Creating Flower Wand Magic For Weddings

Wedding flower wands are a unique, budget-friendly alternative to bouquets or flower petals for flower girls. They can be waved during the wedding ceremony and personalised to match the wedding colour scheme. They are also a fun memento for flower girls to keep after the wedding. To make a flower wand, you will need a large artificial flower, colourful ribbons, and a thin dowel. First, cut the flower stem to 10cm and glue it to the dowel. Cut a strip of ribbon twice the length of the dowel, glue one end to the bottom of the dowel, twist it around, and secure the other end with glue. Attach the flower with glue and add extra ribbons underneath it. Wedding ribbon wands are another type of wedding wand that can be used as a send-off for the newlyweds. These are made with wooden dowels, medium-sized bells, ribbon, screw eye hooks, and jump rings. First, screw the hook into the end of the dowel, attach the bells, cut the ribbon to equal lengths, and tie them to the hooks.

Choosing the right flowers

When choosing flowers for your wedding flower wands, it's important to consider the overall aesthetic you're aiming for, as well as the practicalities of the flowers themselves.

Firstly, decide whether you want to use fresh or artificial flowers. Fresh flowers can add a natural, romantic touch to your wands, but they may wilt or get damaged if not properly cared for, especially if your wedding is outdoors or in hot weather. Artificial flowers, on the other hand, are more durable and can be prepared in advance, but may not have the same visual impact as fresh flowers.

If you opt for fresh flowers, consider the variety and colour. Popular choices for weddings include roses, lilies, peonies, and baby's breath, but you can choose any flowers that fit your theme and colour scheme. Think about the size of the flowers, too—you'll want something that's not too heavy or bulky for the wand, especially if it's going to be carried by a young flower girl.

When selecting your flowers, keep in mind any allergies or sensitivities that your wedding party or guests may have. You don't want to choose flowers that are known to cause allergies, like lilies or sunflowers, if you have guests with pollen allergies.

Finally, consider the availability and cost of the flowers. Some types of flowers may be harder to source depending on the season, and fresh flowers can be more expensive, especially if you're looking for specialty varieties. If you're crafty, you could even try making your own artificial flowers out of materials like paper or fabric to save money and ensure you get the exact colour and style you want.

Remember, the flowers you choose should ultimately reflect the style and theme of your wedding, whether that's rustic, elegant, whimsical, or anything in between!

Selecting the best ribbons

Colour

The colour of your ribbons is important as it will set the tone for your wedding flower wands. You can choose to match your wedding colour scheme or opt for a contrasting colour to make the wands stand out. Bright colours like hot pink, orange, turquoise and pink will create a bold, vibrant look, while softer colours like white, ivory, sage green and beige are perfect for a more understated, elegant or romantic aesthetic. You can also mix and match colours to add visual interest and create a unique look.

Length

The length of your ribbons will impact the overall look and feel of your wands. Longer ribbons will create a more dramatic, flowing effect, while shorter ribbons will give a neater, more compact appearance. It's a good idea to cut your ribbons to varying lengths to add visual interest and texture to the wands. Just remember to double the length of your chosen dowel and add a little extra to account for the knot and drape of the ribbon.

Texture

Ribbons come in a variety of textures, from smooth and silky to textured and rustic. The texture you choose will depend on the overall look you are trying to achieve. For a classic, elegant wedding, smooth satin ribbons are a popular choice. For a more rustic or vintage-style wedding, you could opt for textured ribbons such as crepe paper or lace.

Width

When selecting your ribbons, consider the width of the screw eye or hook that you will be threading the ribbons through. You'll want to choose ribbons that are wide enough to comfortably fit through the eye but not so wide that they become difficult to work with. A good rule of thumb is to choose ribbons that are slightly wider than the eye, allowing for a snug but secure fit.

Preparing the wooden dowel

To prepare the wooden dowel for your wedding flower wand, you will need a few key materials and tools. Firstly, source a wooden dowel that is approximately 12 inches long and 1/4 inch thick. You can find these at most craft stores or online.

Before you begin assembling your wand, it is important to prepare the dowel by sanding it down to ensure the sides and ends are smooth and free from any splinters. This step will not only improve the overall appearance of the wand but also make it safe to handle, especially for young flower girls.

Now, you are ready to start constructing! The first step is to create a pilot hole at the centre of one end of the dowel. Take a screw eye hook, which should be approximately 12mm or 13/16 inch, and push it firmly into the centre of the dowel to create a dent. This will guide your screw and ensure it stays in place.

Next, begin screwing the screw eye hook into the top of the dowel. You may need to use pliers to hold the screw eye in place and apply more pressure as you turn it. Keep screwing until the hook is securely in place and only the curved hook is visible, with no threads showing.

Your wooden dowel is now ready for the next steps of adding ribbons, flowers, and any other decorative elements to complete your wedding flower wand!

Attaching the flower and ribbons

Firstly, you will need to gather your materials: a large artificial flower, colourful ribbons, a thin dowel (approximately 35cm in length), a hot glue gun, and scissors. Cut the stem of the artificial flower to 10cm using the scissors. This will provide a stable base for attaching the flower to the dowel.

Next, you will attach the flower to the dowel. Apply a generous amount of hot glue to the cut end of the flower stem and carefully place it onto the dowel, holding it in place until the glue dries and hardens. This will create a strong bond between the flower and the dowel, ensuring that it stays securely in place.

Now it's time to add the ribbons! Cut a strip of ribbon that is twice the length of the dowel. This extra length will allow you to wrap the ribbon around the dowel with ease. Start by hot-gluing one end of the ribbon to the bottom end of the dowel. Once the glue has dried, carefully twist the ribbon around the dowel until you reach the other end. Secure the top end of the ribbon with another small dot of hot glue.

For an extra touch of magic, cut a few extra-long lengths of ribbon and attach them underneath the flower with hot glue. You can choose to tie these ribbons in a bow or leave them to dangle and flap gracefully in the breeze. These extra ribbons will create a whimsical and playful effect as your flower girl waves her wand.

And there you have it! A beautiful and unique flower wand that your flower girl will adore. This DIY project is not only budget-friendly but also a fun way to personalise your wedding and create special mementos that will be cherished for years to come.

Adding extra decorations

If you want to add some extra decorations to your wedding flower wands, there are a few simple ways to do so. Firstly, consider varying the lengths of your ribbons to add some visual interest. You can also mix and match different types of ribbon and crepe paper to create a unique look. If you do use crepe paper, cut it into similar widths as your ribbon so that it hangs nicely.

You can also decorate the wand handle by wrapping it with ribbon. To do this, cut a strip of ribbon twice the length of the dowel and glue one end to the bottom of the dowel. Once the glue is dry, twist the ribbon around the dowel until you reach the other end, then secure it with another dab of glue. This will give your wand a neat, finished look.

If you want to add some extra flair to your wands, consider attaching small decorations such as jingle bells or lace. You can also experiment with different colours, lengths, and textures of ribbon to create a unique and personalised look. For example, you could try using satin ribbons or ribbons with a bold mix of colours like turquoise, pink, and white.

Finally, don't forget that these wands can be used for more than just flower girls – they can also be given to guests to wave as you walk down the aisle or make your grand exit at the end of the night.

Frequently asked questions