Crafting Wedding Garland: A Step-By-Step Guide

Garlands are a versatile addition to any wedding, draping over chairs, hanging on tables, or even on the getaway car! They can be made from fresh, fake, fabric, or paper flowers, and can be adapted to suit any type of flower. This paragraph will explore the different types of garlands and provide a step-by-step guide to creating a simple yet effective flower garland for a wedding.

Choosing flowers: fresh, fake, fabric, or paper

Flowers are an iconic part of wedding decor, and garlands can be a beautiful addition to a wedding ceremony or reception. When it comes to choosing flowers for your wedding garland, you have several options: fresh, fake, fabric, or paper. Here are some things to consider for each type:

Fresh Flowers

Using fresh flowers for your wedding garland can add a touch of natural beauty to your big day. Fresh flowers like eucalyptus are a popular choice for garlands as they look nice even as they dry. However, fresh flowers can be more expensive than artificial alternatives, with the average couple spending around $2,400 on real wedding flowers. Additionally, you will need to consider the season when choosing fresh flowers, as the cost may be higher for out-of-season blooms.

Fake Flowers

Fake flowers have become a popular alternative to fresh flowers for weddings, offering a more cost-effective option without compromising on beauty. With fake flowers, you can find a wide range of colours and varieties, including roses, peonies, and orchids. They are also more durable than fresh flowers, making them a better choice for outdoor weddings. Furthermore, fake flowers can be purchased in advance and reused or resold after the event, making them a more sustainable option.

Fabric Flowers

Fabric flowers, such as those made from satin, tulle, or felt, can be a unique and creative addition to your wedding garland. These flowers are often DIY-friendly, allowing you to personalise your garland to match your wedding theme. However, fabric flowers can be more challenging to work with than paper, so they are best used in small doses or mixed with real blooms.

Paper Flowers

Paper flowers offer a wide range of possibilities for your wedding garland. They can be delicate and lifelike, or dramatic and theatrical, depending on the colours, patterns, and shapes you choose. Paper flowers are generally inexpensive and can be used to create garlands, backdrops, streamers, or even large-scale tropical leaves for a beach-themed wedding. Like fabric flowers, paper flowers are also suitable for DIY projects, allowing you to add a personal touch to your wedding decor.

Using eucalyptus as a base

Materials:

• Eucalyptus: You can use different types of eucalyptus such as silver dollar eucalyptus, seeded eucalyptus, or baby blue eucalyptus. Fresh or artificial eucalyptus can be used, depending on your preference and availability.
• Floral wire: This will be used to secure the eucalyptus stems together.
• Floral tape: The tape is used to discreetly secure the flowers and greenery to the garland.
• Scissors or floral shears: You will need a sharp cutting tool to trim the stems and create small clusters.

Step 1: Creating the Eucalyptus Base:

• Gather your eucalyptus stems. You will need approximately 6 stems per bunch.
• Cut the floral wire in half.
• Wrap the floral wire around one bunch of eucalyptus to secure it.
• Repeat this process to create a total of four bunches.
• Connect the four bunches together by wrapping floral wire around one bunch and then attaching it to the next. Continue until all four bunches are connected in a line.

Step 2: Adding Embellishments (Optional):

• You can create mini seeded eucalyptus clusters by trimming the seeded eucalyptus into small clusters and securing them with floral wire.
• Attach the clusters to the base garland at one-foot intervals to hide the mechanics of the base.
• You can also add bay leaves near the clusters for aroma.

Step 3: Incorporating Flowers (Optional):

• Create mini flower bouquets by cutting floral wire into thirds and trimming the flower heads.
• Poke the floral wire through the stem of the flower and bend the wire to secure it.
• Wrap floral tape around the wire to further secure the stem.
• Organize your flowers into bouquet groups and bend the stems together.
• Wrap the stems in floral tape to create a cluster.
• Attach the mini flower bouquets to the base garland near the seeded eucalyptus clusters.

Step 4: Final Touches:

• Mist the garland with water before placing it on the table to keep it fresh.
• You can also add Spanish moss around each cluster for a finishing touch and to hide any exposed mechanics.

Tips:

• One bunch in the base garland is equivalent to one foot. You can adjust the number of bunches to create your desired garland length.
• For a longer-lasting centerpiece, consider using succulents instead of flowers.
• Don't be afraid to get creative with flower choices, placement, and quantities.

