Creating Wedding Confetti: Diy Guide For Colorful Celebrations

Wedding confetti is a fun and colourful way to celebrate the newlywed couple's exit from their ceremony. It's a great way to capture some playful photos, but it's important to ensure that the confetti is biodegradable to avoid causing harm to the environment. Making your own confetti is a sustainable, cost-effective, and easy project that will get you in the mood to celebrate! You can use natural materials like dried flowers, leaves, or tissue paper to create your confetti, and even add scents like dried lavender or rosemary. With a little creativity, you can also make your own confetti cones to serve your guests.

Choosing flowers and leaves

Flowers and leaves are a great way to make homemade wedding confetti. They are natural, biodegradable, and can add a pop of colour, texture, and even scent to your special day. Here are some tips and ideas to help you choose the best flowers and leaves for your confetti:

Types of Flowers and Leaves

• Choose flowers that are in season and readily available. If you're collecting them yourself, pick flowers from your garden, a friend's garden, or buy them from a local florist. Roses are an excellent choice due to their colour range and beautiful scent.
• Consider the size of the flowers. Smaller petals, such as daisies, can be used whole, while larger flowers like roses may require you to pluck individual petals.
• In addition to flowers, you can use leaves to create confetti. Eucalyptus, oak, and hawthorn leaves are excellent choices and add a unique touch to your confetti mix.
• If you're looking for scented confetti, dried lavender or rosemary leaves are perfect options. They will not only look beautiful but also fill the air with a delightful fragrance.

Drying and Preparing the Flowers and Leaves

• To dry your flowers and leaves, remove the petals from the main stems and place them on a tray. You can then leave them in a sunny spot, such as a windowsill, or in an airing cupboard until they are completely dry.
• Another option is to bake the petals. Place them on a baking paper-lined tray and cook at a low temperature (around 95 degrees Celsius) for about 10 minutes until they are dry and crispy. This method ensures your petals are bug-free and free from pesticides.
• If you have the time, you can also hang-dry the flowers. Gather them into small bunches and secure them with elastic bands. Then, use a peg to hang them upside down in a well-ventilated area, such as a curtain rail or airing cupboard.
• Once your petals and leaves are dry, store them in a dark, dry place to retain their colour and fragrance.
• To add some extra sparkle, you can mix in some biodegradable glitter with your flower petals and leaves.

Remember to start collecting and preparing your flowers and leaves in advance, especially if you're relying on seasonal blooms. By choosing and drying your own flowers and leaves, you can create unique, personalised confetti that will make your wedding day even more memorable.

Drying petals and foliage

Firstly, source your petals and foliage. You can use flowers from your garden or shop-bought bouquets. Roses are an excellent choice due to their vibrant colours and delightful fragrance. It is important to remove the petals from the flowers before they start to turn brown. If you're using smaller flowers like daisies, you can dry them whole. Ensure that your flowers are free from pesticides and bugs, especially if they are from a shop.

The next step is to lay out the petals and foliage for drying. Place them flat on a tray or dish, ensuring they are not layered, as this will slow the drying process. A sunny windowsill or an airing cupboard is an ideal location for drying, as it provides warmth and ventilation. Avoid overcrowding the petals, as this can hinder the drying process and lead to unwanted composting.

Alternatively, you can use an oven to dry your petals and foliage. Preheat your oven to 95 degrees Celsius and place the petals or small flowers on a baking paper-lined tray. Bake them for around 10 minutes, keeping an eye on them, until they are dry and crispy.

Another method for drying is to hang your flowers upside down. Gather the flowers into small bunches and secure them with elastic bands. Attach a peg to the elastic band and hang the flowers upside down on a curtain rail or in an airing cupboard, ensuring ample airflow around them.

Once the petals and foliage are completely dry, store them in a dark, dry place to retain their colour and fragrance. You can mix in dried lavender for an extra touch of scent. Keep the dried petals in a basket or divide them into small pockets or envelopes made from origami paper.

By following these steps, you will have beautifully dried petals and foliage ready for your homemade wedding confetti. Remember to start collecting and drying well in advance to ensure you have enough for your special day!

Using paper and glitter

Homemade wedding confetti made from paper and glitter is a fun and easy project that will get you in the mood to celebrate! Here are some tips and instructions to help you get started:

Materials and Tools:

• Paper: Choose paper or cardstock for the most color variety. You can use simple white printer paper or go for multicolored paper for a burst of color. If you want unique confetti, purchase origami paper with designs or patterns. Consider the wedding theme and colors when selecting your paper.
• Glitter: Opt for biodegradable glitter to ensure your confetti is eco-friendly. You can find biodegradable glitter in various sparkling shades, shapes, and colors to match your wedding theme.
• Craft Punches: Invest in paper punches from a craft store to create fun confetti shapes like hearts, flowers, stars, or other wedding-themed designs.
• Scissors: You will need scissors to cut the paper into strips and desired confetti shapes.
• Other Tools: Depending on the level of intricacy you want to achieve, you may also need a ruler, pencil, double-sided tape, crepe paper, floral tape, and a hot glue gun.

