Creating Lifelike Plastic Flowers For Wedding Cars

Decorating a wedding car with flowers is a fun tradition that can be done in many ways. Whether you're looking for a simple or extravagant display, flowers are a great way to add a touch of elegance and romance to the vehicle. When creating plastic flower decorations, it's important to use high-quality materials and pay attention to detail. Here are some steps to make beautiful plastic flower arrangements for a wedding car:

- Choose the Right Flowers: Select flowers that match the wedding colour scheme and theme. Consider the size, shape, and texture of the flowers to create interesting arrangements.

- Prepare the Flowers: Remove the plastic wire stems from the flowers and cut floral wire into appropriate lengths. Heat one end of the wire and pierce it through the plastic stem of the flower head. Pull the wire through and twist the ends together to secure the flower.

- Assemble the Bouquet: Arrange the wired flowers in your hand, creating a flat side for the back of the corsage. Secure the flowers by twisting the wires together. You can add leaf branches or other embellishments at this stage.

- Finish with Ribbon: Cut ribbons to the desired length and tie them around the base of the flower heads. You can create a simple bow or leave the ends loose for a more casual look.

- Attach to the Car: To ensure the flowers stay in place, consider using magnets or wire to attach the bouquets to the car handles, mirrors, or grille.

- Add Extra Embellishments: You can further decorate the car with ribbons, wreaths, or Just Married signs to make it more festive and memorable.

By following these steps and adding your own creative touches, you can create stunning plastic flower decorations for a wedding car that will leave a lasting impression.

Choosing the right flowers

Colour

The colour of your flowers should complement the colour of your wedding car. If you have a bright-coloured car, opt for red, golden, blue, or green flowers. For darker-coloured cars, choose delicate bright shades to soften the overall look. Consider the following flower options based on colour:

• Red: rose, poinsettia, dahlia, and gerbera
• Pink: carnation, lily, rose, peony, and sweet pea tulip
• White: gardenia, rose, orchid, jasmine, sweet pea, snowdrop, and camellia
• Yellow: sunflower, freesia, lily, gerbera, daffodil, and tulip
• Lavender: lilac, iris, lavender, hydrangea, and anemone

Seasonality

Choosing seasonal flowers is a great way to save costs as they are typically less expensive than non-seasonal blooms. Here are some flower options based on season:

• Summer: rose, sunflower, magnolia, carnation, anthurium, lily, and chrysanthemum
• Spring: gerbera, daffodil, lily, sweet pea, anemone, orchid, and freesia
• Winter: iris, poinsettia, camellia, tulip, snowdrop, euphorbia, and nerine
• Fall: hydrangea, pinks, clematis, passion flower, and daisy
• All year round: carnation, orchid, calla lily, rose, and tulip

Sturdiness

It's important to select flowers and foliage that can withstand the weather, wind friction from the moving car, and heat from the car's engine. Opt for flowers and foliage with woody-textured stems, such as the Monstera plant, Ruscus leaves, and Cordyline leaves. Wildflowers are also a great option, as they often have strong and solid textures while being inexpensive.

Size and Variety

When creating your floral arrangement, consider using a mix of different-sized flowers to add visual interest. For a dramatic and loose arrangement, try a hand-tied cascade bouquet with larger blooms like roses, peonies, or calla lilies, combined with smaller, hanging bunches like baby's breath or jasmine. If you prefer a more uniform look, go for a round bouquet with similarly shaped and coloured blooms, such as roses, tulips, hydrangeas, or peonies.

Artificial vs. Fresh Flowers

Another factor to consider is whether to use artificial or fresh flowers. Artificial flowers, such as silk flowers, are more durable and can look very realistic. They are also a good option for outdoor weddings in hot weather since they won't droop in the heat. On the other hand, fresh flowers add a soft and harmonious touch to the wedding car. If you decide to use fresh flowers, consider sturdy varieties such as roses and orchids, which have relatively hard stems.

Selecting the right materials

• Colour: Choose flowers that complement the colour of the wedding car. If the car is bright, opt for red, golden, blue, or green flowers. For darker-coloured cars, select delicate bright shades to soften their look. You can also match the flowers to your weddingsection's colour scheme.
• Sturdiness: Select flowers and foliage with sturdy, woodysection stems to withstand weather conditions and friction from wind and car movement. Examples include the Monstera plant, Ruscus leaves, and Cordyline leaves. Wildflowers are also a great choice as they often have strong textures and are inexpensive.
• Artificial vs. Real Flowers: Artificial flowers, such as silk flowers, are more durable than fresh flowers and can withstand outdoor conditions. High-end artificial flowers will look more realistic than cheaper alternatives. However, fresh flowers can add a touch of elegance and are suitable for indoor weddings or mild weather conditions.
• Type of Flowers: Choose flowers that come as single stems, with wire running through the stem and into the leaves, and a matte finish. These will be easier to work with and look more realistic. Popular choices include roses, peonies, calla lilies, orchids, wildflowers, and sunflowers.
• Greenery: In addition to flowers, include greenery such as ivy, olive branches, or eucalyptus to add texture and bulk to your arrangements. Greenery can also be used to create a base for your flower arrangements, reducing the number of flowers needed.
• Ribbons and Bows: Ribbons and bows add a elegant touch to your flower arrangements. Opt for colours that complement the flowers and the wedding car. You can use ribbons to tie bouquets, create bows, or wrap around the stems for a polished look.
• Other Embellishments: Get creative and include non-floral elements such as berries, twigs, beads, feathers, or glitter spray to make your decorations unique and personalised.
• Adhesives and Tapes: Use floral tape to secure your flower arrangements and ribbons. Avoid using materials that can damage the car's paint, such as spray paint, whipped cream, or electrical tape. Instead, opt for ribbons and adhesive tapes that won't leave marks on the vehicle.

