Crafting A Flower Girl Basket: A Wedding Essential

A flower girl basket is a delightful addition to any wedding ceremony. Whether you're looking for something traditional or unique, there are many ways to make a flower girl basket that reflects your wedding's theme and location. From rustic barn weddings to elegant hotel celebrations, the right flower girl basket can be a charming accessory for your flower girl to carry as she walks down the aisle. You can choose from a variety of bases, such as a white woven basket, satin, wicker, wood, burlap, wire, clear acrylic, or even a simple purse. Decorate it with embellishments like fabric, flowers, lace, leaves, lights, or ribbons to match the overall look of your wedding. With a bit of creativity and some simple steps, you can easily make a flower girl basket that adds a whimsical touch to your special day.

Choosing a base for the basket

For a traditional wedding with white apparel, black ties, delicate flowers, and crisp linens, a white woven basket is a perfect base. It is a blank slate that can be decorated to match the rest of your theme. A white or pale pink satin basket will add a touch of shine and elegance to your wedding procession.

If you're having a rustic wedding in a barn, country home, or casual backyard, consider using wicker, wood, or burlap for your basket base. Wicker comes in various colours and shapes and can be painted to match your wedding colours. Wood, in the form of a bucket, is a lovely choice and easy for little hands to reach into. Burlap is sturdy and functional, and with a little decoration, it can be beautiful. Flexible handles make it easier for young flower girls to hold.

For an outside-the-box wedding, you can choose from a variety of edgier options. Wire baskets can be coated in any colour, or you can opt for a simple silver or black wire basket and decorate it. Clear acrylic is a fun and unique choice, allowing for creative inserts, and it is strong enough to hold up during the ceremony and reception. A metal pail, such as a silver milk pail with some creative touches, can be a stunning choice for a rustic barn wedding. Instead of a basket, a simple soft purse can be coordinated with the flower girl's dress, allowing her to sprinkle petals as she walks.

Whatever base you choose, you can further decorate it with fabric, flowers, faux jewels or crystals, lace, leaves, lights, or ribbons to match your wedding theme and location.

Using fabric to decorate the basket

Choose the Right Fabric

The type of fabric you choose will depend on the overall theme and style of your wedding. For a rustic wedding, consider using fabric such as burlap or lace, which can be easily paired with a wicker or wooden basket. For a more elegant or glamorous wedding, satin or silk fabric can add a touch of shine and sophistication. If you want to incorporate the flower girl's outfit, consider using the same fabric as her dress to decorate the basket. This will create a cohesive and coordinated look.

Measure and Cut the Fabric

Before you start decorating, make sure you have enough fabric to cover the desired area of the basket. Measure the height and circumference of the basket and add a few extra inches to allow for overlap and securement. Cut the fabric to size, ensuring straight and even edges. If you're using a delicate fabric like silk or satin, you may want to finish the edges to prevent fraying.

Attach the Fabric to the Basket

There are several ways to attach fabric to your basket. One option is to use a hot glue gun, which will create a strong and secure bond. Apply a thin layer of hot glue to the basket and carefully press the fabric onto it, smoothing out any wrinkles or bubbles. You can also use other adhesives like fabric glue or a strong craft glue. Alternatively, you can use pins or twist ties to secure the fabric, especially if you're working with a basket that has small holes or a mesh-like structure.

Embellish with Details

Once the fabric is attached, you can further decorate the basket with embellishments that complement your wedding theme. Consider adding a bow made from ribbon, a silk flower, or a rhinestone button for a touch of sparkle. If you want to incorporate your wedding colours, you can add coloured gemstones or crystals to the fabric. For a rustic look, try attaching small bunches of baby's breath or other tiny flowers to the fabric-covered basket.

Line the Inside of the Basket

Don't forget to line the inside of the basket with fabric for a finished look. Choose a contrasting or complementary fabric to the outside of the basket. Cut the fabric to size and secure it neatly along the edges of the basket. This adds a special touch, especially if the flower girl will be reaching into the basket to sprinkle petals.

Adding flowers to the basket

Flowers are a flexible decoration that can be attached to the outside of the basket, the handle, or even the top rim to make it look like they fill the container. You can choose special flowers just for the basket, or go with miniature versions of your wedding flowers. Real or silk flowers will look equally elegant.

Some of the most popular wedding flowers include:

• Roses
• Tulips
• Lilies
• Orchids
• Peonies
• Baby's breath

Tiny sprays of baby's breath or other tiny flowers are also adorable additions to your basket decor. Whatever flowers you’re using, the possibilities for dressing up your basket with flowers are endless.

