10cm of rail on each side of the banner.
URBNLIVING Freestanding Garment Rack - £10.99
Black, 74.5 cm x 157 cm
For banner size: Small Portrait
Link: https://amzn.to/4aUXllK
Similar to the Ikea rail, this is a perfect budget option for when you know the stand may only be used on your wedding day. This rail appears to be lightweight and is assembled with plastic fittings, making it easy to pop your banner on before connecting these. If you’re not an Amazon fan, this rack is also stocked by B&Q for £9.99.
Habitat’s Lorelei Double Rail - £32.00
Black, 90cm x 150cm
For banner size: Small Portrait
Link: https://www.habitat.co.uk/product/4547583
A personal favourite rail of mine is this minimal black rail from Habitat. I love the small shelf at the bottom; this could be perfect for some florals and disco balls to sit on! I noticed the dimensions are incorrect on the Habitat website for this; it claims the rail is only 45cm wide. Upon researching into this, I found that the rail itself is 90cm wide x 150cm tall and the base is 45cm in depth.
Habitat Arnie Clothes Rail - £25.00
Black, 82cm x 148cm
For banner size: Small Portrait
Link: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9393945
Similar to the rail above but without the lower shelf accessory, I love this minimalist rail and think a banner would look perfect on it! This rail being 82 cm wide is a perfect option if you don’t want much extra space on each side of the banner. The plastic stoppers, which are 65 cm apart, are removable.
Pictured: Small custom wedding banner (70cm x 90cm), possibly on a Habitat Arnie Clothes Rail. Photographer: Rachel Burt (UK-based wedding photographer for non-traditional couples)
Wedding Welcome Sign Stand - £26.99
Black, 80cm x 127cm-173cm
For banner size: Small Portrait
Link: https://amzn.to/4rlwMMt
This rail is the only one I’m mentioning in this blog post that is specifically designed to be a wedding stand! It comes with a set of leather straps, which you could use to hang a dowel holding the banner. I really like this option, as you can have two height options: 127cm and 173cm. Photos don’t show how it comes apart, but the description mentions it being easy to store – from this, I assume all the pieces break apart, and it would be easy to slide your wedding banner on.
Best Wedding Banner Stands for Medium Portrait Banners (100cm x 120cm)
Amazon's Vivo Technologies 4ft Heavy Duty Clothes Rail - £36.99
Matte black, 120 cm x 158 cm
For banner size: Medium Portrait
Link: https://amzn.to/4kLp0cw
This stand is the perfect speedy delivery and heavy-duty choice for medium portrait banners. The reviews talk of the sturdiness of this clothes rail and how it is easy to assemble (no tools required), making it an ideal hassle-free solution for your wedding day.
The listing doesn’t state the pole diameter, but it appears to be a standard (probably) 2cm pole from the photos provided. The rail appears to break apart from the middle section, making it a fab option for being able to slide your banner on. If you’re going for an anti-Amazon wedding, simply search the name of the clothing rail to find it stocked by other suppliers.
Large Wedding Banner Stands: What Works Best
Backdrop Stand Kit - £29.99
Black, 150cm - 200cm x 300cm
For banner size: Medium Portrait & Large Portrait
Link: https://amzn.to/4rMz07i
When searching for stands for larger wedding banners, such as my large portrait, which is 140 cm x 160 cm, photography backdrop stands are a great alternative when it becomes difficult to find larger clothing rails. The top crossbar on this product comes in four pieces, making it easy to remove one or two to shorten the width. Backdrop stands are also great, as they provide room to drape fabric, florals or fairy lights on either side of the banner.
Copper Pipe Wedding Banner Stands
I’m often asked where the copper pipe stand was from in this amazing photo by Ivy & Pine – I asked Hebe where this was from; it had been left behind at the venue from a previous event. But not to worry, I’ve taken a deep internet dive to find out as much information as I can about copper pipes to share with everyone!
Photography: Ivy & Pine (Digital & Analog, UK based)
The DIY Dream (With B&Q Supplies)
For those of you who are true DIYers, you could make your own. I’ve heard it’s quite easy, although I'm not sure I’d like to give it a go myself.
