Creating Wedding Trees: Diy Decorations For Your Special Day

Trees can be a beautiful addition to wedding decor, whether the celebration is indoors or outdoors. Decorating trees for a wedding is a great way to create a whimsical and romantic ambiance, and there are endless ways to dress up those natural features. Here are some ideas to make trees a part of your wedding decor:

- Fairy lights: Wrap them around tree trunks or drape them over branches for a magical effect.

- Ribbon garlands: Tie ribbons of varying heights and intervals onto branches.

- Hanging lanterns: Hang lanterns from branches or place them on shepherd hooks.

- Floral arrangements: Create floral hoops, wrap garlands, or opt for hanging installations.

- Tulle draping: Use tulle fabric in different colors to create a dreamy atmosphere.

- Chandeliers: Hang crystal or rustic wrought iron chandeliers from tree branches to add a touch of glamour.

- Origami decorations: Hang paper creations such as cranes, flowers, and butterflies from tree branches or use them as table centerpieces.

- Mason jar candles: Fill mason jars with wax and wicks to create custom candles that provide soft lighting for your outdoor wedding.

- Birdcages: Hang vintage-inspired birdcages from tree branches or place them on the ground, filling them with flowers, candles, or small potted plants.

- Wind chimes: Hang wind chimes made of bamboo, metal, or glass at different heights throughout the tree branches for a peaceful atmosphere.

Hanging lanterns and fairy lights

Lanterns:

Lanterns can be a beautiful addition to your wedding décor, providing soft lighting and a cosy ambiance. Here are some ways to incorporate them into your hanging tree decorations:

• Opt for simple, elegant lanterns with tea lights or battery-operated candles to avoid the risk of fire. Hang them from tree branches, ensuring they are securely fastened and away from any foliage.
• For a pop of colour, fill lanterns with spring blooms and greenery. This combination will create a vibrant and cheerful atmosphere.
• If you're going for a vintage-inspired theme, hang vintage teacups filled with fairy lights or tea lights from the trees. You can often find these at local thrift stores or garage sales.
• Paper lanterns are an affordable and easy-to-use option that can create a big impact. Mix and match different colours and sizes, and consider adding lights inside for a magical touch.
• For a unique twist on traditional lanterns, use wine bottles as hanging vases with fairy lights or tea lights inside. Hang them at varying heights from the trees for a whimsical effect.

Fairy Lights:

Fairy lights can add a touch of sparkle and romance to your wedding décor. Here are some ways to incorporate them into your hanging tree decorations:

• Wrap fairy lights around tree branches, creating a whimsical and ethereal effect. Ensure the lights are securely fastened to avoid any accidents.
• For a more elegant approach, hang larger bistro lights or LED fairy lights with larger bulbs. These can be draped or wrapped around tree branches to create a sophisticated canopy.
• Combine fairy lights with hanging florals or greenery. This combination will add a colourful and bright touch to your décor, especially when lit up in the evening.
• If you're having an outdoor wedding, consider battery-operated fairy lights to avoid the hassle of finding power sources. You can find these in various colours and lengths to suit your needs.
• For a unique touch, opt for fairy lights with decorative elements such as paper lanterns, crystal beads, or even small artificial birds or butterflies attached to the strands. These details will add interest and charm to your hanging tree décor.

Floral arrangements and garlands

Floral Arrangements:

• Line your aisle with natural, wild floral arrangements to complement the trees and bring your guests' focus forward.
• Create a dramatic tree wrap with floral arrangements as a backdrop for the couple's vows.
• Dress up low-hanging branches with colourful florals, such as purple and white dahlias and roses, to create a breathtaking and natural display.
• Wrap floral arrangements around the tree, creeping up one side for a natural look.
• Place floral arrangements at the end of the aisle if your ceremony is in a forest setting.
• Fill your aisle with as many florals as possible to create an overgrown, woodsy feel.

Garlands:

• Drape strands of flowers from tree branches to bring the outdoors in and create a glamorous garden appeal.
• String garlands across a ceremony arch, around an outdoor chandelier, or drape them across the back of reception chairs.
• Eucalyptus leaves adorned with fresh flowers create a soft, romantic background.
• For an all-green rustic look, use sturdy plants like eucalyptus, ferns, or bay leaves for your garlands.
• For deeper colours, consider magnolia leaves, which can vary between dark green and golden brown.
• Hang different sizes of garlands from cables, rafters, or suspended lighting to create an intimate, cozy space, especially in an open-air venue.
• Wrap a trellis ceiling with garlands and ivy for a whimsical look.
• Create a suspended grid of lemon leaf garlands to transform your space into a secret garden.
• Accent the garlands on the backs of the wedding party chairs with fresh blooms that match your wedding colour palette.
• String garlands along the walls of a casual reception venue for a simple yet effective decoration.
• Suspend wreaths and coordinating floral decorations around the wedding cake to create a wow-worthy presentation.

