Create A Wedding Arch Swag: Diy Guide For Beginners

Creating a floral arch swag for your wedding can be a fun and creative way to save money on decorations. This DIY project can be a little tricky, but with some patience and the right supplies, you can achieve your dream aesthetic. Here are the steps to make a swag for a wedding arch:

Step 1: Pick a Theme

Decide on the colours and styles of flowers that match your wedding theme. For example, a forest/natural-themed wedding would feature different flowers than a traditional white wedding.

Step 2: Gather Your Supplies

You will need an oasis cage pre-filled with foam, florist gauge wire, stem adhesive, green stem wrap, and your choice of flowers (fresh or artificial). For a large swag, you may also need wire clippers, chicken wire, and gardening gloves.

Step 3: Start with Greens

Greenery forms the framework of your floral swag. Use leaves or predominantly green flowers like ferns, placing them in the oasis tub at different lengths and angles to create a natural look. Shorten the greens at the top and bottom, keeping them longer on the sides, and angle them forward as you work towards the middle.

Step 4: Add Filler Flowers

Place your filler flowers to imitate the angles of the greenery. Shorten the stems in the centre to create an enclosed look. For flowers without long stems, use tape and wire to secure them discreetly. If using roses, remember to de-thorn them to avoid damaging the foam and injuring yourself.

Step 5: Complete the Design

Experiment with colours and designs until you find what works best for your aesthetic. This may take a few tries, but don't be afraid to get creative!

Step 6: Finishing Touches

Apply sealant to your finished swag to ensure it lasts. You can also add glitter or ribbons for a personalised touch. Finally, attach your floral swag to the corners of your wedding arch, and you're done!

Choosing the right flowers

Seasonality:

The availability and cost of certain flowers can vary depending on the season. Opt for flowers that are in season to ensure they are readily available and cost-effective. For example, in the spring, choose pastel-coloured roses or flowering branches like cherry blossom and forsythia. For summer, consider hardy flowers like snapdragons, lisianthus, and sunflowers, which can withstand higher temperatures. In the fall, dahlias, ranunculus, and amaranthus add a seasonal touch, along with colourful foliage like maple and smoke bush.

Longevity and Hardiness:

Flowers that can last outside of water for an extended period are ideal for arch swags. Consider flowers like roses, spray roses, carnations, sunflowers, orchids, lilies, and protea. These flowers can withstand the elements and won't wilt easily. If you're looking for additional greenery, eucalyptus, succulents, palm leaves, pine, and spruce are great options.

Colour and Variety:

Choose flowers that complement your wedding colour palette and theme. Consider using a mix of larger blooms and smaller filler flowers to create a visually interesting arrangement. You can also add texture and depth by incorporating greenery and metallic accents. Play around with different shapes, sizes, and varieties of flowers to create a natural and flowing look.

Structure and Mechanics:

The structure of your arch and the mechanics used to support the flowers are important considerations. Ensure you have a strong base and use heavy greenery or chicken wire to cover the mechanics. The flowers should be secured in a way that prevents the arch from falling over due to wind or the weight of the flowers.

Budget:

Flowers can be a significant expense, so it's important to consider your budget when choosing flowers for your arch swag. Opt for more affordable options like foliage-based designs with clusters of flowers or smaller groupings of flowers instead of full coverage. Consult with your florist to find creative solutions that fit within your budget.

Remember, there is no "right" or "wrong" flower for a wedding arch swag. Get creative, trust your instincts, and work with your florist to bring your vision to life!

Picking a colour scheme

Consider the Colour Wheel:

Start by familiarising yourself with basic colour theory. The colour wheel is a valuable tool that can guide your choices. Complementary colours, which are opposites on the wheel (e.g. yellow and violet), create a vibrant contrast. Analogous colours, which are neighbours on the wheel (e.g. blue, blue-green, and blue-violet), offer a more harmonious look. You can also explore triads, which are three colours evenly spaced on the wheel (e.g. red, blue, and yellow), or monochromatic schemes using different shades of the same colour.

Complement Your Venue:

The wedding venue plays a significant role in determining your colour scheme. Consider the existing features and architecture of the space. For example, delicate pastels like blush and powder blue can lend a romantic touch to a garden wedding, while elegant white and beige can enhance the charm of a cosy chapel. If your venue has a neutral palette, such as a rustic barn or an open field, you have more freedom to introduce bolder colours.

Seasonality:

The season of your wedding is another essential factor. Soft pinks and peaches are ideal for spring, evoking the freshness of the season. Summer calls for cool blues and refreshing hues like turquoise and lime green. Autumn weddings are perfect for earthy tones like burnt orange, brown, and forest green. In winter, rich burgundies, deep reds, and metallics like gold and silver create a regal and elegant atmosphere.

Mood and Ambiance:

Colours have a psychological impact and can influence the mood of your wedding. Dusty rose and mauve create a romantic and sweet atmosphere, while earthy terracotta tones evoke warmth and familiarity. Rich burgundy shades can suggest passion and mystery. Consider the feeling you want to evoke and choose colours that align with it.

Draw Inspiration:

Look to current wedding trends on sites like Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration. See what other couples are doing and put your spin on it. Remember, it's essential to stay true to your personal style and not feel pressured to follow every trend.

