Crafting Wedding Ribbons: A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners

Wedding ribbons are a fun and easy way to add a personal touch to your special day. From decorating your bouquet to creating a unique send-off, ribbons are a versatile and budget-friendly option for any wedding. In this guide, we will show you how to make wedding ribbons for a variety of purposes, including bouquet wraps, ribbon wands, and decorative bows. We will also provide tips and tricks for choosing the right type of ribbon and creating the perfect look for your big day. So, whether you're looking for a pop of colour or a subtle accent, read on to learn how to make wedding ribbons that will wow your guests and make your wedding dreams come true!

How to make a bow out of ribbon

Making bows out of ribbon is a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding. You can use bows to decorate gifts, wreaths, bouquets, basket handles, and more.

Materials:

• Ribbon (any kind, such as silk, grosgrain, or velvet)
• Scissors
• Ruler (optional)
• Pipe cleaner or floral wire (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Cut a piece of ribbon between 15 and 20 inches long. The length will depend on the desired size of your bow and the thickness of your ribbon.
• Create a "bunny ear" loop with the ribbon and twist the longer end two times so it becomes rope-like. Ensure the shiny side of the ribbon is still facing up.
• Create a second "bunny ear" loop, adjusting the size to your preference. Ensure the loops and tails are fairly even.
• Take the left loop and fold it over the right loop. Bring it around and back through the center hole, similar to tying a shoe.
• Pull it tight to create a knot. You can tug on the loops and tails to adjust the shape of your bow.
• Trim the ends of the ribbon if desired.

Additional Tips:

• Wired ribbon is great for creating larger, more structured bows.
• When creating loops for your bow, remember that the number of loops on each side will equal the amount of ribbon circles you make.
• You can use a zip tie, pipe cleaner, or floral wire to secure the center of your bow.
• To add a special touch to your bow, try cutting the ends of the tails diagonally or in a chevron shape.

How to make a bow out of wired ribbon

Wired ribbon is perfect for making big bows, as the structured edges allow you to mould the bow into a dramatic size or shape. These bows are great for large boxes and can be used to tie onto chairs, add to flower arrangements, or attach to wedding signage. Here's how to make a bow with wired ribbon:

Take a long piece of ribbon (at least 2 yards) and create a loop. Wrap the length of your ribbon in a continuous circle around that loop.

Determine the length of the tail you want your bow to have. Add two inches to that length, then fold your loop in half from the centre.

Pinch the centre, then wrap a matching pipe cleaner around the centre of your folded loop. Twist, tighten, trim, and discard the extra pipe cleaner length.

Cut vertically up the centre of your bow's tail to create two tails. The cut should nearly reach the pipe cleaner.

Using the two tails, tie a standard knot around the centre of your folded ribbon to cover up the pipe cleaner.

Fan out the loops of your bow to achieve your desired shape and fullness.

Trim the tails if desired.

How to make a paper bow

Paper bows are a cute and unique alternative to ribbon bows and are perfect for wedding gifts, especially for gifts in small boxes. They can also be used to decorate other items such as garlands, cards, or scrapbook pages. Here is a simple method to make your own paper bow:

Materials:

• Paper: Construction paper, origami paper, or scrapbooking paper are ideal. You can also use printer paper and decorate it with markers. Avoid using thick paper, such as cardstock.
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Glue or glue dots
• String or pipe cleaner (optional)
• Cardstock or thick paper for the template (optional)

Instructions:

• Download and print a paper bow template online. The template will typically have three parts: a mustache shape, a bow tie shape, and a skinny rectangle.
• Cut out the template pieces.
• Transfer the template to colourful paper and cut out the shapes. You can use construction paper, coloured cardstock, or patterned scrapbooking paper.
• Take the mustache shape and place a drop of glue in the centre.
• Press the left pointy end of the mustache into the glue, then repeat with the right pointy end to create a looped bow.
• Glue the looped bow to the centre of the bow tie shape, ensuring the bow loops are parallel to the bow tie.
• Place a drop of glue in the centre of the bow tie shape.
• Press the skinny rectangle into the glue, making sure it is perpendicular to the bow, creating a "+" shape.
• Wrap and glue the ends of the rectangle to the back of the bow.
• Open up the sides of the bow like a fan.
• (Optional) Cut a thin strip of matching paper, about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) wide, and wrap it around the middle of the bow. Glue the end at the back.

Tips:

• Experiment with different types of paper such as construction, origami, scrapbooking, or wrapping paper.
• You can also create your own fancy paper by colouring it with markers, watercolor paints, or ink stamps.
• If you don't have glue, you can use glue dots, double-sided tape, or foam mounting tape to adhere the bow to your project.

How to make a floral bow

Materials:

• Wide ribbon of your choice
• Thin satin ribbon of your choice
• Floral wire (optional)
• Floral tape (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Cut two pieces of ribbon, one short (about 12 inches) and one long (1-2 yards, depending on the desired size of your bow).
• Create a small loop with the end of the long piece of ribbon and twist where the loop ends.
• Hold the first twist in place and make another loop on the opposite side of the bow, then twist again.
• Continue making alternating loops until you achieve your desired size (four loops on each side is a good starting point). You should still have some hanging ribbon, which will form one of your tails.
• Use the shorter piece of ribbon to tie the bow loops together. Double knot at one end, leaving the other end loose to form the second tail.
• Cut and fluff the loops and tails to your preferred length and fullness.

Tips:

• For a fuller bow, consider using wired ribbon to help mould and hold its shape.
• If you want to attach your bow to a gift or bouquet, leave the tails of the narrow ribbon longer so you can use them for tying.
• Get creative and customize your bow with different ribbon colours, patterns, and textures to match your wedding aesthetic.
• Practice makes perfect! Don't be discouraged if your first bow isn't exactly how you envisioned it.

How to make a wedding ribbon wand

Wedding ribbon wands are a fun and unique way to bring some magic to your wedding. They are perfect as a confetti alternative, for a wedding send-off, or for flower girls and page boys to carry. Here is how to make your own wedding ribbon wands:

Firstly, you will need to gather your supplies. For this project, you will need wood dowels, medium-sized jingle bells, ribbon, screw eye hooks, and jump rings. For the wood dowels, opt for ones that are 12 inches long and 1/4 inch thick. As for the ribbon, you will need 12 inches of each colour for each wand you plan to make. So, multiply the number of wands you need by 12 to get the total amount of ribbon required in each colour.

Once you have your supplies, it's time to start assembling your ribbon wand. Begin by putting the screw eye hook into the end of the dowel. This may require some elbow grease, but you should be able to screw it in firmly. Next, attach the bells to the end of the dowel using the jump rings. You can attach one or two bells per wand, depending on your preference.

Now it's time to add the ribbon. Cut the ribbon into equal pieces, with each piece roughly 12 inches in length. Gather the ribbons together neatly and start to thread them through the screw eye. You may need to fold the ribbon slightly to fit it through the eye. Make sure the ribbon is centred, then tie a simple knot, leaving equal ribbon tassels at either end for a full effect. Be sure to pull the knot tight, and you can even use a glue gun to secure the ribbon further.

And that's it! Your ribbon wand is now complete and ready to be waved at your wedding! Experiment with different ribbon colours, lengths, and textures, and feel free to add more embellishments, such as additional bells or decorations on the wand handle, to make it truly unique.

Frequently asked questions