Creating A Wedding Flower Curtain: A Step-By-Step Guide

Flower curtains are a great way to add a pop of colour to your wedding. They can be used as a backdrop for photos or to decorate a wedding arch or gazebo. Making your own flower curtain is an easy and affordable way to incorporate flowers into your wedding, and you can customise the colours, patterns, and spacing to suit your style. All you need is some fishing line, a needle, and your choice of flowers. Carnations are a popular choice due to their affordability and longevity, but you can also use gerbera daisies, roses, astilbe, or greenery to create your curtain.

Choosing the right flowers

Define Your Wedding Theme and Colour Palette

Select flowers that complement your wedding theme and colours. For instance, if you're going for a whimsical garden wedding, opt for bright sunflowers and wildflowers. In contrast, a classic ballroom affair would be better suited with elegant roses and lilies in soft pastel hues. Play with shades and tones to create a nuanced look. Don't forget to balance delicate flowers with fuller, textured options for added visual interest.

Consider Seasonal Availability and Budget

Seasonal availability plays a significant role in flower selection. Flowers in peak season are generally more affordable and accessible. For instance, if you love peonies but are planning a fall wedding, consider alternatives like chrysanthemums or sunflowers, which will be more cost-effective and readily available. Choosing in-season blooms ensures freshness, affordability, and a wider variety.

Understand the Symbolism of Flowers

Flowers have symbolic meanings that can add depth to your wedding. For example, roses represent love and passion, lilies stand for purity and devotion, and sunflowers symbolise joy and happiness. Choose blooms that align with the sentiments you want to convey.

Explore Different Flower Types and Varieties

There are countless flower varieties to choose from, each with unique characteristics. Classic roses come in various colours and work with any wedding style. Delphiniums, with their tall spikes and blue hues, add height and depth to arrangements. Ranunculus, with their delicate petals and wide range of colours, are perfect for romantic, whimsical weddings. Calla lilies, on the other hand, are sleek and sophisticated, making them ideal for modern or minimalist nuptials.

Work with a Professional Florist

Engaging a professional florist is highly recommended. They will bring your vision to life and handle all the details, from sourcing to setup. When choosing a florist, read reviews, browse their portfolio, and schedule consultations to discuss your ideas, budget, and specific requests. Communicate your vision clearly and provide visual inspiration, such as Pinterest boards or fabric swatches, to help them understand your desired look.

Factor in Fragrance and Allergies

Consider the scent of your chosen flowers. While some flowers like garden roses and lilies are prized for their fragrance, others like hydrangeas and calla lilies have little to no scent. Choose flowers accordingly, and don't forget to incorporate fragrant herbs like dried lavender and rosemary for a fresh, natural aroma. Also, be mindful of potential allergies among your wedding party and guests. Opt for low-pollen flowers like orchids, lilies, and roses to minimise any allergy issues.

Remember, your wedding flowers are a reflection of your personality, style, and love story. Have fun with the process, and don't be afraid to get creative!

Preparing the flowers

Firstly, gather your flowers of choice. Carnations are a popular and affordable option for flower curtains, but you can also choose other blooms such as gerbera daisies, roses, astilbe, or hydrangeas. Consider your wedding theme and colour scheme when selecting your flowers. For example, peach carnations create a romantic feel, while orange or yellow carnations add a vibrant touch.

Once you have your flowers, it's time to start preparing them. Using a pair of floral shears, cut the stems off the flowers, leaving only the blooms. Be sure to cut the stems close to the base of the flower head to ensure that you have enough space to work with. You can also cut the blooms off the stems, but be careful to leave enough of the base intact so that you can secure the flowers.

After cutting the stems, divide the flowers into piles. This will help you organise and plan the layout of your flower curtain. Depending on the size of your curtain, you may need 15 flowers per line, with 14-15 lines in total. However, this may vary based on the size of your space and the desired density of the curtain.

Now, you can start threading the flowers. Take a piece of fishing line and cut it to the desired length, remembering to allow extra space at the top for tying it to a structure. Thread your needle with the fishing line and poke it through the base of the flower bud, pulling the line through. It is important to use a needle with a large enough eye to accommodate the fishing line. Tie a knot on the fishing line after pulling it through to secure the flower in place. Repeat this process, spacing the flowers randomly or at even intervals along the line.

Finally, create as many lines of flowers as needed for your curtain. You can store or refrigerate these lines before transporting them to your wedding venue. This will help keep the flowers fresh and prevent them from wilting, especially if you are preparing the flowers ahead of time.

By carefully following these steps, you will have beautifully prepared flowers ready to be hung as a stunning flower curtain for your wedding.

Stringing the flowers

Firstly, cut the stems off your chosen flowers. For this project, carnations are a great choice as they are cheap and long-lasting. You will need between 15 and 20 bunches of carnations, depending on the size of the space you're decorating. Divide the flowers into piles of around 15.

Next, cut a piece of fishing line to a length slightly longer than you need for your backdrop. Allow a little extra space at the top of the line so you can tie it to the structure. Tie a knot at the bottom of the line. Then, thread a heavy-duty embroidery needle with your fishing line and push it through the stem of the carnation, out through the centre of the flower. Tie a knot on the other side of the flower to secure it in place. Repeat this process, spacing the flowers randomly along the line. You will need around 14 or 15 lines of flowers, depending on the size of your backdrop.

Once you have strung all your flowers, you can store or refrigerate them until you are ready to transport them to your venue. This can be done a day or two in advance. When you are ready to hang your flower curtain, simply tie the lines to your chosen structure, such as a wedding arch or gazebo, and cut off any excess line at the bottom.

Hanging the curtain

Once you have your structure in place, you can begin to hang your flower strands. The number of strands you need will depend on the size of the space you are decorating. For example, if you are decorating a large arch, you will need more strands than if you are hanging the flowers from a small beam.

To hang the flowers, cut the stems off the blooms and thread a needle with fishing line. Push the needle through the base of the bud and pull the line through, then tie a knot to keep the flower in place. Repeat this process with your desired colours and patterns, spacing the flowers at random intervals.

Finally, hang your flower strands from your chosen structure. You can cut off any excess fishing line at the bottom.

Customising the curtain

The type of flowers you use for your flower curtain will depend on the theme of your wedding. For a rustic, romantic outdoor theme, you could opt for white hydrangeas and carnations. For a colourful boho theme, strung bright gerbera daisies are a bold and beautiful choice. If you're going for a bright colour scheme, blue, pink or yellow daisies could be hung up to add a pop of colour.

If you're after a romantic feel, peach carnations are a great option. You could also use orange or yellow flowers to create a vibrant feel, or white for a softer look. For a cool, contrasting look, a mix of warm-coloured carnations can look great against a blue colour scheme.

You can also customise the colours, patterns and spacing of your curtain however you like. If you want to add an extra special touch, you could incorporate fairy lights or hanging candles.

Frequently asked questions