Creating A Wedding Flower Wall: A Step-By-Step Guide

Flower walls are a super trendy and popular way to decorate your wedding venue. They can be used as a backdrop for your vows, as an escort-card display, or even as a photo booth. If you're feeling crafty, you can make your own flower wall using plywood, a staple gun, and fake flowers. This is a relatively cheap and straightforward DIY project that can be easily transported and stored. However, if crafting isn't your forte, you can always buy a pre-made flower wall or rent one from a florist. Either way, a flower wall is a beautiful addition to any wedding and will surely impress your guests!

Choosing your flowers

The flowers you pick for your wedding flower wall should complement your venue and wedding theme. If you're using fresh flowers, you'll have to make your flower wall very close to your wedding day so that they remain fresh. If you're using fake flowers, you can prepare them in advance.

Many people choose to go with fake flowers for their wedding flower wall, as they will never wilt or start to die before the wedding. They are also easier to handle than real flowers. You can buy fake flowers at your local craft store or online.

If you're committed to using real flowers, you'll have to decide what kinds of flowers and colours you want. You could carry over certain colours or specific kinds of flowers from your bouquets.

You could also write words out of flowers on your flower wall or hang signs.

Flower Wall Ideas

• Ombré flower wall: Use rich tones for roses and hydrangeas, or choose your favourite colour schemes and flowers for your display.
• Flower wall with escort cards: Your flower wall can accent your escort cards, and if you choose your blooms wisely, your guests will experience a scentscaping moment they'll never forget.
• Flower wall with a neon sign: Nestle a neon sign in your flower wall to complement your sign's message and make your flower wall more eye-catching.
• Wildflower and greenery display: Ask your wedding florist or wedding venue decorator to gently drape the flower arrangement on a small section of the wall.
• Eucalyptus flower wedding wall: Feel free to add greenery to your display, like eucalyptus, ivy or moss—this addition will make your desired flowers pop.
• Paper flower wall: If you want to include DIY projects in your wedding, save money or have out-of-the-ordinary decor, a paper flower wall is a good option. With paper flowers, you can have fun adding different patterns, like polka dots or stripes, and textures.
• Glass vase flower wall: This is one of the most outside-the-box flower wall ideas. The couple had long-stemmed roses and hydrangeas placed in glass pillar vases on white pedestals of varying heights to create this gorgeous flower wall.
• Flower wall with a photo booth: The bride and groom loved their giant wedding flower wall at their reception because they used it as a colourful photo booth backdrop. Don't forget to add funny photo booth props, like silly hats, sunglasses and feathered boas.
• Jumbo paper flower wall: Paper to Petals created this magnificent wall of jumbo paper roses. If you're up for the challenge, you can DIY your own backdrop by sourcing paper flowers from your local crafts store or Etsy.

Selecting your wall

The first step to making a flower wall is to pick the wall you want to decorate. This could be a blank wall at your venue, or you could build a freestanding structure.

If you want to build a freestanding structure, you will need two sheets of plywood, door hinges, screws, and boxwood panels. Lay the plywood sheets side by side and attach the hinges to the long sides of the sheets. Fold the structure like a book, then attach the boxwood panels to disguise the hinges.

If you're decorating an existing wall, you'll need to decide whether to attach the flowers directly to the wall or to a mesh substance that can be hung on the wall.

The size of your flower wall will depend on the size of your venue and the wall you want to use. If you're building a freestanding structure, the recommended size is 80in x 40in. This size is transportable and relatively cheap.

If you're decorating an existing wall, you may need more flowers to cover a larger area. Keep in mind that you'll need to measure the doors to your venue to ensure that your flower wall can be easily transported inside.

Before you start attaching flowers to your wall, it's important to consider the overall theme and colour scheme of your wedding. The flowers you choose should complement the venue, your wedding dress, and any other decorations you plan to use.

If you're using a freestanding structure, you may also want to consider adding candles or other decorations to enhance the romantic atmosphere.

