Creating Fragrant Wedding Pomander Balls: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding pomander balls, also known as kissing balls, are a popular choice for wedding decorations. They can be used to decorate arches, chair backs, door knobs, pew ends, and aisles. Pomander balls are also carried by flower girls, bridesmaids, and even brides as a modern alternative to bouquets. They are typically made with fresh or artificial flowers, glued onto a styrofoam ball, and hung with a ribbon. Making your own pomander ball is easy and can be done with almost any type of flower, although smaller, more rounded flowers are recommended for a better shape.

Choosing the flowers

Wedding pomanders, also known as kissing balls, can be made with fresh or artificial flowers. They are traditionally carried by flower girls and bridesmaids, but can also be used by the bride as a modern replacement for a bouquet.

You can make a pomander from almost any flower, but it's recommended to opt for smaller, more rounded flowers to give a better shape. Examples include hydrangea florets, spray roses, rosebuds, and dahlias. If you're using artificial flowers, you can buy them from craft stores like Hobby Lobby.

Before making your pomander, you need to condition your flowers and foliage. To do this, remove any plastic wrapping, strip the flower stems of any foliage, and cut about 10% off the end of each stem at an angle with a sharp knife. Place the stems in fresh, cold water, away from drafts, heat, and passing traffic. This process, called conditioning, allows the flowers to 'settle' and ensures they will last.

If you're using fresh flowers, you should soak the foam sphere in a bowl of water until it's completely wet before adding the flower stems. For artificial flowers, you can skip this step.

Conditioning the flowers

To condition the flowers and foliage for your wedding pomander ball, you will need to prepare them at least 24 hours in advance. First, remove any plastic wrapping and strip the flower stems of any foliage. Then, cut about 10% off the end of each stem at an angle with a very sharp knife. Place the stems in fresh, cold water, ensuring they are kept away from drafts, heat, and passing traffic. This process is called conditioning, and it is necessary to allow the flowers to 'settle' and become strong. If you are using garden flowers or foliage, they will wilt quickly, so conditioning will ensure they last.

After conditioning, soak your sphere in a bowl of water until it is completely wet. Do not push the sphere under the water; instead, allow it to absorb the water. Now you are ready to start preparing your flowers and foliage for your pomander ball!

Each stem should be cut to around 2 inches in length, cut at an angle, and stripped of about 1/3 of its foliage. It is important to note that no foliage should be pushed into the foam of the sphere, only clean stems.

Preparing the sphere

To prepare the sphere for your wedding pomander balls, you will need a 3" or 4" Styrofoam ball, a hot glue gun and glue sticks, floral U pins, T-pins, and ribbon or wire for hanging.

First, take your Styrofoam ball and push a floral U pin through the top. Remove the pin and place a few dabs of glue over the holes. Put the pin back in, leaving about a 1/4" gap between the ball and the pin. This gap will be used to attach a ribbon or wire for hanging.

Next, separate your flowers from their bunches and cut the stems to about 1/4" to 1/2" in length. You can use artificial flowers or fresh flowers, but if you choose fresh, be sure to condition them at least 24 hours in advance. To condition, strip the stems of any foliage and cut about 10% off the end of each stem at an angle with a sharp knife. Place the stems in fresh, cold water, away from drafts, heat, and passing traffic, so they can settle.

Now you are ready to begin attaching the flowers to the sphere. Starting from the top, use your glue gun to create small dents in the Styrofoam ball, adding a dab of glue before placing each stem. Repeat this process, working your way down in a line and ensuring that the flowers are evenly spaced with no gaps. You can also use T-pins or floral U pins instead of hot glue, depending on the size of your flowers and Styrofoam ball.

Once your sphere is completely covered with flowers, you can add the ribbon or wire for hanging.

Adding the flowers

Now, it's time to add the flowers to your pomander ball. If you are using a Styrofoam ball, you can use hot glue to attach the flowers. Cut the stems of your flowers to about a 1/4" to 1/2" in length. Starting from the top, use your glue gun to create small dents in the Styrofoam ball and add a dab of glue before placing each stem. Repeat this process until the entire ball is covered. You can also use T-pins or floral U-pins instead of hot glue, depending on the size of your flowers and ball. It's important to start from the top and work your way down in a line to ensure that the flowers are evenly placed with no gaps.

If you are using a floral foam sphere, you will need to prepare your flowers by cutting each stem to around 2 inches long at an angle, stripping 1/3 of the foliage. Do not push any foliage into the foam, only the clean stems. Starting at the ribboned top, begin to add your flowers and foliage. If you are using softer stems, such as mint or fennel, you may need to use a woody stem to create a hole first before pushing in your flower stem. For thicker stems, like rosemary or roses, you can push them directly into the foam. Continue adding your flowers and foliage, keeping the blooms tightly packed so no foam is visible. Stop occasionally to check that the ball remains balanced and consistent in appearance.

Once your pomander ball is completely covered and any gaps are filled, you can remove the protective covering from the ribbon, and your pomander ball is finished! Arrange the ends of the ribbon and cut them at an angle for a neat finish.

Finishing touches

Now that your pomander ball is complete, there are a few extra steps you can take to ensure it looks perfect and is easy to transport.

Ribbon

Arrange the ends of the ribbon neatly, cutting them at an angle. This will give your pomander ball a tidy finish.

Transporting

To transport your pomander ball safely, fill a small box with tissue paper and place the ball inside. The smaller the box, the less it will move around. This will help to prevent damage to the flowers and foliage.

Practice

If you are making a pomander ball for a wedding, it is a good idea to practice making one beforehand. You could spend an afternoon making a sample pomander with friends and family. This will ensure you are happy with the design and know exactly how to make it.

Size

Be mindful of the size of the styrofoam ball you use. It is easy to underestimate how big the finished product will be. A styrofoam ball the size of a tennis ball will be more than enough, as you will need a lot of flowers to cover the ball's surface area.

Cost

If you are making multiple pomander balls, the cost of the flowers can add up quickly. Look out for sales on the flowers you want to use, and consider buying in bulk.

Experiment

Don't be afraid to experiment with different ribbons, textures, and flowers. You could even add succulents or lollipops!

Frequently asked questions