Topiary Centerpieces: Crafting Everlasting Wedding Decorations

Topiaries are a modern centerpiece option for wedding receptions. They can be made with silk flowers or live flowers, depending on your preference and level of expertise. Making your own topiary centrepieces is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your wedding. You can experiment with various arrangements, colours, and flowers before choosing a final design. This project is inexpensive, creative, and a perfect way to express your personality.

Using faux flowers

Faux flowers are a great option for topiary centrepieces at weddings as they are low-maintenance, cost-effective, and can be prepared well in advance. Here is a step-by-step guide to making your own:

Materials:

• A flower pot or clay pot
• A stick or wooden dowel (approximately 12 inches long)
• Styrofoam or floral foam
• Artificial moss
• Faux flowers (e.g. hydrangeas, rose buds, lilacs)
• Pearl or rhinestone hat pins
• Rhinestones or sequins (optional)
• Sand
• Glue
• Scissors
• Accent ribbons, paint, or other decorations for the pot (optional)

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Pot

Decorate your pot or vase with paint or other embellishments, if desired. Allow any glue to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.

Step 2: Secure the Dowel

Affix the wooden dowel to the bottom of the pot using glue. Ensure the glue is completely dry and cool before continuing.

Step 3: Weigh Down the Pot

Fill the pot with sand to add weight and help keep the dowel securely in place.

Step 4: Cover the Sand

Line the top of the pot with artificial moss to neatly conceal the sand.

Step 5: Prepare the Flowers

Cut the flower blooms from their stems. Stick a hat pin through each bloom so that the sharp end of the pin protrudes from the back of the flower. Repeat this process for all the flowers you plan to use.

Step 6: Attach the Topiary Form

Place the Styrofoam shape (heart, star, or ball) onto the wooden dowel. You may need to drill a hole in the bottom of the Styrofoam, depending on the design. Use hot glue to ensure the form is firmly attached to the dowel.

Step 7: Attach the Flowers

Apply a small amount of hot glue to the base of each flower, then stick the hat pin into the topiary form. Continue this process until the entire topiary form is covered with flowers.

Step 8: Add Extra Embellishments (Optional)

For added sparkle and texture, decorate your topiary with rhinestones or sequins. You can also add a bow or leaves to the dowel as a finishing touch.

Care and Storage:

Faux flower topiaries can be created well in advance of the wedding. To keep them in good condition, store them in a covered space to prevent dust accumulation. When packing or transporting them, ensure the base is secure, and leave some space around the frame to avoid crushing the flowers.

With these steps, you can create beautiful and long-lasting topiary centrepieces for your wedding, showcasing your creativity and unique style.

Making live topiaries

To make a three-dimensional topiary, start by securing the frame within a pot. Then, saturate the sphagnum moss with water and fill the frame with it. Poke a few holes in the moss and place the roots of the climbing vine inside. Finally, wrap the frame with the vines.

For a two-dimensional topiary, place the climbing vine into a pot and position the frame in the middle. Wrap the vine around the wire frame, cutting off any leaves as you go. Ensure that you only wrap the frame in a single direction.

When it comes to caring for your live topiaries, they will need plenty of sunlight and water to thrive. Different types of plants have different needs, so be sure to do your research to care for them properly.

Tiny topiaries for wedding favours

Tiny topiaries make adorable wedding favours and are a great way to bring a touch of nature to your tables. They are also a sweet way to include guests in a garden wedding theme. To make tiny topiaries, you will need mini flower pots, tiny dowels, and small blooms. You can also use mini versions of the supplies needed to make a silk flower topiary. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Decorate the mini flower pots

Get creative and decorate the mini flower pots with paint, glue, or other adornments. You can also write guests' names on the pots to double as place cards.

Step 2: Prepare the tiny dowels

Using glue, affix the tiny dowels to the bottom of the decorated mini flower pots. Allow the glue to dry completely.

Step 3: Add weight to the pots

Fill the mini flower pots most of the way with sand or small stones to weigh them down and help hold the tiny dowels in place.

Step 4: Cover the sand with moss

Line the top of the mini flower pots with artificial moss to neatly cover the sand and add a natural touch.

Step 5: Prepare the blooms

Cut the flower blooms from their stems. If using silk flowers, stick a hat pin through each bloom so that the sharp part of the pin comes out the back. If using fresh flowers, keep the stems intact and place them in water until you are ready to assemble the tiny topiaries.

Step 6: Assemble the tiny topiaries

Place a small amount of hot glue on the base of each flower and stick them onto the tiny dowels, covering the entire topiary form. If using fresh flowers, omit the hot glue and simply place the blooms in the foam.

Your tiny topiaries are now ready to be displayed as unique and adorable wedding favours!

Neutral green topiary

Neutral green topiaries make for classy, neutral centrepieces and look great as table decorations. Here's how to make them:

Firstly, you will need to decorate your pot or vase. You can use paint or glue on romantic or lacy designs. Wait for any paint to dry or glue to harden before moving on to the next step.

Next, you will need to affix a wooden dowel to the bottom of the pot using glue. Once the glue has cooled completely, fill the pot with sand to weigh it down and hold the dowel in place.

Line the top of the pot with artificial moss to cover the sand.

Instead of using blooms to cover the topiary form, use leaves. You can use green floral pins to attach them to the foam shape.

Finally, tie a ribbon on the stem for added colour. If you want to keep everything neutral, use a white or ivory ribbon or a piece of burlap fabric.

Choosing the right flowers

Consider the Seasonality

It is important to choose flowers that are in season for your wedding day. Not only will they be more cost-effective, but they will also be fresher and more vibrant. For example, if you are getting married in the fall, consider using zinnias, dahlias, marigolds, mums, goldenrods, or sunflowers in your centrepieces. For a summer wedding, hydrangeas are a lovely option, especially for a nautical-themed celebration.

Think About Colour and Theme

The flowers you choose should align with your wedding's colour palette and overall theme. For instance, if you are having a rustic wedding, opt for flowers in earthy tones such as burgundy, apricot, and gold. If you want a more modern feel, try using flowers in bright, vibrant shades like pink, yellow, and orange. You can also create a romantic atmosphere with softer petals and numerous colour options, such as peonies, garden roses, sweet peas, and ranunculus.

Be Mindful of Scent

While scented flowers can add a heavenly fragrance to your wedding, be mindful of strong scents that may interfere with the meal or trigger allergies in your guests.

Mix and Match

Don't be afraid to mix and match different types of flowers to create unique and interesting centrepieces. You can combine flowers with candles, foliage, or even fruit to create a one-of-a-kind display. For example, try pairing roses and peonies with dried palms and hare's tail grass for a tropical look.

Size and Scale

Finally, consider the size and scale of your centrepieces. If you have smaller tables, opt for more compact floral arrangements. For larger tables, you may need grander or multiple arrangements. If you are making topiary centrepieces, you can adjust the size accordingly, with smaller ones for tables and larger ones to welcome guests at the entrance.

Frequently asked questions