Creating a bouquet

Selecting the Right Flowers and Greenery:

• Choose sturdy and hardy flowers that can withstand weather conditions and friction from wind and car movement. Examples include roses, orchids, wildflowers, and foliage with woody textured stems.
• Mix and match different types of flowers to create a rustic or colourful arrangement. Consider using primary and secondary flowers to fill in gaps. For example, combine cream and pink roses with white-pink orchids.
• Take into account the colour of the wedding car when selecting your flowers. Bright colours like red, golden, blue, and green can complement a bright-coloured car, while delicate bright colours can soften the look of a darker car.
• Consider using artificial flowers, especially for outdoor summer weddings, to prevent wilting and drooping. High-end artificial flowers will look more realistic than cheaper alternatives.

Assembling the Bouquet:

• For a simple hand-tied cascade bouquet, select 1-3 large blooms and 4-6 smaller flowers. Layer the stems, starting with the focal point blooms in the centre and building outwards in circular layers.
• Add greenery, such as jasmine, eucalyptus, or ivy, to create a cascading effect. Allow the flowers to flow outwards and bend the stems if needed to avoid a tight arrangement.
• Secure the bouquet by wrapping floral wire around the stems and then cover it with floral tape. Cut the stems to an even length, ensuring they are comfortable to grip but not too long.
• If you prefer a round bouquet, select 1-2 large blooms and 4-6 smaller flowers. Cut apart the bunches and remove the leaves from the stems. Build circular layers from the centre outwards, taping each stem individually to the main stems.
• For a unique pomander bouquet, choose 1 large bloom variety and 1-2 smaller types. You will also need a foam core, ribbon or twine, and sheet moss. Cut the foam into a rounded cube, poke a hole through the centre, and attach the ribbon for carrying. Wrap the foam with moss and secure it with floral pins.
• Strip the leaves and cut the stems of your flowers to a length of about 2-3 inches. Stick the flowers into the moss-covered foam core, pushing them in until they reach the desired height.

Embellishments and Final Touches:

• Wrap the stems with ribbon or fabric to give a polished look and hide any visible artificial stems.
• Add non-floral elements like greenery, sprigs of berries, beads, or feathers to make the bouquet more personalised and creative.
• Finish the bouquet with a spray of glitter or floral scents to add a touch of sparkle or a pleasant fragrance.

Attaching flowers to the car

Attaching flowers to a wedding car is a fun and creative task. Here are some tips and ideas to get you started:

Choose the Right Flowers and Foliage:

Select flowers that are sturdy and have woody textured stems to withstand the weather and friction caused by wind and the moving car. Examples include roses, orchids, and wildflowers. Mix and match different types of flowers and foliage to create a rustic look.

Consider the Colour of the Flowers:

Bright colours like red, golden, blue, and green pop against a dark-coloured car. For a lighter-coloured car, opt for delicate bright shades to soften its look. You can also match the flower colours to your wedding motifs.

Use Ribbons and Adhesive Tapes:

Ribbons and adhesive tapes are great for attaching flowers to the car without damaging the paint. Tie ribbons to the flowers and then secure them to the car handles, mirrors, or grille. Avoid using materials like metal wire, hot glue, and electrical tape, as they can harm the car's finish.

Create Floral Arrangements:

You can create beautiful floral arrangements by combining flowers, ribbons, and greenery. For example, tie a heart-shaped moss to the side mirror with a red ribbon and attach hanging ivy and roses. Another idea is to make a heart wreath with pink and white flowers and add plastic doves on top.

Use Magnets:

You can create a flower corsage by arranging flowers together and attaching magnet disks to the back. Place these corsages on the door handles of the car. This method ensures the flowers stay in place without damaging the car's surface.

Consider a Car Wrap:

A car wrap is a contemporary and unique way to decorate the car. Vinyl decals can be used to create interesting designs without harming the paint. This option may be more costly, but it will certainly make the car stand out.

Don't Forget the "Just Married" Sign:

While flowers are essential, don't forget to include a "Just Married" sign. You can use magnets, banners, or stickers to display the sign on the car. This adds a fun and traditional element to your wedding car decoration.

Remember to plan ahead and gather all the necessary materials. Always ask for the car owner's permission before decorating and be mindful of the driver's visibility and safety. Enjoy crafting and creating a beautiful floral display for the wedding car!

Adding extra decorations

• Ribbons – these can be used to tie a bouquet together, or to create a bow. You could also try organza ribbon, or a contrasting colour to make your flowers stand out.
• Bows – a big bow can be a real statement, and you can make it from ribbon, or other fabric.
• Garlands – a garland of flowers can be draped across the car, or try an organza garland for something a little different.
• Wreaths – a heart-shaped wreath can be a lovely addition, especially with a bow in the centre. You can attach this to the bonnet or the boot of the car.
• Figurines – for something a little different, try adding some cute figurines to the roof or bonnet of the car, along with your flowers.
• Just Married signs – these are a fun way to share your excitement with the world. You can use banners, placards, or window stickers.
• Car wrapping – a more contemporary look can be achieved with vinyl decals, or a car wrap.
• Streamers – for a lavish look, add some streamers to your floral display.
• Candles and candle holders – for an evening wedding, candles can add a romantic touch.
• Bunting – drape some colourful bunting around the car, or on the bonnet and boot, for a simple but effective decoration.
• Artificial flowers – these are a good choice for an outdoor wedding, as they won't wilt in the heat. You can also use them to make flower crowns.
• Scents – add a spritz of your favourite scent to your flowers, or a floral fragrance to enhance the effect of your flowers.

Frequently asked questions