Artificial Wedding Flowers: Create Your Own Bouquet

Artificial wedding flower arrangements are a great way to add a personal touch to your special day. They are easy to build, lightweight, and long-lasting. You can choose from a wide range of flowers, such as roses, peonies, dahlias, lilies, and more, in various colours to match your wedding theme. When creating your own artificial flower arrangements, you can follow some simple steps to ensure they look beautiful and elegant. First, consider the height of the vase and the length of the stems. Trim the stems if needed and add fillers like leaves, twigs, or branches to create a fuller look. Bend the stems slightly to make the arrangement look more natural. You can also mix and match different types of flowers and containers to add dimension and bring the blossoms to life.

Choosing the right flowers

Colour and Variety

The colour of your flowers is an important consideration. Opt for colours that complement your wedding theme and venue décor. You can choose from a wide range of hues, including classic whites, elegant blush and pinks, vibrant reds, or rich burgundies. Additionally, consider mixing and matching different flower varieties to create a unique and captivating arrangement. Roses, peonies, dahlias, lilies, orchids, and eucalyptus are all popular choices for artificial wedding flowers.

Size and Proportion

When selecting your artificial flowers, think about the size of the blooms and the length of the stems. Ensure the flowers are proportionate to the vases or containers you plan to use. For taller vases, choose flowers with longer stems, allowing the blooms to gracefully peek over the edge. If you're creating a dense arrangement with many flowers, opt for shorter stems. Conversely, for sparse arrangements with just a few blooms, consider using very tall, elongated stems to make a statement.

Texture and Dimension

Add texture and dimension to your arrangements by incorporating fillers and accent flowers. Fillers can include singular green leaves, twigs, branches, or other natural elements. These fillers create a fuller look and add interest to your displays. Accent flowers, such as baby's breath or small wildflowers, can be tucked in to fill gaps and enhance the overall texture and depth of the arrangement.

Personal Meaning

Don't forget the symbolic meaning of flowers. Each bloom can represent something special and add a layer of personal significance to your wedding day. For example, roses traditionally symbolise love and passion, while peonies represent prosperity and happiness. Choose flowers that resonate with you and your partner, or select varieties that hold a particular significance for your families.

Seasonal Relevance

While artificial flowers aren't restricted by seasonality, you may want to consider choosing flowers that are typically in season during your wedding month. This can add a touch of authenticity to your arrangements and create a seamless connection between your floral displays and the time of year.

Remember, creating artificial flower arrangements is a fun and creative process. By choosing the right flowers and following the above tips, you'll be well on your way to crafting stunning and memorable wedding floral displays.

Preparing your materials

Choose your flowers

The type of flowers you select will set the tone and theme of your arrangement. Consider the colours, sizes, and symbolic meanings of the flowers. Primary flowers are usually larger and more striking, while accent flowers complement the primary blooms by adding texture, colour variation, and depth. Mix and match different types of flowers, such as roses, peonies, dahlias, lilies, orchids, and eucalyptus, to create a stunning masterpiece.

Trim the stems

Cut the stems of your flowers at a 45-degree angle. This simple step increases the surface area for water absorption, keeping your flowers fresh for longer, even if they are artificial. This technique is especially useful if you plan to display your arrangements in a vase with water to create an ultra-realistic look.

Remove excess leaves

Strip off any leaves that might sit below the waterline in your vase or bouquet holder. This step helps reduce clutter and ensures that the focus remains on the flowers. It also prevents leaves from affecting the arrangement's overall aesthetics and creating an unkempt appearance.

Soak the bouquet holder

If you plan to use a bouquet holder, especially for fresh flowers, don't forget to soak it in water for about an hour. This step is crucial as it hydrates the foam, providing a water source for your flowers and ensuring they remain hydrated throughout your special day.

Cut, pluck, and trim

Artificial flowers often come in bundles with stems of the same length. To create a more natural and layered look, grab a pair of scissors and trim a couple of inches off some of the stems. Hold all the stems together in your fist while cutting to visualise how the arrangement will look in a vase. You can also pluck off a leaf or two and trim any unattractive or obviously fake branches or petals.

Use fillers

Fillers are elements that are not actual flowers, such as singular green leaves, twigs, branches, or even fallen greenery from your backyard. Adding fillers creates dimension and a fuller, more seasonal look. They are especially useful if you're aiming for a rustic or natural aesthetic.

Choose your vase or container

Clear vases made of glass or other materials are popular choices as they allow you to showcase stylish bottom fillers like cork wine bottle stoppers, coloured sand, pebbles, marbles, or even water. If your flowers are loose and lightweight, using fillers at the bottom of the vase can help distribute the flowers evenly and position the individual stems as desired. Alternatively, you can use jars, bottles, canisters, planters, decorative boxes, or planter boxes.

Creating the shape

Choose Your Main Flowers:

Select your favourite artificial flowers to be the stars of your arrangement. These flowers will be the focal point, so choose ones that stand out and appeal to your personal taste. You can choose a single type of flower or a combination of different varieties.

