Creating A Wedding Swag: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding decorations can be expensive, so it's worth considering making your own floral arch swag. This is a simple way to save money and add a personal touch to your wedding. You can make a stunning swag with a few supplies and a bit of creativity. Floral swags are a popular choice for weddings, and they can be designed and pruned to match your wedding theme and colour palette.

Pick your theme

Picking a theme for your wedding is an incredibly important step, so don't skip it! It will help you decide what you want your floral swag to look like.

Different flowers create completely different vibes. Make sure you're picking colours and styles that will match your overall theme and aesthetic. For instance, a forest/natural-themed wedding would have a completely different selection to a traditional white wedding.

• What does a wedding represent to you?
• How do you want to feel on the day of your wedding?
• Which details do you hope will come to mind when you reminisce about the day years from now?
• Has your style and wedding vision changed over the years?
• What is the smallest and largest number of people you want to attend your wedding?
• What is your budget?

Once you've decided on a theme, you can choose flowers that match your vision.

Start with your greens

Every piece of floral swag needs greens. This usually comes in the form of leaves, but can also be various flowers that are predominantly green. Think ferns, for example.

You should start with these green pieces; they are the framework for your design. Make sure to place them in your oasis tub at different lengths—that will make it look a lot more natural. We also recommend that you shorten the greens at the top and bottom, keeping them relatively long on the sides. Angle the greens forward as you make your way to the middle of the foam. Yes, you should put greens in the middle, too, but make them shorter. Remember, your middle stems should be pointing forward. It's also a good idea to add different shades and types of green for a more varied look.

If you're using fresh flowers, you'll need a tube of Oasis Flower Adhesive, florist gauge wire, an oasis cage pre-filled with foam, stem adhesive, and green stem wrap. If you're using artificial flowers, you won't need these.

For a natural-looking swag, you'll want to use a variety of greens, including leaves and green flowers, in different shades and types. Place these in your oasis tub at varying lengths, with the middle stems pointing forward and the sides longer than the top and bottom.

Add the flowers

Now it's time to add the flowers to your wedding swag! This is when your creation really starts to come to life.

You'll be placing your filler flowers into the oasis, imitating the angles of the greenery. These will be the centrepiece of your swag, so ensure they are secure. Use florist wire to tape them in, and make sure this is done discreetly. If you are using roses, be sure to de-thorn them first, otherwise, you risk ruining the foam. You could also hurt yourself, which you definitely don't want!

Shorten the flowers in the centre to create that desired enclosed look. You can also add some longer stems to the sides to create a more natural, wild look. Play around with the placement until you are happy with the result. Remember, this is your creation, so make it unique to you and your wedding.

Once you are happy with the placement of your filler flowers, you can add in some larger blooms. These will add a pop of colour and really make your swag stand out. Again, secure them with florist wire and ensure any thorns are removed.

Finally, take a step back and admire your handiwork! You've now created a beautiful floral swag that will wow your wedding guests.

Complete your design

Now comes the fun part! This is where you get to experiment with your colours and design. It may take a few tries to get it just right, but don't be discouraged. Remember, you want everything to be perfect for your big day. So, find out what works best with each colour and what design matches your aesthetic.

If you're using roses, make sure to de-thorn them first. This will prevent you from accidentally hurting yourself and will also keep your foam intact.

Feel free to add glitter or ribbons to your floral swag to make it perfect for you and your wedding.

Finishing touches

Now for the finishing touches! Once you've perfected your design and colour scheme, it's time to add some sparkle. Sealant will ensure your floral swag lasts, and you can also add glitter or ribbons to make it unique to you and your big day. You could also add oversized heart-shaped ornaments or ornamental blooms.

If you're using roses, make sure you de-thorn them first to avoid any injuries and to prevent ruining the foam. You could also add water tubes on wooden stakes to keep your flowers fresh.

Finally, attach your floral swag to your wedding arch. Floral swags work best in the corners of arches, and you can use cable ties and metal clips to secure them.

Frequently asked questions