Creating a garland with tissue paper flowers

First, gather your supplies: tissue paper in various colours, scissors, floral wire, and ribbon or string for hanging. You can also use fishing wire and a needle for hanging if you prefer.

Next, cut your tissue paper into sections. You can cut it into four sections or experiment with different sizes and shapes to create a unique look. Then, fold each section of tissue paper accordion-style. This will create a crisp and even base for your flowers. Secure the folded tissue paper with floral wire in the centre.

Now, it's time to create the petals. Cut balloon shapes out of the folded tissue paper to form multiple petals. You will need a lot of these, a few hundred if you're making a large garland! Take each petal, fold it in half, twist the narrow part, and then fold it up into the petal.

Once you have enough petals, it's time to string them. Thread your needle with the ribbon or string and tie a knot at the bottom. You can create different lengths of strands, alternating between shorter and longer pieces. Pierce the bottom middle of each petal with the needle and thread them onto the string in any design you like.

Finally, attach your strands to a branch, rod, or directly to the ceiling. You can also hang them in a zig-zag pattern for a whimsical touch. And that's it! You now have a beautiful tissue paper flower garland to brighten up your wedding.

Feel free to add your own creative touches, such as green tissue paper leaves, glitter, or ribbons, to make your garland truly unique. Enjoy crafting!

Using floral tape to secure flowers

Floral tape is an essential tool when it comes to making a wedding garland. It is used to secure flowers and greenery to the garland base, and to connect different sections of the garland together.

To begin, you will need to gather your flowers and cut their stems to the desired length, leaving around two to three inches of stem to work with. This will ensure that the flowers can be securely attached to the garland while still allowing for some movement and flexibility.

When you are ready to start assembling your garland, take a small section of floral tape and wrap it securely around the stem of each flower. Leave a loose end of tape hanging, which will be used to attach the flower to the garland base. If you are using ivy or other greenery, you can use floral tape to reinforce the connections between the strands, creating a sturdy base for your flowers.

Once you have prepared your flowers and greenery, it's time to start attaching them to the garland base. Hang the garland base on a wall or lay it flat on a table, and then use the loose end of floral tape on each flower to secure it to the base. This will create a natural-looking arrangement, as you can easily adjust the placement of each flower by wrapping the tape around the stem and the base.

For a cohesive look, try to cover any visible tape or stems by wrapping them with extra pieces of ivy or greenery. You can also fill in any bare spots or gaps in the garland with additional flowers or greenery, securing them with floral tape.

Using garlands as table runners

Choosing the Right Garland

The type of garland you choose will depend on your wedding theme and colour scheme. Fresh garlands made from eucalyptus, laurel, or magnolia leaves are a popular choice for their natural beauty and fragrance. You can also opt for artificial garlands made from faux vines and floral wire, which are easier on the budget and can be reused. If you're feeling crafty, you can even make your own garlands using tissue paper or fabric.

Sourcing Materials

To save costs, consider sourcing the materials yourself. Stores like Costco, Sam's Club, and Afloral offer fresh garlands at reasonable prices. Alternatively, you can buy bunches of greenery, such as silver dollar eucalyptus, and create your own loose garlands by cutting and scattering them across the tables. This gives you more flexibility in terms of design and can be more cost-effective.

Design Ideas

For a simple yet elegant look, overlap greens down the length of the table, hiding any cut ends under previous greens. You can use different types of greens and add votive candles or fresh flowers in florist tubes for extra charm. If you want the garland to hang over the ends of the table, create a proper garland for the ends, and cover the middle section of the table with cut branches.

Combining with Other Decorations

Garlands can be combined with other decorations to create a cohesive and stylish tablescape. Consider using garlands as a base and adding flowers, candles, or other decorative elements. You can also drape garlands across the backs of chairs or use them to decorate other areas of your wedding venue, such as the ceremony arch or photo backdrops.

Time and Cost Considerations

Creating your own garland table runners can be time-intensive, so it's important to plan accordingly. If you're short on time, consider buying pre-made garlands or enlisting the help of your wedding party or family members. While DIY garlands can save costs, it's important to factor in the price of materials and your time. In some cases, it might be more cost-effective to purchase ready-made garlands or hire a florist to create custom designs.

Frequently asked questions