Tulle draping and fabric swags

Choosing the Tulle:

Start by selecting the tulle fabric in your desired colour. White tulle is a popular choice for weddings, but you can also choose colours like blue or muted shades that complement your wedding theme. Purchase 8 to 10 yards of tulle if you plan to decorate a traditional arched wedding arbor. For a wedding aisle, measure the length and multiply it by four, as you will need tulle swags on both sides and extra fabric for the swags.

Preparing the Tulle:

The standard bolt of tulle fabric is typically 36 to 54 inches wide. Trim the tulle to your desired width, usually between 12 and 24 inches, to create swags that are not too bulky. Cut the tulle to the required length, depending on the size of the item you are decorating.

Creating the Swags:

You can attach the tulle swags to a wedding arbor or arch using craft wire or by looping the tulle through the sides and knotting it. Create small bows at each end to conceal any wire. For a wedding aisle, attach wreath holders to the sides of the pews and drape the tulle, twisting it around the hanger to hide the hook. Ensure that the swags along the aisle are all the same length.

Enhancing the Display:

Hide the length of the hanger or any visible wires with wedding flowers, ribbon, or garlands. You can also add other decorative elements like floral arrangements, chandeliers, or fairy lights to create a stunning visual impact. Play around with different draping techniques and arrangements until you achieve the desired look.

By following these steps, you can create elegant tulle draping and fabric swags to transform your wedding trees into a romantic and memorable backdrop for your special day.

Origami and paper flower decorations

Origami and paper flowers are a beautiful, unique and cost-effective way to decorate your wedding. The wide variety of origami flowers, such as kusudama, lilies, roses, camellias, and daisies, can be crafted into bouquets, centrepieces, and even cake decorations. Opting for origami flowers instead of fresh flowers ensures that your bouquet will last forever, and you can also use different types of origami paper to create a one-of-a-kind arrangement.

Origami cranes are another popular choice for wedding decorations, as they symbolise honour and loyalty. You can string together several long strands of cranes to hang from the ceiling as a stunning backdrop for your wedding vows, or use them as wedding favours for your guests. If you're feeling creative, you can also fold origami hearts to accent your wedding invitations, programs, or thank-you cards, or string them together with ribbons to make a decorative garland.

Kusudama flowers, in particular, are great for creating large decorations. You can make individual flowers for your tables or combine them to form large kusudama balls that can be hung from the ceiling. This is an excellent alternative to using real flowers, especially if you're on a tight budget. If you don't have the time or patience to craft a large number of flowers, you can also purchase ready-made kusudama flowers from sellers like Graceline Paper Studio on Etsy.

Origami boxes are another easy-to-make option for wedding favours. You can fill them with treats such as wrapped chocolate hearts or tiny scented soaps and present them to your guests as pretty gifts.

In addition to flowers and boxes, origami lucky stars can be displayed in jars as pretty decorations for your reception area. Using metallic origami paper in colours like silver, gold, or bronze can add a touch of elegance to your wedding decor.

Ribbons and streamers

To create a romantic vibe, try using ribbons and streamers in various colours, finishes, shapes, and sizes. Hang them from trees and branches, allowing them to blow in the wind for a whimsical effect. You can also incorporate ribbons and streamers into your seating card display. For example, drape ribbons around the tree trunk and attach the seating cards to the ribbons with clothespins.

If you're looking for a unique way to display photos at your wedding, consider hanging framed photos from the branches or stringing them together with ribbons and wrapping them around the tree trunk. This will create a decorative element while also showcasing your favourite memories.

For a cohesive look, try to match the colour of the ribbons and streamers to your wedding colour palette or the surrounding natural environment. For example, if your wedding has a lot of pastel colours, use ribbons and streamers in soft shades of pink, blue, and green. If you're getting married in a forest, use ribbons and streamers in earthy tones like brown, green, and beige to blend in with the natural surroundings.

Frequently asked questions