Create Beautiful Floral Swags For Your Wedding Day

Creating your own floral swags for your wedding can save you a lot of money and add a personal touch to your special day. You can use fresh or artificial flowers, and the basic steps for crafting them are the same no matter which flowers or colours you choose. Floral swags are perfect for decorating your ceremony space, especially wedding arches, and can be hung from arbors or other structures.

Choosing flowers and colours

When selecting flowers, you can choose between fresh or artificial flowers. Fresh flowers create a natural and romantic atmosphere, while artificial flowers are more durable and long-lasting. If you opt for fresh flowers, consider the seasonality of the blooms to ensure they are in season and will last throughout your wedding day.

The colour palette you choose will depend on your wedding's colour scheme. You can select flowers in shades of your chosen colours or opt for a monochromatic look with varying tones of a single colour. If you're feeling creative, you can also experiment with contrasting colours that complement each other.

In addition to the flowers themselves, you can also incorporate greenery into your floral swag. Greenery adds texture and fullness to your arrangement. Common types of greenery include eucalyptus, fern, and ivy.

When choosing flowers, consider the size and shape of the blooms. A mix of larger and smaller flowers can create a visually appealing arrangement. You may also want to include flowers with different petal shapes, such as roses, dahlias, and peonies, to add interest and variety to your swag.

Ultimately, the flowers and colours you choose should reflect your personal style and taste. It's your wedding, so feel free to get creative and make it your own!

Using fresh or artificial flowers

If you're making a floral arch swag for a wedding, you can use either fresh or artificial flowers. Using fresh flowers will give your arch a natural, vibrant look, while artificial flowers can be more cost-effective and long-lasting. Here are some instructions for creating a floral arch swag using either type of flower:

Step 1: Pick your theme

Decide on the colours and styles of flowers that will match your wedding theme. For example, a forest/natural-themed wedding would feature different flowers from a traditional white wedding.

Step 2: Gather your materials

You will need:

• Your chosen flowers (fresh or artificial)
• Ribbon or raffia
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• 20- to 24-gauge floral wire
• An oasis cage, pre-filled with foam
• Finishing touch flower sealant
• Floral adhesive
• Water tubes on wooden stakes (if using fresh flowers)

Step 3: Prepare your flowers

If using fresh flowers, cut them to the desired length. If using artificial flowers, you may need to attach wires to the stems for easier arrangement.

Step 4: Create the base

Lay out your greenery (eucalyptus or other leaves) and divide it in half. Cut and wrap wire around each half to secure the stems. Then, overlap the two halves with the tips facing opposite directions, and secure them together with another piece of wire.

Step 5: Add the flowers

Arrange your flowers by inserting or gluing them into the foam, imitating the angles of the greenery. For a neater look, make sure to shorten the flowers in the centre.

Step 6: Finish with a bow

Make a bow with your chosen ribbon and attach it to the middle of your swag.

Tips:

• If using fresh flowers, use water picks (tubes of water) to keep them fresh.
• Artificial flowers can be made from silk or foam.
• You can also add glitter or ribbons to your swag.

Preparing the structure

To prepare the structure of your floral swag, you will need to gather the following materials:

• 1 tube of Oasis Flower Adhesive
• Florist gauge wire
• 1 oasis cage, pre-filled with foam
• Stem adhesive
• Green stem wrap
• Flowers of your choice (fresh or artificial)
• Finishing touch flower sealant

The first step is to decide on a theme for your floral swag, as this will determine the types of flowers and colours you choose. For example, a forest or natural-themed wedding would have a different selection of flowers compared to a traditional white wedding.

Next, cut your flowers and greenery to different lengths, placing them at various angles in the oasis tub. This will create a more natural and full look for your swag. Angle the greens forward as you work your way to the middle of the foam, keeping the middle stems shorter.

For flowers with shorter stems, you will need to tape and wire them discretely. If you are using roses, remember to remove the thorns to avoid damaging the foam and potentially hurting yourself.

Attaching flowers to the structure

To attach your floral swag to your wedding arch, you will need zip ties and wire. These should be provided with your swag, but if not, you can purchase them cheaply. You may also need additional supplies, depending on the structure of your arch. For example, if you have a metal arch, you may need non-slip cabinet liner to stop the swag from spinning.

To attach the swag, simply wrap the wire around the structure. You can also use zip ties to secure the swag, but be careful not to overtighten them as this may damage the flowers.

If you are attaching the swag to a door, wall, or another flat surface, you may need to use adhesive hooks. These can be purchased from most hardware stores.

Once your swag is attached, you may need to adjust the flowers to ensure they look their best. Be careful not to damage the flowers while doing this.

If you are using fresh flowers, it is important to keep the water picks (tubes of water) filled and upright so they do not spill. Check these every 8-12 hours in hot weather and refill as needed.

Finally, stand back and admire your handiwork! Your floral swag is sure to be a beautiful addition to your wedding decor.

Adding finishing touches

Adding the Finishing Touches

The final steps to creating a floral swag for your wedding arch are all about customisation and preservation.

Customisation

You can add glitter or ribbons to your floral swag to make it perfect for your big day. If you want to add a pop of colour, or a personal touch, this is the time to do it.

Preservation

To ensure your floral swag stands the test of time, you'll need to use a sealant. This will ensure your creation stays fresh-looking for longer.

Attaching the Swag

These floral decorations work best in the corners of wedding arches. You can use zip ties and wire to hang the swag, but be aware that you may need additional supplies. Metal arches may require a non-slip cabinet liner to keep the swag from spinning.

Installation

If you don't want to install the swag yourself, you can pay for a professional installation service. This can be costly, but it will ensure that your floral swag is securely in place.

Aftercare

If you've opted for fresh flowers, it's important to care for them properly. Keep your floral swag in a cool, dark place, out of direct sunlight and moving air. Check the water picks every 8-12 hours and refill them if necessary, especially in hot weather.

Frequently asked questions