Creating A Wedding Floral Garland: A Step-By-Step Guide

Floral garlands are a versatile addition to wedding decor, brightening up any rustic venue and adding a touch of natural beauty to the bridal table. They can be draped over arches, chairs, tables, doors, and even the getaway car! Whether you choose fresh, artificial, fabric, or paper flowers, making your own floral garland is simple and fun. This introduction will cover the essential materials and steps for crafting a stunning floral garland, as well as provide ideas for different types of garlands and tips for maintaining their freshness.

Choosing the right flowers

Fresh vs. Artificial Flowers

The first decision you need to make is whether to use fresh or artificial flowers. Fresh flowers add a natural, vibrant touch to your garland, filling the venue with their delicate fragrance. However, they require careful handling and preservation to ensure they remain fresh throughout your wedding day. Artificial flowers, on the other hand, offer more flexibility and durability. They are a practical choice if you want to create your garland in advance and eliminate the worry of wilting or bruising.

Colour and Theme

Consider the colour scheme and theme of your wedding when selecting flowers. Choose colours that complement your bridal attire, decor, and overall wedding theme. For example, if you're having a rustic wedding, incorporate lots of greenery, such as eucalyptus, ivy, and tree branches. If you want a pop of colour, opt for bright flowers like marigolds, roses, or carnations. For a more elegant and minimalist style, white orchids or dahlias can be a stunning choice.

Cultural Significance

In some cultures, specific flowers hold traditional and spiritual significance for weddings. For instance, in Indian weddings, roses symbolise love and passion, jasmine represents purity, and marigolds are believed to bring good luck. Incorporating flowers with special meanings can add a layer of cultural depth and symbolism to your garland.

Flower Combinations

When creating your garland, think about combining different types of flowers to add texture and depth. Mix fully bloomed flowers with buds, or intersperse large blooms with smaller ones to create a visually appealing contrast. For example, you can pair roses with jasmine or white roses to create a classic, elegant look. Adding greenery, like eucalyptus, baby's breath, or ivy, will also enhance the overall composition.

Durability

If you're using fresh flowers, pay attention to the durability of each type. Select flowers that are slightly open but not fully bloomed, as they will last longer. Make sure to trim the stems and remove any excess leaves or thorns before assembling your garland. This will help create a neat and full appearance while extending the lifespan of your flowers.

Selecting fresh, high-quality flowers

Feel the Petals

Run your fingers gently from the stem to the petal ends. Fresh flower petals should feel firm, and you should hear a faint rustling as you move your fingers across the undersides of the petals. This sound is a tell-tale sign of a fresh flower.

Inspect the Flowers

Avoid flowers with faded or transparent petals, or those that are turning brown or wilting. Look for buds that are just starting to open, as they will continue to open in a vase of water. If you're buying tulips or lilies, choose those that are fully closed with a hint of colour at the tip and a green base.

Check the Stems

Cut flowers should have clean, strong, and smooth stems. Discoloured stems may indicate bacterial contamination, which will affect the flowers over time. Avoid flowers with slime on the stems or broken stems.

Examine the Leaves

Select flowers with healthy-looking leaves that are fresh, firm, and green. Reject flowers with sagging, yellow, brown, or speckled leaves. Speckling indicates bacterial presence, while holes in the leaves suggest an insect infestation.

Calyx and Sepals

Ensure the calyx and sepals, the small leaves cupping the flower head between the stem and petals, are green and healthy.

Seasonal Blooms

Opt for flowers that are in season. Off-season flowers may have been distressed by shipping and handling.

Storage and Handling

To keep your flowers fresh, store them in a cool, shaded place before assembling the garland. Avoid direct sunlight and heat, as it can cause wilting. Use floral preservatives and spritz the flowers with water to keep them hydrated.

Using floral tape

Floral tape is an essential component when creating a floral garland for a wedding. It helps to secure flowers and greenery, ensuring they stay in place and creating a seamless, natural look. Here is a step-by-step guide to using floral tape effectively when crafting your wedding floral garland:

Step 1: Gathering Supplies and Preparing the Base

Before you begin, ensure you have all the necessary materials, including floral tape, flowers of your choice, and greenery such as ivy or other types of foliage. If you're using artificial flowers, you can purchase them from craft stores or online retailers. For fresh flowers, visit your local florist or grocery store.