When choosing the colour scheme for your wedding arch swag, consider how it fits within the broader context of your wedding's colour palette. Have fun with the process, and don't be afraid to experiment and seek input from your partner, family, and friends!

Using chicken wire and foam

Prepare the Materials

Before you begin, gather the necessary materials: chicken wire, foam block, wire clippers, gardening gloves, twine, greenery (such as ficus), flowers (either fresh or artificial), and any other decorations you want to include.

Secure the Wire Around the Foam

Start by wrapping the chicken wire around the foam block to determine the size you need. Don't worry about the ends of the foam that stick out, as they will be covered by greenery and flowers. Cut the chicken wire to size and secure it together with twine. This step can be a bit tricky, so wear gardening gloves to protect your hands from the sharp points of the chicken wire.

Prepare the Greenery

Choose a large, leafy green for the base layer. Ficus is a great option and is easy to work with. Cut the ficus into smaller pieces and start adding them to the chicken wire-covered foam block. You will need around 6 ficus stems for a 24" long swag piece. It's important to have a shape in mind before you start adding the greenery. For example, you can create a diamond shape by adding ficus pieces to the top, bottom, and sides of the foam block.

Add Different Greenery

Once you have a good base of greenery, it's time to add some variation. You can use seeded eucalyptus, for example, to add darker leaves and pops of colour. Cut the eucalyptus into smaller pieces and add them directly into the chicken wire-covered foam block.

Add Flowers and Other Decorations

Now, it's time to add the flowers! Choose flowers that match your wedding theme and colour palette. You can use fresh or artificial flowers, or a combination of both. If using fresh flowers, de-thorn them first to avoid ruining the foam and hurting yourself. Add the flowers at different angles and vary the lengths to create a natural, enclosed look. You can also include other decorations, such as glitter or ribbons, to make it unique to your wedding.

Hang the Swag

Finally, it's time to hang your beautiful swag! If you're using it for a wedding arch, you can use zip ties to secure it around the wood or metal post. And there you have it – a stunning and personal touch to your wedding arch!

Adding greenery

Selecting the Greenery:

Choose a variety of greenery types to add texture and visual interest to your swag. Options like eucalyptus, ficus, Italian ruscus, and ivy leaves are popular choices. Consider the colour scheme and overall theme of your wedding when making your selection. For example, dusty rose, blush, and sage green colours are often used for a rustic or boho wedding theme.

Preparing the Greenery:

Before starting, make sure you have wire clippers to cut the greenery stems to the desired length. You can cut them into smaller pieces to make it easier to work with and to ensure they fit within your chicken wire frame. If using artificial greenery, you may want to spray paint some of the leaves with a metallic colour, like rose gold, for an added touch of elegance. Allow the paint to dry completely before proceeding.

Creating the Base Layer:

Start by using a big, leafy green like ficus for your base layer. Create a loose diamond shape by adding the ficus pieces along the sides, top, and bottom of your foam block. This will serve as a guide for the overall shape of your swag. You can secure the stems by alternating the angle at which you insert them into the foam block, creating a grid pattern that holds everything in place.

Adding Variety and Interest:

Once your base layer is complete, it's time to add some variety. Introduce different types of greenery with varying leaf shapes, sizes, and colours. For example, you could use seeded eucalyptus, which has darker leaves and pops of dark pink seeds, to contrast with the ficus. Continue adding these new types of greenery throughout the foam block to ensure a full and lush look.

Final Touches:

Check for any exposed foam that may still be visible and cover it with additional greenery. You can also use moss to cover these areas, but be careful not to glue it down if you plan to add flowers later, as you'll need the foam to hold the flower stems in place.

Your greenery swag is now ready to be decorated with flowers, or it can be used as a beautiful, natural-looking decoration on its own!

Attaching to the arch

Now that you have crafted your beautiful floral swag, it is time to attach it to the arch. Here are some tips and instructions to help you with this final step:

• Most floral swags come with ribbons, ties, or clips at the back for easy attachment. If yours does not have any of these, you can use zip ties or floral wire to secure it to the arch.
• Start by draping the swag over the arch, positioning it where you want it to be. If your swag has a specific design or arrangement of flowers, make sure that it is facing the correct way and is centred on the arch.
• Use the zip ties or floral wire to securely fasten the swag to the arch. You can attach it to the legs or frame of the arch, or wrap the wire around the arch itself if it is made of a material like wood or metal.
• If your swag has multiple pieces, such as a large swag and a smaller tie-back swag, arrange them together on the arch to create a cohesive look. You can overlap them slightly or place them side by side.
• For extra security, especially if your wedding is outdoors, use hot glue or floral adhesive to attach the swag to the arch. This will ensure that it stays in place, even in windy conditions.
• If you are using fresh flowers, it is a good idea to attach the swag to the arch as close to the ceremony as possible to ensure the flowers look their best.
• Step back and admire your handiwork! You have now created a beautiful floral arch that will be a stunning backdrop for your wedding ceremony.

By following these simple steps, you can easily attach your floral swag to the arch and create a romantic and elegant setting for your wedding day.

Frequently asked questions