Last year, the couple Erin & Harry created their own copper pipe stand for their custom wedding banner! With some help from ChatGPT and a visit to their local B&Q, they set the father of the groom off on a copper stand mission – and it’s safe to say he absolutely smashed the brief (for around £40 too)!
Photography: Mark Horton (UK Wedding photographer)
There are lots of online tutorials and YouTube videos on how to create your own copper wedding stand, too.
Wedding Decor You Can Reuse at Home
It goes without saying that all of the rails mentioned in this blog post could be used again post-wedding; they would be perfect for other upcoming events or parties – especially if you go for a flatpack option that doesn’t take up much storage space.
If you don’t really have a use for them, hopefully you know someone who would love a new wardrobe rail or photographer's backdrop, so nothing goes to waste. Reusing wedding decor is something that I’ll always encourage!
Hanging Your Wedding Banner (Without a Stand)
As mentioned earlier, I have the option for people to purchase an extendable black metal rod and string directly from me (non-freestanding), which can be used for my small portrait and medium portrait banners. Often, couples use these in their wedding venues where there is already a hanging point, but mainly purchase them so they can hang their custom wedding banners effortlessly post-wedding. They’re lightweight and perfect for popping into a suitcase for destination weddings.
The rods are £10, and shipping is £20 with Parcelforce. I also offer the option for people to collect their wedding banners from my Manchester studio to avoid shipping costs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Banner Stands
What size rail do I need for a wedding banner?
My small portrait wedding banner is 70cm wide; a 75-100cm-wide rail would work for this banner.
The medium portrait wedding banner I create is 100 cm wide; a 110-120 cm rail could be nice for this size.
My large portrait banner is the biggest I create at 140 cm wide; a 150 cm-170 cm wide rail would be great for this. It is easier to search for ‘photography backdrops’ in this instance.
What can I use as a wedding banner stand?
Clothes rails and photography backdrop stands work great to display wedding banners in venues that don’t have a hanging point available. I've had this clothes rail from Amazon for the past 5 years at my wedding shows, so I can personally vouch for its durability. I use S-hooks to hang a banner rod from it, and it works well for me as I like to hang other bits off the two extendable ends.
Do velvet wedding banners need a stronger stand?
My wedding banners are not in any way heavy; they usually weigh 300g - 900g, depending on the size. A stronger stand isn't needed, but it could be good if you plan on having the wedding banner outside your wedding venue as a wedding welcome sign (due to winds).
How do I stop a banner stand from tipping?
A stand shouldn’t really be tipping over; however, if placed outside on a windy day, it could tip. Something weighty on the bottom of the stand will work a treat.
Can I use a wedding banner stand outdoors?
I don’t see why you couldn’t use the clothes rails or photography backdrops mentioned in this blog post outside; they’re mainly made with metal and plastic. I wouldn’t recommend having a custom velvet wedding banner outside in rain, however.
How do I hang a fabric banner without a stand?
I have an option for people to purchase an extendable rod and string directly from me with your custom wedding banner, so you can hang your banner up effortlessly when it arrives.
What’s the best pole thickness for banner sleeves?
I create a 6cm tab along the back of my banners, which fits a pole of 2.5cm maximum, though. This measurement is ideal for most clothes rails, which tend to be 2 cm in diameter.
Looking to Order a Custom Wedding Banner?
If you’ve reached the end of this very in-depth blog post about literal clothing rails, I am impressed (how I managed to write so much, I'll never know)! I know this blog will come in use to a lot of people searching for ways to hang their wedding banners - especially those searching online for wedding banner stands in the UK.
Photography: Laura Wood (UK-Based wedding and family photographer)
You can see more examples of my wedding banners over on my Banner Inspiration page. At the time of writing this blog, I am currently accepting orders for 2026 and 2027. I take only 10 banner orders per month, so if you know you’d like a custom wedding banner from me, please do get booked in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
I also create a selection of ready-made wedding banners which are good for tighter deadlines or smaller budgets; these cute velvet banners are often made with offcuts from larger projects in an attempt to minimise waste within my textile studio.