Instructions:

• Select and gather your materials. Choose paper in your desired colors and weights, as well as biodegradable glitter to match your wedding theme.
• Cut the paper into strips: Fold the paper several times to create layers, then use scissors to cut the paper into 1/2-inch wide strips. You can also use a paper cutter for more precise cuts.
• Create confetti shapes: Turn the strips 90 degrees and cut them into small squares or rectangles. You can also use craft punches to create fun shapes. Don't forget to include some glitter shapes as well!
• Mix and match: Combine your paper and glitter confetti shapes to create a beautiful and unique mix. You can play around with different colors, shapes, and sizes to achieve the desired effect.
• Storage and Display: Store your homemade confetti in airtight containers or bags until the wedding. For display, consider using biodegradable cones, envelopes, or baskets for guests to take and throw during the celebration.

Remember to make enough confetti for all your guests, and always check with your venue beforehand to ensure they allow confetti. Enjoy creating your own wedding confetti and have a wonderful celebration!

Making confetti cones

Step 1: Choose Your Materials

First, decide on the type of paper you want to use for your cones. You can use simple white card, or get creative with doilies or coloured card. If you're going for a rustic look, brown kraft paper is a great option. You'll also need some glue or a glue gun, and scissors. If you want to decorate your cones, you can use stamps, ink pads, ribbon, lace, or washi tape.

Step 2: Cut and Roll Your Paper

If you're using a doily, cut it in half down the centre. For card, cut out a 6x6 inch square. Then, turn the paper 45 degrees so it looks like a diamond. If you're using stamps, now is the time to decorate! Once you're happy with your design, place the top of a ruler about 1.5 inches in and down from the right-hand edge of the paper. Angle the ruler towards the bottom right-hand corner to create a triangle, and cut along the edge.

Step 3: Form the Cone Shape

Take the scissors and score the paper along the edge of the triangle you've just created. Then, fold down the crease and bring the opposite edge of the paper inwards, gluing as you go, so that the edges meet. Make sure you use enough glue to prevent confetti from falling out!

Step 4: Decorate and Fill

Once the glue is dry, you can add any extra decorations you like. Try using washi tape, ribbon, or lace, securing it with your glue gun. Then, it's time to fill your cones! You can use paper confetti, biodegradable petal confetti, or get creative with sweets, chocolates, or popcorn. Display your filled cones in a box, basket, or confetti stand.

Tips and Tricks:

• If you want to offer guests a mix-your-own confetti option, set up a station with bowls of different colours or petals for them to fill their cones.
• These cones are versatile and can be used for more than just confetti. Fill them with treats and place them on your dessert table or give them to young guests as wedding favours!
• If you're short on time, don't stress! You can always purchase pre-made confetti cones or fill a basket with confetti for guests to grab a handful.

Presentation and display

The presentation and display of your homemade wedding confetti can be just as important as the confetti itself. Here are some ideas to make sure your confetti is presented and displayed beautifully and effectively:

Creative Containers: Think outside the box when it comes to choosing a container for your confetti. Opt for something that reflects the theme or colour scheme of your wedding. For example, if you're having a rustic wedding, you might want to consider using small wooden crates or baskets. For a more elegant affair, consider using vintage glass jars or elegant porcelain bowls.

Decorative Labels: Add a personal touch by creating custom labels for your confetti containers. You can design and print these yourself, or hire a calligrapher to create elegant, handwritten labels. Include a cute message or a quote about love and celebration. This will not only add a unique touch but also make it clear to guests that the confetti is meant to be thrown.

Display Options: Depending on the size and quantity of your confetti, consider different display options. If you have smaller portions, you can set up a confetti bar or station where guests can help themselves. Use varying heights for your containers by placing them on pedestals or stands to create visual interest. You can also hang small bags or pouches of confetti on a decorative ladder or a designated confetti tree.

Signage: Create a cute sign to guide guests and explain the confetti tradition. This could be as simple as a small chalkboard sign or a more elaborate design that matches your wedding invitations or programme. Include a fun message, such as "Fill your hands and get ready to shower the newlyweds with love!"

Colour Coordination: If you're using a variety of colours for your confetti, consider displaying them in a way that creates a visual impact. Layer the colours or create a pattern that guests can easily see and appreciate. This will make for beautiful photos, especially when guests are throwing the confetti in the air.

Confetti Cones: If you want to provide guests with individual portions, create confetti cones using coloured paper or cardstock. Place these cones at each guest's seat or display them on a table near the exit for guests to take as they leave. Decorate the cones with stamps, stickers, or ribbons to match your wedding theme.

Frequently asked questions