Chuppah Support Help

If you have a three way connector and are using relatively thin pipe, then you shouldn't need *too* much stabilization at the bottom.

My suggestion is to make the pipe frame first, and see how well it stands on its own (with any decorations added). If its standing pretty well, then I would use small to med flower pots and fill them with plaster of paris, which is lighter than concrete, easy to work with, sets (relatively) quickly, and designed to be used in molds that way.

If its still not very stable, then you'll need something more than just plaster of paris. While I don't think you'd need that much concrete/cement, I agree with your FH that you should avoid working with concrete. It is going to be *heavy* (besides carrying it, four of these pots will have to go into someone's car and could potentially mess with the suspension), messy, and curing is a lot more complicated than just leaving it to dry. Maybe you could use large rocks, or large rocks plus plaster of paris instead?

Put the arch into the plant pots and then fill the pots with pebbles sand or small river stones. Unless you're planning on swinging from the arch it will hold just fine

I agree with rocks. Then you don't have to transport the whole thing as one unit.