If you want to recreate a flower girl basket with a massive blinged-out pink peony on it, here’s what you’ll need:

• Pre-made flower girl basket
• Satin ribbon
• Silk peony
• Rhinestone button
• Hot glue
• Scissors

Start by buying a plain basket with a ribbon handle. Remove any bows that are already on the basket. Make a regular bow with some satin ribbon and hot glue it to the basket at the base of one side of the handles. Glue a rhinestone button to the centre of a silk peony and then glue the peony to the centre of the bow.

Using glue, pins, ties and string to secure decorations

When it comes to securing decorations on your flower girl basket, there are several options to choose from, including glue, pins, ties, and string. Here are some detailed instructions and tips on how to use these materials effectively:

Using Glue:

• A hot glue gun is a versatile option for attaching various decorations to your basket. It works well for small items such as gems, jewels, ribbons, and fabric.
• When using a glue gun, be careful not to burn your fingertips. Apply a thick dab of glue to the desired area and firmly press the decoration into it.
• For items that you want to wrap around the basket smoothly, such as ribbons, glue one end in place and then slowly wrap and glue as you go.
• Hot glue is also useful for securing the corners of woven basket strips and for attaching flowers to the basket.

Working with Pins:

• Pins are ideal for securing silk flowers, tufts of fabric, and lace to your basket.
• Make sure you choose a basket base that you can easily penetrate with a pin.
• If you're using pins, be mindful of the flower girl's safety and ensure that the pins are securely fastened.

Twist Ties:

• Twist ties are similar to pins in their functionality but are better suited for bulkier decorations.
• They are also useful for securing strings of lights without damaging the wires.
• Simply twist and tie the decorations in place, ensuring that they are securely fastened.

String:

• String can be used to tie decorations to the basket, but it may not be as secure as the other options.
• For a rustic look, consider using twine, while white string pairs well with more traditional basket designs.
• Test the strength of your knots to ensure that the decorations won't come loose during the ceremony.

By using a combination of these methods, you can securely attach your chosen decorations to the flower girl basket, ensuring that they stay in place as she walks down the aisle.

Filling the basket with petals, rice, pinecones or shells

Once you've crafted your flower girl basket, it's time to fill it with petals, rice, pinecones, shells, or another filler of your choice. Here are some ideas and tips for filling your flower girl basket:

Petals

The traditional choice for flower girl baskets is fresh petals or whole flowers, which the flower girl scatters along the bride's path. You can use real or artificial petals, with popular choices including rose petals, hydrangea petals, and baby's breath. If you opt for artificial petals, you can find them in a variety of colours to match your wedding palette, such as white, ivory, blush, and dusty rose.

Rice

Rice is a classic option for weddings, and you can use white or coloured rice to fill your flower girl basket. If you're looking for a fun twist on the traditional, you might consider using colourful rice paper confetti instead of rice.

Pinecones

Pinecones are a perfect choice for a rustic or autumn-themed wedding. You can use plain or painted mini pinecones, which are small enough for your flower girl to hold and scatter along the aisle. Just make sure she sprinkles them gently to avoid any mishaps!

Shells

For a beach wedding, tiny seashells can be a charming addition to your flower girl basket. You can fill a wooden basket with shells, or even use a woven basket made from strips of driftwood for a truly beachy vibe.

Other Filler Ideas

• Bubbles: A fun and festive option, especially for animal-safe weddings. You can provide your flower girl with a bubble wand or gun, or small bottles of bubbles for her to blow as she walks down the aisle.
• Dried flowers: Dried flower confetti is a colourful and eco-friendly alternative to fresh petals. Your flower girl can easily grab and toss the dried flowers, and you can even provide cones for guests to use the confetti instead of rice.
• Autumn leaves: Perfect for an autumn wedding, either fresh or dried. They add a pop of colour and are safe to leave on the ground outdoors.
• Mini starfish: A unique touch for a beach wedding, creating a delightful seaside atmosphere.
• Confetti: Biodegradable confetti in pastel shades or gold adds a whimsical and romantic touch to your ceremony.
• Heart-shaped tissue paper confetti: This unexpected twist on traditional confetti will melt your guests' hearts.

Remember to check with your venue about any restrictions on throwing items during the ceremony, and always consider the age and comfort level of your flower girl when choosing a filler. Now you're ready to fill your flower girl basket and add the perfect finishing touch to your wedding!

Frequently asked questions