Creating Artificial Wedding Flowers: A Step-By-Step Guide

Creating your own artificial wedding flowers is a fun and easy way to save money and make a long-lasting keepsake. Artificial flowers are also perfect for outdoor summer weddings since they won't droop in the heat. You can use artificial flowers to make a bouquet, flower crowns, or other decorations. The first step is to choose your flowers and gather your supplies. You'll need flowers, greenery, floral tape, wire, scissors, and any embellishments you'd like to include, such as ribbon, fabric, berries, or beads. Then, you can follow a tutorial to create your desired arrangement. Finally, you can add your own personal touches, such as glitter or floral scents.

Choosing the right artificial flowers

Quality

When it comes to artificial flowers, quality matters. Opt for high-end options as they tend to look more realistic than cheaper alternatives. Look for flowers with a matte finish and individual stems with wire running through the leaves and stem. Avoid flowers with visible seams, exposed wires, or other telltale signs that they are artificial.

Type of Artificial Flower

There are several types of artificial flowers to choose from, each with its own pros and cons:

• Silk or Fabric Flowers: These are the most familiar type of artificial flowers, typically made from polyester or nylon these days. They offer a wide range of shapes, sizes, colours, and styles, and it's easy to mix and match them with real blooms. However, the edges can fray easily, and they often feel very unrealistic to the touch.
• Foam Flowers: These are usually the cheapest option and are very lightweight and easy to work with. They are often used as filler in the centre of bouquets and arrangements. However, they can look messy and unattractive when viewed from the side or underneath, and they lack realism as each flower looks identical.
• Wax-Coated Flowers: These are high-quality silk flowers coated with a special wax to enhance their look and feel. They are very lifelike and detailed, but this also makes them more expensive.
• Latex Flowers: Latex flowers are coated in a thin wax, giving them a very realistic appearance and feel. They can mimic thick or thin petals effectively. However, they may lack variety in flower types.
• Fresh Touch (Polymer) Flowers: These are the most expensive type of artificial flowers and are designed to look and feel as close to real flowers as possible. They are made from a blend of foam and latex, resulting in slight variations that enhance their realism when arranged together. However, they can be difficult to source and may need to be ordered through a professional florist.
• Paper Flowers: Paper flowers can be extremely delicate and lifelike, or bold and theatrical, depending on your preference. They are generally inexpensive and perfect for DIY projects, allowing you to create unique decorations that match your wedding style and colour palette.

Colour and Variety

When choosing the colour and variety of your artificial flowers, consider your wedding colour scheme and the overall style you want to achieve. You can opt for a uniform look with a single flower type or create a more eclectic arrangement with a mix of blooms. Remember that certain flowers, like peonies, hydrangeas, orchids, and roses, tend to look more realistic due to their fuller shapes and layered petals.

Reviews and Samples

Before purchasing artificial flowers, be sure to read online reviews to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of different designers and types of flowers. If ordering online, consider buying a sample of each flower you're considering to see how they look and feel before placing a larger order.

Selecting the right tools

Floral Tape and Wire

Floral tape and wire are essential for securing your flowers together and creating a sturdy bouquet. The floral tape helps to bind the stems together and can be wrapped around multiple times for added stability. It also provides a nice finish, covering any wires or cut stems. Green floral tape is ideal as it blends in with the stems and leaves.

Sharp Scissors or Wire Cutters

A good pair of sharp scissors or wire cutters are necessary for cutting and trimming flower stems to the desired length. They will also come in handy when removing leaves from the stems or separating flowers that are tied together.

Ribbon

Ribbon is used to add a decorative touch to your bouquet and can be wrapped around the stems. You can choose a colour that complements your flowers or matches your wedding colour scheme. A chiffon ribbon, for instance, can add a delicate and elegant touch to your bouquet.

Embellishments

Embellishments such as miniature pearls, beads, berries, or feathers can be added to your bouquet to give it a unique and personalised touch. These can be incorporated into the arrangement or used to accent specific flowers.

Vase or Container

If you plan to display your artificial flowers in a vase or container, choose one that complements the style and colour of your flowers. Consider the height and size of your bouquet when selecting a vase to ensure it can comfortably accommodate the arrangement.

Glue Gun

A glue gun can be useful for securing certain elements of your bouquet, such as attaching ribbon or other embellishments. It can also be used to fasten a handle to your bouquet, such as a birch bark handle as mentioned in one tutorial.

Floral Foam

Floral foam is ideal if you plan to create a pomander bouquet, which is a ball-shaped arrangement. The foam serves as the base, and you can cut it into a cube or sphere shape. It is then covered with sheet moss or other decorative material before the flower stems are inserted.

Greenery

Greenery such as eucalyptus, ivy, or baby's breath can add texture and fullness to your bouquet. It can be used to fill in gaps and create a more natural, organic look. Greenery can also be used to create a cascading effect for a dramatic and elegant arrangement.

