Creating Beaded Bouquets For Your Wedding Day

Beaded bouquets are a unique and customizable alternative to traditional floral wedding bouquets. They can be coordinated to the wedding theme and colours, and they also make for a perfect memento of the special day. Making a beaded bouquet involves threading beads onto wires, twisting the wires together, and then taping and wrapping the stems in ribbon. This can be a time-consuming process, so it's a good idea to enlist some help.

Choosing colours for your beaded bouquet

When creating a beaded bouquet for a wedding, choosing a colour scheme is an important step. The colours you choose will depend on the aesthetic you want to achieve, and whether you want your bouquet to match a theme.

If you're making a beaded bouquet, chances are you're not a fan of traditional floral arrangements. So, you might want to steer clear of the typical wedding flower colours of white and pastel pinks. Instead, opt for colours that reflect your personality and style.

A good formula for a beaded bouquet colour scheme is to pick one clear colour, one or two matching colours, and then one contrasting colour. For example, clear, amber, and amethyst on gold wire; or pink, yellow, green, and clear on silver wire.

You could also use the birthstone colour of the bride, bridesmaids, or family members as inspiration for your colour scheme. Or, if you're making a bouquet for an autumn wedding, you could use autumnal colours like burgundy and rust orange.

If you're making multiple bouquets, it's a good idea to get help. Creating beaded bouquets can be repetitive work, so having a friend or two to help will make the process more enjoyable.

Gathering the materials

To make a beaded wedding bouquet, you will need beads, wire, ribbon, and some tools. The exact quantities and types of materials will depend on the size and style of your bouquet, as well as your colour preferences.

Beads

For the bouquetsection> bouquet in the Instructables example, the creator used 2mm seed beads in three colours: 20g of each of the two petal colours (dark blue and white), and 12g of the petal lining colour (antique gold). They also used two contrasting beads per flower, approximately 4mm in diameter.

If you are making a larger bouquet, you will need more beads. For instance, one person on Cut Out and Keep mentioned that their bridal bouquet had 300 stems, while each of their bridesmaids' bouquets had 150.

Wire

You will also need beading wire. The gauge of the wire will depend on the size of your beads. For 2mm seed beads, the Instructables example used 28-gauge wire, while the Cut Out and Keep example used 24-gauge wire. You will also need wire cutters to cut the wire to the required length.

Ribbon

Ribbon will be used to wrap the stems of your bouquet. The amount of ribbon you need will depend on the width of the ribbon and the length of your desired trailing ends. The Instructables example used 30 yards of ribbon, while the Cut Out and Keep example used 2-3 metres.

Tools

In addition to the materials above, you will need some tools to help with the assembly of your bouquet. These include:

• Flat-nosed pliers (1-2 pairs)
• A bead spinner (optional, but saves time)
• A cordless drill (optional, but gives a more polished look)
• Floral tape

Making the petals

To make the petals, you will need beads, wire, and pliers. Cut the wire into straight lengths using pliers or clippers. The length of wire you need will depend on the size of your bouquet and the size of each petal. For a large petal, cut a section of wire about 80 cm long. You will also need a shorter piece of wire, about 4 cm long, which will be used to create the base of the petal. Thread the beads onto the longer piece of wire, leaving a tail of wire about 4 cm long at one end. Make a loop at the end of the wire, creating a loop of 6-8 cm when straightened out.

Now, you will begin to weave the petal. Slide 2-3 beads onto the shorter piece of wire and push down 3-5 beads from the longer piece. Wrap the longer piece of wire tightly around the shorter piece. Pull another 3-5 beads down from the longer piece and wrap the wire downwards towards the twist above the loop. Keep the wires tight as you work. Repeat this process as many times as you wish, creating as many turns as you would like for your flower. Finish the final row with beads in your chosen edge colour. Wrap the wire tightly around the base of the petal a few times and trim off any excess.

Repeat these steps to create as many petals as you need for your bouquet. Group the petals together, pinching the smaller petals together and twisting their wires to secure them. Arrange the larger petals around the outside and twist these wires around the middle stem.

Putting the flowers together

Gather all the flowers you have made and arrange them in a shape that you like. Secure them with an elastic band. You can stand in front of a mirror to get a better idea of how the bouquet will look. If you are making a large bouquet, you will need to make the stems longer. You can do this by building them up with extra wire before applying the floral tape.

Now, take your ribbon and position it diagonally. Wrap it down and then back up, keeping it as tight as possible and maintaining an even distance between each layer. Secure the top with a needle and thread, a brooch, or another type of embellishment.

You can finish with a simple double knot or add a bow.

Finally, wrap the stems with florist tape. This will add stability and improve the overall look of the bouquet.

Your beaded bouquet is now ready!

Assembling the bouquet

Now that you have all the necessary materials, it's time to start assembling your beaded bouquet. This process may vary slightly depending on the specific type of beads and flowers you are using, but here is a general guide to help you get started.

To begin, cut your wire into straight lengths using pliers or clippers. The length of the wire will depend on the size of your bouquet. For a bridal bouquet, consider cutting the wire to about 25 inches, while for bridesmaids' bouquets, 20 inches should be sufficient. Thread the wire through the bead, bringing it to the halfway point, and then fold the two sides of the wire together, giving them a couple of loose twists.

If you have a cordless drill, you can use it to twist the wire quickly and efficiently. Attach a hook to the drill, and place the loop of the loosely twisted wire over the hook. Hold on firmly to the ends of the wire and give the drill a short burst. You may need to adjust the speed and duration to get the desired result. Continue this process until you have enough stems for your bouquet.

Once you have made enough stems, it's time to assemble them into a bouquet. Hold the stems together in a way that pleases you and secure them with duct tape at the base. This step is easier with two people – one to hold the wires and the other to wrap the tape. Make sure you cover the ends of the wires completely to avoid any sharp edges.

Now, you can bend and shape the wires to your liking. You may want to spread them out or create a dome shape. The wires are springy and will twist around each other, so be gentle and patient as you form your desired shape.

To finish the bouquet, wrap ribbon around the stems to cover the duct tape. Use floral tape to secure the ribbon at the top and bottom, and tie a simple double knot or a bow. You can also add embellishments like brooches or charms to the ribbon for a more luxurious look.

Creating a beaded bouquet can be time-consuming and repetitive, so it's a good idea to enlist the help of your friends or family members. With their assistance, you'll be able to create a beautiful and unique bouquet that will be a memorable part of your wedding day.

Frequently asked questions