Create Hanging Flower Balls For Your Wedding Day

Hanging flower balls are a great way to add a touch of glamour to your wedding decor. They can be time-consuming to make, but the end result is well worth the effort. In this guide, we'll take you through the steps to create beautiful hanging flower balls using fresh or silk flowers, floral foam or Styrofoam, wire, and ribbon. With the right materials and a bit of creativity, you can make stunning hanging flower balls that will impress your guests and save you money.

Soak the foam ball in water

To make hanging flower balls for a wedding, you'll need to start by soaking your foam ball in water. This step is crucial, as it will help keep your flowers fresh for longer. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:

First, prepare a bowl or container filled with water. The container should be large enough to submerge the foam ball completely. Submerge the foam ball in the water and let it soak for around 10 minutes. This will allow the foam to absorb enough water to keep your flowers hydrated. While you're waiting, you can gather and prepare the rest of your materials, such as your flowers, ribbon, and wire.

After 10 minutes, remove the foam ball from the water. You'll notice that the foam ball has absorbed a significant amount of water and feels heavier. Gently shake off any excess water droplets from the surface, but there's no need to squeeze or wring out the foam ball. It's important to let the foam ball drain naturally, so place it on a dry surface or absorbent towel and let it sit for a couple of hours. This draining period is crucial, as you don't want dripping water to affect your other materials or your work surface.

During this time, the foam ball will continue to release any excess water, and you can use this time to prepare your flowers by trimming their stems and arranging them by colour or type. You can also use this time to cut your ribbon to the desired length and create a hanging loop, following the steps outlined in the previous response.

By the time your foam ball is completely drained, you'll be ready to start assembling your hanging flower ball. The soaked foam ball will provide the necessary hydration to keep your flowers fresh, so you don't need to worry about additional water sources. Your hanging flower ball will stay vibrant and beautiful throughout your wedding celebrations!

Cut and attach the ribbon

Now that your flower ball is almost ready, it's time to cut and attach the ribbon so it can be hung up.

First, decide on the length of the ribbon. If you're unsure how high you want the flower ball to hang, add an extra 1 to 2 feet to the length of the ribbon and trim it later when you hang it. Cut the ribbon to size. Next, slip one end of the cut ribbon under the first set of wire wrappings, where they all meet at one end. Tie the ribbon in a simple double knot and trim off any excess if needed. Make sure you slip the ribbon under at least three of the wire wrappings so that the weight of the flower ball is distributed evenly when hung.

If you want to add ribbon to your flower ball before adding the flowers, you can create a loop with a small piece of ribbon and join the ends. Then, poke a length of floral wire through both ends, leaving enough extra wire on both sides of the ribbon so that you can go completely through the foam ball. Twist both pieces a couple of times around the end of the ribbon, allowing the rest of the excess to hang off. Now, stick your ribbon through one side of the foam ball to the other and twist the end to secure it.

Trim the flowers

To trim the flowers for your hanging flower ball, you will need a pair of garden shears or scissors. You can use fresh flowers or silk flowers. If you are using fresh flowers, you will need to cut them at an angle, about an inch from the head. This will allow the flowers to easily absorb water from the foam. Cut as many flowers as you can. You want to leave only the head of the flower and a small bit of stem.

If you are using silk flowers, use wire cutters to trim the buds off their stems. Leave 2 to 3 inches of the stem exposed so that you can pierce the foam ball in the next step.

For fresh flowers, after you have trimmed the flowers, you will need to attach a floral wire to each flower. Uncoil a length of floral wire and stick one end into the base of the flower head. Wrap the wire around the stem and then cut it, leaving a few inches of excess. Wrap the excess wire back up the stem, leaving a small bit at the bottom. This will form a loop that will help you poke the flower into the foam and keep it stable.

Now that your flowers are trimmed and prepared, you are ready to start poking them into the foam ball. Find a spot on the ball, probably near the top, and stick the flower in. Push it all the way down until the head meets the surface. Repeat this process until the entire surface of the foam ball is covered.

Attach the flowers to the foam ball

Now it's time to attach the flowers to the foam ball. If you are using silk flowers, cut the buds off their stems with wire cutters, leaving 2-3 inches of the stem exposed. You can then pierce the stems of each flower into the foam ball between the wire wrappings. Push the flowers all the way in to ensure they are secure. If you feel that the flowers are not attaching well, you can use hot glue to further adhere them.

If you are using fresh flowers, you will need to attach floral picks to the stems using floral wire. Then, pierce the sharp end of the pick into the foam to attach the flower.

For both silk and fresh flowers, you will want to leave about 1-2 inches between each flower. Alternate the colours and types of flowers for variety and dimension.

You can also add some special accessories like beads or broaches to fill out the flower ball.

Hang the flower balls

Now that your flower ball is ready, it's time to hang it up!

First, decide on the desired height of the flower ball. If you're unsure, leave some extra ribbon on the longer side and trim it later. Thread the ribbon through the wire loops at the top of the flower ball, and adjust the ribbon's length so that the flower ball hangs at your preferred height. You can secure the ribbon to a tree branch or a hook. If you're hanging the flower ball indoors, you can also secure it to a ceiling hook or a light fixture.

If you're hanging multiple flower balls, space them out evenly to create a visually appealing display. You can hang them at varying heights to add depth and dimension to the décor. For an extra touch of glamour, consider adding some special accessories like beads or broaches to the ribbon.

It's important to note that if you're using fresh flowers, the water-soaked foam ball will only keep them fresh for a limited time. So, it's best to create and hang these flower balls as close to your event as possible.

With these hanging flower balls, you'll add a splash of colour and a handmade touch to your wedding décor.

Frequently asked questions