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

Creating a floral swag for your wedding arch can be a fun and therapeutic activity that will also help you cut down on costs. You can use fresh or artificial flowers, or a combination of both, to create a beautiful arrangement that reflects your wedding's theme and colour palette. Floral swags are traditionally used to decorate ancient temples, graves, and homes, and have also been worn as accessories. They have had religious connections for a period of time, adding a sacred element to your special day.

To make a floral swag, you will need the following materials: an oasis cage pre-filled with foam, florist gauge wire, flower adhesive, stem adhesive, green stem wrap, and your choice of flowers and greenery. You can purchase these materials from craft stores or online. The first step is to decide on a theme and select your flowers accordingly. Next, start with your greens, which will serve as the framework for your design. Angle the greens forward as you work your way to the middle of the foam, keeping them shorter in the centre and relatively long on the sides. Then, add your filler flowers, imitating the angles of the greenery. Finally, perfect your design by experimenting with colours and flower placement. Once you're happy with your arrangement, apply a sealant to ensure it lasts.

Floral swags are typically placed in the corners of wedding arches, but you can get creative and experiment with different shapes and forms, such as symmetrical or asymmetrical designs.

Choosing your flowers

The flowers you choose for your wedding arch floral swag will depend on a few factors, including your wedding colours, the season, and the overall theme and aesthetic of your wedding.

Colour

If you have a specific colour palette for your wedding, you'll want to choose flowers that complement this. For example, if you're having a forest/natural-themed wedding, you might choose flowers in earthy tones.

Season

Choosing flowers that are in season is a good way to ensure your floral swag looks fresh and vibrant. Seasonal flowers are also usually more affordable and long-lasting.

Size

You'll also want to consider the size of the flowers you choose. A variety of sizes will give your swag a more natural look, but you'll also need to make sure that the flowers aren't too big or too small for the scale of your arch.

Type

Whether you choose fresh or artificial flowers is another important decision. Fresh flowers are a classic choice for weddings, but they can be more expensive and delicate. Artificial flowers are a more cost-effective and long-lasting option, and they won't cause allergies.

Specific Examples

Some specific flower types that would work well in a wedding arch floral swag include:

• Roses
• Peonies
• Sunflowers
• Dahlias
• Orchids
• Eucalyptus
• Baby's breath

Pick your theme

Picking a theme for your floral swag is an incredibly important step, so don’t skip it!

The flowers you choose will create a completely different vibe. Make sure you’re picking colours and styles that will match your overall wedding theme and aesthetic.

For example, a forest/natural themed wedding would have a completely different selection to a traditional white wedding.

Once you’ve chosen your flowers, you can decide what type of look you will try to achieve. Do you want your floral swag to look messy, natural, traditional, or modern?

If you’re having a beach wedding, for instance, you could opt for flowers that are native to the beach, and incorporate pebbles, shells, starfish, and other beach-inspired elements into the design for a natural and coastal look.

Remember, your choice of flowers will also depend on the season. In-season flower varieties will be brighter and more vibrant, and will blend in with the scenery for better photographs and video memories.

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 as they form the framework for your design.

Make sure to place them in your oasis tub at different lengths to create a more natural look. We 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. You should also put greens in the middle, but make them shorter. Remember to add different shades and types of green for a more varied look.

If you are using ficus, you will need around 6 stems for a 24" long swag piece.

Materials

• Wire clippers
• Chicken wire
• Oasis flower adhesive
• Florist gauge wire
• Oasis cage, pre-filled with foam
• Stem adhesive
• Green stem wrap
• Your choice of flowers (fresh or artificial)
• Finishing touch flower sealant

Add the flowers

Now it's time to add the flowers!

First, you'll want to add your filler flowers into the oasis. These will follow the angles of the greenery, acting as the centrepiece for your swag. Make sure to shorten the stems of your flowers in the centre, creating that desired enclosed look. If your flowers have shorter stems, you will need to tape and wire them discretely.

A top tip is to de-thorn roses if you are using them, as these can ruin the foam and prick you!

Next, add your larger flowers. Add three of the largest flowers in each colour, keeping them mostly in the middle area but trying not to concentrate them in the centre. You want the flow to look natural and not forced, so keeping space for some smaller blooms to fill in helps keep that openness.

Then, add your medium-sized flowers. Add 3-5 medium flowers in each of the colours, again keeping them mainly in the centre with a few sprinkled on the outer areas.

Finally, add the smallest flowers. Many of these will go on the edges of your design, but you can scatter some in the centre and throughout the entire swag.

You can finish the piece by adding sprigs of baby's breath for a final textured look and to spread the colour throughout the piece.

Complete your design

Now that you've added your filler flowers, it's time to complete your design. This part may take a few trial and error runs, as perfecting your colours and design can be tricky. After all, 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 going for a forest/natural theme, for example, you'll want lots of greenery and perhaps some fern leaves. For a traditional white wedding, you might want to stick to a simple yet elegant colour palette of white and green, with perhaps a few pink or red flowers for a pop of colour.

Remember, you can always add more flowers and greenery to your swag, so don't be afraid to experiment. You can also add glitter or ribbons to give it that extra special touch.

Once you're happy with your design, it's time to move on to the finishing touches.

Frequently asked questions