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

Hanging flower balls are a great way to add a pop of colour and a personal touch to your wedding. They can be used as centrepieces or decor and can be made with fresh or artificial flowers. This versatile decoration is easy to make and can be used for a variety of purposes, such as chair decor, hanging balls, or bouquets. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to create your own fresh flower balls, including the materials you will need and the process of assembling them.

Soak the foam in water

To make fresh flower balls for a wedding, you'll need to start by soaking the foam in water. This is an important step as it ensures that your flower arrangements will stay fresh and hydrated. Here's a step-by-step guide to soaking the foam:

• Start with a floral foam ball, also known as a flower foam ball or wet foam. This is a special type of foam designed to absorb and hold water, providing hydration to your fresh flowers. It also serves as a sturdy base for your flower ball.
• Completely submerge the foam ball in water and let it soak. You can use a container large enough to fully immerse the foam.
• Leave the foam in the water for around 10 minutes. This allows the foam to absorb enough water and become completely saturated.
• After soaking, remove the foam from the water and place it on a flat surface to drain any excess water. Let it sit for a couple of hours. This step ensures that the foam is not dripping wet when you start adding the flowers.
• During this time, you can prepare the flowers by trimming their stems to a short length, leaving only the flower head and about 2-3 cm of the stem. Strip any leaves from the stems as well.
• Once the foam is no longer dripping, it's ready to be used as the base for your flower ball.

Remember, this step of soaking the foam is crucial to keeping your flowers fresh and vibrant. By providing a source of water, your flowers will stay hydrated and maintain their beauty for a longer period.

Prepare the flowers

To prepare the flowers for your fresh flower balls, you will need to start by cutting the flower heads at an angle, leaving about an inch of stem. This will allow the flowers to absorb water more easily from the foam ball. The number of flowers you cut will depend on the size of your foam ball and the type of flowers you are using. For example, if you are using spray roses, you may need around 10, but for larger flowers, you might need fewer.

Strip the leaves from the stems and trim them to around 2-3 cm. If you are using flowers with thinner stems, you may need to wire each flower individually to ensure they can be securely attached to the foam ball.

If you are using wet foam, soak it in water for about 10 minutes, then leave it to drain for a couple of hours. This will ensure the flowers stay fresh for longer. If you are using Styrofoam, you can skip this step.

Now you are ready to start adding the flowers to your foam ball. Push the stems into the foam, covering it entirely and filling in any empty spaces. If you are using fresh flowers, you may need to use floral picks to attach them securely to the foam.

Secure the ribbon

To secure the ribbon, you will need to cut a length of ribbon and fold it in half. Tie the two loose ends together in a knot. Next, take a piece of wire and bend it around the ribbon, securing it with florist's tape. This will form the handle of your flower ball.

Now, take your foam sphere and push the wire through the centre of the sphere, folding the excess wire into the ball. You can then use floral pins to secure the ribbon to the foam sphere. Start at the bottom, where the ribbon is knotted, and work your way around the sphere, pushing the pins through the ribbon and into the foam. Make sure the ribbon is tight and secure, as it will bear the weight of the flower ball when hung.

Trim the flowers

Trimming the flowers is an important step in creating fresh flower balls for your wedding. Here is a detailed guide to help you achieve the best results:

Firstly, select fresh flowers that are in good condition, with sturdy stems and vibrant blooms. You will need enough flowers to cover the entire foam ball, so ensure you have plenty on hand. It is recommended to have a variety of flowers, such as roses, dahlias, carnations, or sunflowers, to add texture and visual interest to your flower balls.

Now, let's begin the trimming process:

• Cut the flowers: Using a sharp pair of scissors or floral shears, cut the flowers at an angle about one inch from the head. This angled cut will allow the flowers to easily absorb water from the foam and stay fresh for longer.
• Remove the leaves: Strip all the leaves from the stems of the flowers. This step will create a cleaner look and prevent the leaves from interfering with the arrangement.
• Trim the stems: Cut the stems to a uniform length of approximately 2-3 cm, or 1/4" to 1/2" inch. This length will ensure the flowers can be securely inserted into the foam ball.

If you are working with delicate flowers or having difficulty trimming the stems, you may need to individually wire each flower before inserting it into the foam. This provides added support and makes it easier to arrange the flowers.

By following these steps, you will have beautifully trimmed flowers ready to be arranged into stunning fresh flower balls for your wedding. Remember to handle the flowers gently and work efficiently to ensure the flowers stay fresh and vibrant.

Poke flowers into the foam

Now that you have your flowers ready, it's time to start poking them into the foam ball. This is a simple yet crucial step in creating your flower ball decor. Here's a detailed guide to help you through the process:

Before you start, make sure you have prepared your flowers by cutting them about an inch from the head at an angle. This step is important as it allows the flowers to easily absorb water from the foam, keeping them fresh for longer. You can use garden shears or scissors for this step, depending on the thickness of the stems.

When you're ready to start poking, find a spot on the foam ball where you want to place the first flower. It's usually best to start near the top of the ball. Take one of your prepared flowers and gently but firmly push the stem into the foam. Push the flower all the way down until the head meets the surface of the foam. Repeat this process, adding flowers one by one, until you have covered the entire surface of the foam ball.

As you work, try to place the flowers as close together as possible to create a full and lush look. You can use a variety of flowers or stick to just one type, depending on the desired effect. Just make sure that the colours of the flowers complement each other and match your chosen wedding colours.

If you're using particularly large or heavy flowers, you may need to use floral wire to secure them to the foam ball. To do this, stick one end of the wire into the base of the flower head, and then wrap the wire around the stem. Leave about three inches of wire at the end, and then cut it with wire cutters. Bend the excess wire back up the stem, leaving a small bit at the bottom to create a loop. This loop will help you poke the flower into the foam and keep it stable.

Creating flower balls is a fun and easy way to add a personal touch to your wedding decor. By following these steps and taking your time, you'll be able to create beautiful and elegant decorations that are sure to impress your guests.

Frequently asked questions