For the base of your garland, you can use either real or artificial flowers. If using real flowers, cut the buds off the stems, leaving a few inches of stem to work with. If you're working with artificial flowers, simply pull the blooms off the stems.

Step 2: Creating Sections and Connecting

Start by creating smaller sections of your garland. If you're using ivy, wrap the green ivy around the flowering ivy. Use floral tape to reinforce the connections between the strands. Make sure to work in small sections, as it's easier to connect shorter lengths securely and then join them together.

Step 3: Filling in Bare Spots and Attaching Blossoms

Once you've connected the sections into a longer garland, lay it flat and look for any bare spots or gaps. Use floral tape and extra pieces of ivy or greenery to fill in these areas, creating a fuller and more lush garland.

Trim the stems of your blossoms to a length of about 2-3 inches. Securely wrap the floral tape around the stem, leaving a loose end hanging. This loose end will be used to attach the blossom to the garland.

Step 4: Hanging the Garland and Attaching Blossoms

Hang the ivy or greenery on a wall or surface, mimicking how the final garland will be displayed. Attach the blossoms to the garland using the extra length of floral tape. Place the blossoms in small clusters where they would naturally occur, creating an organic composition. Avoid making a regular pattern, as you want the garland to look natural.

Step 5: Final Touches and Adjustments

Stand back and assess the overall appearance of the garland. Add extra greens and blossoms to any areas that need more fullness or balance. Pay attention to any visible tape or stems that may detract from the natural look. Carefully cover or adjust these details to create a polished and elegant final product.

Adding decorative elements

Beads, Pearls, and Ribbons

Adorn your floral garland with decorative elements like beads, pearls, and ribbons, especially if you're crafting an Indian wedding garland. These embellishments add a touch of sparkle and elegance, contributing to the visual splendor of the garland.

Greenery and Filler Flowers

When creating a natural, rustic-looking garland, consider using different types of greenery, such as eucalyptus, ivy, or flowering vines. These elements add texture and volume to your garland, making it appear more lush and vibrant. You can also incorporate filler flowers like baby's breath to enhance the overall look.

Fruits and Berries

Small decorative fruits or berries can be added to your garland for a unique touch. For instance, adding small stems of orange and green cumquats can provide a pop of color and create a more dynamic composition.

Focal Flowers

Group the most beautiful blooms, known as focal flowers, in odd numbers, usually in sets of three, varying in size from large to small. Dahlias, for example, have a 'face' and should be placed with their face looking outwards. These focal flowers create a stunning visual impact and can be arranged to complement the bridal attire.

Artificial Elements

If you're looking for a more long-lasting option, consider incorporating artificial elements into your garland. You can use faux vines and floral wire to create a simple and versatile garland that can be used at weddings, bridal showers, or other festive occasions.

Personalized Touches

Finally, don't be afraid to get creative and add personalized touches to your garland. You can include small pieces of artificial jewelry, dried flowers, or even paper flowers in your chosen color scheme. The possibilities are endless when it comes to adding decorative elements to your floral garland, allowing you to express your personal style and make your wedding decor truly one-of-a-kind.

Displaying your garland

Table Centrepiece

Create a stunning centrepiece for your bridal table by laying the garland across the length of the table. Measure the table beforehand to ensure the garland fits perfectly, leaving space for plates, glasses, and cutlery. You can also drape the garland from the table to the floor for a more dramatic effect. This will add softness and colour to your display.

Backdrop

Garlands can be used as a backdrop for the ceremony or as a photo backdrop. Hang the garland on a wall or drape it from tree branches at an outdoor venue to create a beautiful, natural setting for photos.

Chandeliers

For an indoor wedding, garlands can be hung from the ceiling to create floral chandeliers. This adds a whimsical and romantic touch to the decor.

Arches and Doors

Adorn your wedding arch or doorway with a floral garland to create a beautiful entrance for the bridal party. This is a lovely way to frame the ceremony and can be adapted to suit any flower type.

Chairs

Drape the garland over the backs of chairs, especially if you have a bare barn wall or plain chairs that need some decoration. This will add a touch of elegance and colour to the venue.

Getaway Car

Finally, don't forget to decorate your getaway car! A garland can be draped over the car's bonnet or tied to the grill for a festive send-off.

No matter where you choose to display your garland, it will undoubtedly add a unique and personal touch to your wedding decor.

Frequently asked questions