Assembly

To make a flower wall, you'll need two pieces of plywood measuring 80in x 40in each. This is a standard size that will be easy to transport and relatively cheap. If you're handy with tools, you can cut the plywood to size yourself, or you can ask your local hardware store to do it for you.

Once you have your plywood, gather three 3-5 inch door hinges and enough 1/2-3/4 inch screws to secure the hinges. You'll also need a power drill with a screwdriver bit to attach the hinges.

Lay your plywood boards side by side on the floor with the long sides touching. Position the hinges in the middle and a few inches from the top and bottom of the boards. Use your drill to screw the hinges into place, then fold the boards towards you like a book to make sure they move properly.

Flip the structure over so the hinges are facing down. If the screws are poking through the back of the plywood, trim them with wire snips.

Now, it's time to add the flowers. You can use either loose flowers or pre-made swags. If you're using loose flowers, leave the stems long and punch them through the plywood, or make garlands or chicken wire structures and staple or wire them to the plywood.

If you're using pre-made swags, you can attach them to the plywood with a staple gun or hot glue. This method is also an option for loose flowers if you don't want to punch holes in the plywood.

Finally, stand up your flower wall and make any necessary adjustments. You can lean it against a wall or create a freestanding structure by adding triangular trusses to the back with a nut-and-bolt system.

Your flower wall is now ready to be displayed at your wedding!

Adding flowers to your backdrop

There are many ways to attach flowers to your plywoodsection. One option is to leave the stems long and punch the loose flowers into the boxwood backing, threading them through as you would with a chicken wire structure in a vase. This method is secure but will take some effort to remove the flowers after the event.

Another option is to create separate garlands or chicken wire structures full of flowers and then staple or wire them onto the backdrop. This method ensures that the flowers are secured all the way through to the wood, so the weight doesn't pull the boxwood netting away from the wood backing.

If you're feeling creative, you can also try painting the boards or adding texture with plaster or gold leaf. You can then install hooks or nails to hang floral swags or garlands.

Don't be afraid to experiment and have fun with your flower wall design!

Setting up the flower wall

Now that you've gathered all your materials and tools, it's time to start building your flower wall! Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Prepare the Plywood

If your plywood boards are not already cut to size, use a saw to cut them down to the desired dimensions. In this case, you'll need two pieces of plywood, each measuring 80 inches by 40 inches. This size is transportable and cost-effective.

Step 2: Attach the Hinges

Lay the two plywood boards side by side on a flat surface, with their long sides touching. Align the door hinges along the seam where the boards meet, placing one hinge in the middle, one a few inches from the top, and one a few inches from the bottom. Use a power drill fitted with a screwdriver bit to screw the hinges in place securely.

Step 3: Test the Fold

Once the hinges are attached, fold the two plywood boards towards you, as if closing a book. This will allow you to check that the hinges are properly installed and the backdrop folds correctly.

Step 4: Prepare the Boxwood Panels

While working on the plywood, you can prepare the faux boxwood panels by unrolling them and laying them out flat. Each plywood board should accommodate two panels, creating a seamless covering.

Step 5: Attach the Boxwood Panels

Flip the plywood structure over so that the hinges are facing downwards. Use a staple gun to affix the boxwood panels to the plywood, covering any visible screws or gaps. Trim any excess boxwood material with scissors if needed.

Step 6: Add the Flowers

Now comes the fun part—adding the flowers! You can leave the stems of your flowers long and punch them into the boxwood backing, creating a secure and natural-looking arrangement. Alternatively, you can create separate garlands or chicken wire structures filled with flowers and staple or wire them onto the backdrop. Get creative and experiment with different flower varieties and arrangements!

Step 7: Set Up the Backdrop

Your flower wall is now ready to be displayed! Simply lean the two-panel structure against a wall, or create basic triangular trusses to allow it to stand upright independently. If you choose to add trusses, you'll need to drill holes in the plywood, but these can be easily disguised by the boxwood panels. Remember to consider the placement of your flower wall in relation to the overall layout of your wedding venue.

Frequently asked questions