Prepare the Stems:

Before placing your main flowers, trim their stems to varying lengths. The tallest stems should be placed in the centre of your arrangement to create a graceful cascade effect. You can also pluck off any excess leaves or trim unattractive branches to improve the overall appearance.

Add Greenery:

Introduce some artificial greenery, such as ferns or eucalyptus sprigs, to complement your main flowers. Allow the greenery to fall a bit longer than the flowers for an elegant and natural look. You can weave it in around the edges or intersperse it throughout the arrangement.

Place Your Main Flowers:

Now, it's time to add your main flowers to the arrangement. Start by placing the flowers with the longest stems in the centre, gradually adding in the shorter-stemmed flowers around them. Play with the placement until you achieve a look you're happy with. Remember to rotate your arrangement as you work to ensure it looks full and beautiful from all angles.

Fill in with Accent Flowers:

Once your main flowers are in place, it's time to fill in the gaps with smaller accent flowers. These flowers add texture and depth to your arrangement. Tuck them in between the main flowers to create a harmonious blend of colours and textures. You can use a single type of accent flower or mix and match different varieties.

Final Adjustments:

Take a step back and assess your arrangement. If you notice any gaps or sparse areas, adjust the placement of your flowers and greenery to create a fuller look. You can also bend the stems slightly to fill in any spaces and create a more natural, flowing appearance.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to arrange the elements. Let your creativity and personal style shine through!

Adding fillers

Fillers are a great way to add character and dimension to your artificial wedding flower arrangements. They are anything that is not an actual flower and can include singular green leaves, twigs, branches, or even items like cork wine bottle stoppers, sand, buttons, pebbles, and marbles.

• If using a clear vase, fill the bottom of your arrangement with decorative fillers like cork wine bottle stoppers, sand, or small items like buttons, pebbles, or marbles. This adds visual interest and helps distribute the flowers evenly.
• If your flowers are loose and lightweight, using bottom-of-the-vase fillers can help weigh them down, even if the vase is not see-through.
• For a touch of character, try incorporating fallen greenery from trees in your backyard into your arrangement.
• If your flowers are too stiff or straight, try bending the stems slightly to fill in gaps and create a more natural look. Real greenery doesn't stand up perfectly straight, so 'breaking in' the stems of your artificial flowers is crucial.
• Mix and match different kinds of faux flowers, just as you would with real flowers. This will make your arrangement more interesting and realistic, as actual flowers grow in different seasons. Keep an alternate arrangement on hand, or swap out flowers as the seasons change.
• Don't be afraid to experiment with different containers for your arrangements. Try vases, jars, bottles, canisters, planters, decorative boxes, or planter boxes. Clear vases are especially fun, as you can add stylish bottom fillers.
• If you want to make your artificial flowers look even more realistic, try filling the vase with water. Your guests may find themselves leaning over to smell the petals!

Containers and styling

The containers you choose for your artificial wedding flower arrangements and how you style them are essential to the overall look and feel of your wedding decor. Here are some tips and ideas to help you create beautiful displays:

Choose the Right Containers

Vases, jars, bottles, canisters, planters, decorative boxes, and planter boxes can all be used as containers for your artificial flower arrangements. Clear vases or containers are a popular choice as they allow you to add stylish bottom fillers such as marbles, cork stoppers, sand, or even water for a more realistic look. If you're feeling creative, you can even make your own planter box using wood boards and paint it your desired colour.

Mix and Match Containers and Flowers

For a chic look, pair different shapes, containers, and sizes together. Mix and match containers with contrasting materials, such as a textured wood planter box with a ceramic jar or bottle. This adds dimension and brings the artificial blossoms to life. You can also swap out different artificial flower arrangements with the seasons or mix different types of flowers that would be in season together for a more realistic and ever-changing display.

Fillers and Greenery

Filler elements such as singular green leaves, twigs, branches, or even fallen greenery from your backyard can add character and dimension to your arrangements. These fillers help create a fuller look and can be used to fill in any gaps between flowers.

Height and Density

The height of your stems and the density of your arrangements are important considerations. For taller vases, longer stems are needed so that the blooms peek over the edge. Sparse arrangements with very tall, elongated stems work best with no more than two or three flowers. On the other hand, denser arrangements with nine or more flowers are better suited to shorter stems that sit just above the edge of the vase.

Bending and Layering

Artificial flowers can often look stiff and straight, so try bending the stems slightly to create a more natural, flowing look. Layering is also key to an attractive arrangement. Trim a couple of inches off some of the stems in the bundle to create varying heights and add interest.

Colour and Texture

Play with different colours and textures to create eye-catching displays. A single type of flower can look boring and unrealistic, as actual flowers grow in different seasons. Mix and match colours and textures to add depth and dimension to your arrangements.

With these tips in mind, you can create beautiful and stylish artificial wedding flower arrangements that will impress your guests and add a personal touch to your special day.

Frequently asked questions