Creating Paper Flowers For Your Wedding Cake

Paper flowers are a unique and budget-friendly way to add a handmade, personal touch to your wedding. They can be used in many ways, from cascading down a cake to being used as photo props or backdrops. You can even make a paper flower bouquet for the bride or bridesmaids to carry. There are many different types of paper and techniques to create paper flowers, from coffee filters and skewers to crepe paper and glue.

Paper flower cake toppers

Materials and Tools:

You will need crepe paper, tissue paper, scissors, floral wire, floral tape (waterproof if combining with fresh flowers), wired floral leaves, ribbon, glue, toothpicks, and optionally, leaf templates and a hot glue gun.

Creating the Flowers:

• Cut teardrop or petal shapes out of crepe paper. You can also cut straight from the roll for quicker results.
• Fold a small square of crepe paper in half to create a triangle. Wrap this around the tip of a floral wire and secure it with double-sided tape. Cover the entire wire with paper.
• Add petals to the bud by attaching them with floral tape at the base. Repeat this step to create fuller flowers.
• Create leaves by cutting out leaf shapes from tissue paper using a template. You can also paint or colour the tissue paper for a more vibrant look.
• Attach the leaves to the base of the flower using glue. Allow it to dry.

Assembling the Cake Topper:

• Attach the completed flowers to toothpicks by gluing the tip of the toothpick to the base of the flower.
• Place the flowers on top of the cake, arranging them as desired.
• For a simple floral accent, you can also fringe some tissue paper, wrap it around the tip of a toothpick, and glue a single petal around it.
• For a custom wedding flourish, create multiple flowers and arrange them in a bouquet. Secure them together with floral tape and trim any excess wire with wire cutters.
• Wrap a ribbon around the stems to cover the floral tape and add a finishing touch.

Tips:

• Experiment with different types of paper, such as cardstock or tissue paper, and try crushing, twisting, colouring, or bleaching the paper for unique effects.
• If you plan to combine paper flowers with fresh flowers, use waterproof floral tape to finish the paper flower stems so they can be placed in water.
• Seal coloured petals with a finishing spray or UV protector spray to prevent the colour from fading and transferring.
• Get creative and incorporate paper flowers into other aspects of your wedding, such as boutonnieres, garlands, centrepieces, or photo props.

Paper flower bouquet

Paper flowers are a unique, budget-friendly, and handmade way to set the tone for your wedding. They are perfect for creating a bouquet with a personal touch. Here is a step-by-step guide to making a paper flower bouquet for your wedding cake:

Materials:

• Crepe paper
• Scissors
• Green floral wire
• Green floral tape
• Wired floral leaves (from craft stores)
• Ribbon
• Wire cutters

Instructions:

• Cut several teardrop-shaped petals out of the crepe paper. The easiest way is to cut straight from the roll.
• Cut a small square of crepe paper, fold it in half to form a triangle, and then wrap it around the tip of a floral wire. Secure it with double-sided tape.
• Keep adding petals to form the bud, securing each petal with floral tape at the base. You can add as many petals as you like to achieve the desired fullness of the rose.
• Repeat steps 1-3 until you have created your desired number of blooms. A full bouquet typically requires at least 12 paper flowers, depending on the size and fullness of the blooms.
• Twist the wired leaves onto each flower stem.
• Gather the stems together to form a bouquet and cover the stems with floral tape.
• Trim the floral wire ends with wire cutters.
• Wrap a ribbon around the stems to cover the floral tape and add a finishing touch.

You can also add paper flowers to your wedding cake by making smaller blooms and securing them to toothpicks. Simply glue the base of the paper flowers to the toothpicks and place them on your cake as desired.

Paper flower garlands

Materials:

First, gather your materials. You will need:

• Paper: This could be crepe paper, tissue paper, cardstock, coffee filters, or any coloured paper of your choice.
• Scissors
• Floral wire
• Floral tape
• Ribbon
• Optional: Glue, leaf templates, toothpicks, skewers, florist's tape, watercolours, paintbrushes, etc.

Making the Flowers:

The type of paper flower you make will depend on the type of paper you use and the effect you want to create. Here are some general steps to follow:

• Cut out teardrop or petal shapes from your paper. You can cut straight from the roll for a quicker process.
• Take a small square of paper and fold it in half to create a triangle.
• Wrap this triangle around the tip of a floral wire. Secure it with double-sided tape and continue wrapping the paper around the wire.
• Add petals to create the flower shape. Secure each petal with floral tape at the base.
• Create as many flowers as needed, varying the fullness and size as desired.

Creating the Garland:

• String the flowers together using a needle and thread, or by gluing or taping them to a ribbon.
• Hang the garland vertically from a branch, dowel, or ribbon.
• For an interesting effect, lightly spray the paper with water to create a crinkled texture.

Decorating the Cake:

Once your garland is ready, you can drape it over your wedding cake, letting the flowers cascade down the sides. You can also use the garland as a backdrop for your dessert table or as part of a floral chandelier.

Paper flower backdrops

Paper Flower Chandeliers/Mobiles:

Hang paper flowers from the ceiling to create a floating floral chandelier or mobile. This can be used as a backdrop for the wedding ceremony or reception, adding a whimsical touch to the décor. You can use different colours and sizes of paper flowers to create a cascading effect.

Floral Garlands:

Garlands of paper flowers can be draped over banisters, tables, or mantles to create a romantic and elegant backdrop. You can also use them as a photo backdrop, providing a beautiful setting for wedding photos. Garlands can be made by stringing together paper flowers with thread or thin wire.

Large Paper Flowers:

Create oversized paper flowers to use as photo backdrops or props. These can be made from tissue paper, crepe paper, or even coffee filters. For an extra-large flower, start with a large piece of paper and cut out petal shapes. Attach the petals to a central point, and then fluff and arrange them to create a full bloom.

3D Flower Panels:

Another option is to create 3D flower panels that can be arranged into a backdrop. These panels can be made by gluing paper flowers onto a sturdy backing, such as cardboard or foam core. Arrange the flowers in a way that creates depth and visual interest.

Flower Wall:

For a stunning visual impact, create a flower wall by attaching paper flowers directly to a wall or backdrop stand. This can be used as a photo backdrop or as a decorative feature behind the wedding cake or dessert table. You can use different sizes and colours of flowers to create a unique design.

With some creativity and craft supplies, you can make beautiful paper flower backdrops that will add a personal touch to your wedding décor.

Paper flower centrepieces

There are endless ways to incorporate paper flowers into your centrepieces. You can use them to create floral garlands, or make extra-large paper flowers to use as photo props or backdrops. You can also create hanging chandeliers or mobiles to hang over the reception tables, or smaller arrangements to place in the centre of each table.

When making paper flowers, you can use a variety of materials, including crepe paper, tissue paper, coffee filters, and book pages. You will also need some basic craft supplies, such as scissors, glue, floral wire, floral tape, and ribbon.

• Cut several teardrop-shaped petals out of crepe paper.
• Cut a small square of crepe paper, fold it in half to form a triangle, and wrap it around the tip of a floral wire. Secure it with double-sided tape.
• Keep adding petals to the bud, securing them with floral tape at the base each time.
• Twist wired leaves onto the stem, and cover the wire with floral tape.
• Trim the wire with wire cutters.
• Wrap ribbon around the stem to finish the flower.

You can make multiple paper flowers using these steps and arrange them in a bouquet or centrepiece for your wedding cake.

Frequently asked questions