Creating the bouquet's base

• Select your flowers: Choose 1-3 large blooms, such as roses, peonies, or lilies, and 4-6 smaller flowers, such as baby's breath or jasmine, that complement your wedding colour scheme. You can also include greenery, such as eucalyptus or ivy, for added texture and interest.
• Prepare the flowers: Cut the flowers into individual stems using wire cutters and remove any leaves from the stems, leaving only those closest to the blooms.
• Create the base: Pick 2-4 flowers that will serve as your base. Trim off any extra leaves, then carefully add more flowers on top, arranging them in a way that is pleasing to you. Secure each layer with floral tape as you go.
• Secure the bouquet: Once you are happy with your arrangement, wrap floral tape around the stems from top to bottom to hold the flowers in place. Cut any excess stems and leaves for a neat finish.
• Add a handle: If you wish to carry the bouquet, you can attach a handle. Cut a piece of birch bark to fit your palm and glue it to the stems with a hot glue gun. Wrap the edges of the bark with twine, securing it with glue, for a natural look.
• Finish with ribbon: For a polished look, wrap a ribbon around the stems, just below the blooms, and tie a bow. This will also help to conceal any remaining tape.

Adding flowers and greenery

Selecting the Flowers and Greenery

Choose a variety of flowers and greenery that fit your colour scheme and theme. Select 1-3 large blooms and 4-6 smaller flowers for a hand-tied cascade bouquet, or 1-2 large blooms and 4-6 smaller flowers for a round bouquet. You can also add 4-6 pieces of greenery or other accents, such as eucalyptus, ivy, or baby's breath.

Arranging the Flowers and Greenery

Start by layering the stems in your hand, beginning with the focal point blooms that will sit in the centre of the bouquet. Build outwards in layered circles, rotating the bouquet as you go and placing smaller blooms towards the outside. Insert greenery in between blooms to create space and make the blossoms pop. You can also add in additional elements like berries.

Creating the Cascade Effect (for a Hand-Tied Cascade Bouquet)

Use long blooms and trailing greenery to create the cascade effect. Add pieces like jasmine, eucalyptus, ivy, olive branches, or honeysuckle to the bottom front of the bouquet to form a long, green, flowing base. Allow the flowers to flow outwards and add bright, noticeable blooms into the greenery cascade.

Securing the Bouquet

Cut 6-8 inches of floral wire and wrap it around the stems just below the blooms, twisting the ends together. Trim the twisted wire ends to 1 inch in length and tuck them into the stems. Pull the wire tightly to keep the stems fixed in place.

Cutting the Stems to an Even Length

Use wire cutters to trim the stems to your desired length, evening them out as you go. The stems should be long enough for you to grip comfortably but not too long that they are very visible. A good length for most brides is 7-8 inches.

Wrapping the Stems

Take floral tape and begin wrapping it around the stems at the base of the flowers, working your way down and covering the wire and stems completely. Tear or cut the tape and tuck the loose end into itself when you reach 2-3 inches down the length of the stem. Continue wrapping until you reach the ends of the stems, if desired.

Final Touches

You can add ribbons, bows, or other embellishments to your bouquet. Wrap a ribbon around the stems, or attach ribbons or bows to individual stems with floral tape. You can also add glitter or floral scents to your bouquet for a finishing touch.

Final touches and embellishments

Now that you have assembled your bouquet, it's time to add some final touches and embellishments to make it truly unique and personalised. Here are some ideas to elevate your artificial wedding flowers:

Wrap the stems

Use ribbon, fabric, or twine to wrap the stems of your bouquet for a polished look. You can use a dab of hot glue to secure one end of the ribbon at the bottom of the stems and then wind it upwards, covering any visible stems until you reach the base of the blooms. You can also add decorative lace, pins, or beading to the wrapped stems for a personalised touch.

Add non-floral elements

Get creative and think beyond just flowers! Tuck in additional greenery, or add sprigs of berries, beads, feathers, or other elements that represent you and your style. You can also use glitter floral spray or floral-scented spray to add a subtle shimmer or a pleasant fragrance to your bouquet.

Enhance your venue

Incorporate flowers into other aspects of your wedding decor. Add flowers or greenery to welcome signs, guest books, favour boxes, or even your dog's collar! Greet your guests with florals at the entrance, such as on a newel post or the cap of a staircase. Place flowers or greenery on cocktail tables, high-top bars, or restroom sinks. These small touches will add a personal and festive feel to your celebration.

Focus on the details

Pay attention to the small details that will elevate your bouquet. For example, use floral tape to secure the stems and ribbons. Cut the stems to a comfortable length, erring on the side of leaving them a little longer rather than too short. If you're making a pomander bouquet, strip the leaves from the stems and cut them to a uniform length before inserting them into the foam core.

Combine with real flowers

If you want to include some real flowers in your bouquet, go for it! You can mix and match artificial and fresh flowers to create a unique and stunning arrangement. Just be mindful of the care and preservation requirements of fresh flowers if you choose to include them.

Frequently asked questions