Knowing how to make a floral arch swag for your
You wouldn’t believe how expensive it is to have someone else do it for you!
For the price of a wedding arch rental and a few supplies, you can create a stunning swag that looks like a pro made it.
We’re going to tell you how below!
Related: Make This Stunning DIY Flower Wall
How to Make a Floral Arch Swag for Your Wedding
It’s always beneficial to be a little crafty for your wedding day.
It’ll help cut some of the costs, add a personal twist to your design, and proves to be rather therapeutic.
One of our favorite ways to get creative is with the floral decorations.
Now, well all know, weddings are filled with flowers. They’re literally everywhere.
So, making sure that they all coincide with each other is so important. We find, one of the best ways to do this is by doing it yourself.
Below, you’ll find instructions on how to make a floral swag for your
Related: wedding arch flowers arrangements
What is a flower swag?
A flower swag has been popular for decades, especially for weddings. However, they have been used in different settings and events.
They’re essentially decorations made of flowers, designed and pruned for special occasions. And what’s more special than a wedding?
Swag has been used to decorate ancient temples, graves, and homes. In ancient Rome, they were even worn – something you’ll often see in Renaissance paintings.
Something else to note: Flower swag, particularly garlands, have had religious connections for a period of time. So, regardless of your wedding, these wonderful pieces will always be appreciated.
With that out of the way, let’s dive into our flower swag instructions.
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What you’ll need
So, this does differ slightly for every design, and indeed, every wedding.
Below is a general rule of what you’ll need.
We’ve pointed out what is essential for every single crafty floral swag.
The links will take you to our preferred products on Amazon, but you can get them from craft stores too if you prefer.
- 1 tube of Oasis Flower Adhesive (essential)
- Florist gauge wire (essential)
- 1 oasis cage, that has been pre-filled with foam (essential)
- Stem adhesive (essential)
- Green Stem wrap (essential)
- Your choice of flowers (either fresh or artificial)
- Finishing touch flower sealant
Step 1 – Pick your theme
This is an incredibly important step, so don’t miss it out.
You must decide on what you want your floral swag to look like.
Different flowers make a completely different vibe to others.
Make sure you’re picking colors and styles that will match your overall theme and aesthetic.
For instance, a forest/natural themed wedding would have a completely different selection to a traditional white wedding.
Choose your flowers wisely. After that, you can decide what type of look you will try and achieve.
Messy? Natural? Traditional? Modern?
Step 2 – Start with your greens
Every piece of floral swag needs greens.
This usually comes in the form of leaves, but can also be various flowers that are predominately green. Think fern, for example.
You should start with these green pieces, these are your framework for your design.
Make sure to place them in your oasis tub at different lengths. That will make it look a lot more natural.
We also recommend that you shorten the greens at the top and bottom, keeping them relatively long on the sides.
Top tip: angle the greens forward as you make your way to the middle of the foam.
Yes, you should put greens all in the middle, too. However, make them shorter in the center.
Remember, your middle stems should be pointing forward.
P.S make sure you add different shades/types of green for a more varied look.
Step 2 – Add the flowers
Next, you’ll be placing your filler flowers into your oasis.
These will imitate the angles of the greenery, and be the centerpiece for your swag.
Just like with the flowers, make sure you shorten the flowers in the center.
This creates that desired enclosed look, that we all love from the floral decor.
Flowers that don’t have long stems will need to be taped in and wired. Make sure this is discrete.
Top tip: if you’re using roses, make sure that you de-thorn them. If you don’t, you risk ruining the foam.
You could also hurt yourself, which isn’t ideal.
Step 3 – Complete your design
Admittedly, this may take a few trial and error runs.
This isn’t a necessarily hard DIY, but perfecting your colors and design can be a little tricky.
After all, you want everything to be perfect.
So, find out what works best with each color, what design matches your aesthetic, and work with it.
Step 4 – Finishing touches
Of course, you’ll need to put sealant on your amazing design – this will ensure it stands the test of time.
You can also add glitter or ribbons at this point. Anything that makes it perfect for you, for your big day.
The last step is, of course, to attach your floral swag to your
These pieces work the best in the corners of wedding arches, so bear that in mind.
Tip for making a Floral Arch Swag for Your Wedding
Whether you enlist the help of a florist or create it yourself, the end result of having a beautiful floral arch swag will add an elegant touch to the ceremony and be something for guests to marvel over!
Here are some tips to get the best out of your floral arch swag.
Get Creative
You don’t have to follow the traditional inverted “U” shaped floral arch for your wedding. It’s your wedding, so you are allowed to get creative and spice things up as much as you want, and there are many ways for you to achieve that.
You can experiment with different shapes and forms, such as a symmetrical or asymmetrical design; from circular to triangular to even hexagonal arches. The greatest thing about these floral arch swags is that you can pick them based on the theme of your wedding.
Do not Sacrifice on Quality
With weddings being special, it is only fair to want the best decorations possible. When choosing floral arch swags for your special day, you should be mindful of their durability and longevity as you want them to hold up for the duration of your celebration.
You may also decide to repurpose the arch for your reception. If you choose swags that are too delicate or not meant for long-term display, they won’t stand being transferred if the reception is being held at a different venue.
With beautiful flowers that will stand the test of time, you can relive those moments of happiest bliss during all your anniversaries ahead.
Keep the event design seamless
While you may want to go all out with your wedding designs, it is important to factor in the event design and decor as this helps create a cohesive and elegant atmosphere.
It also keeps your guests from becoming overwhelmed by too many competing styles. When picking out floral arch swags for your wedding, aim for something that perfectly complements the look and feel of your venue.
There is nothing better than having your floral arch swag looking as natural as possible in that setting. Imagine having a beach wedding and your floral arch swag is decorated with roses and hydrangea and eucalyptus. It just doesn’t fit perfectly, and it ends up sticking out like a sore thumb, becoming a negative focal point.
Instead, you can opt for flowers that are native to that beach. You can also incorporate pebbles, shells, starfish, and other beach-inspired elements into the design for a natural and coastal look.
Stick to the seasons
For a wedding, choosing decorative floral arch swags to fit the season is crucial since they will bring extra beauty and warmth to your special day. Seasons can dictate what blooms are in abundance.
Therefore, by selecting in-season flower varieties for your arch swag, you are treated to the most beautiful blooms available as nature intended: bright and vibrant with a truly special scent.
Also, the right seasonal blooms will blend in with the scenery for better photographs and video memories. Other than an aesthetic value, there might be symbolic meanings associated with different types of flowers in different seasons that resonate with you in ways you never knew before.
Furthermore, seasonal blooms have been proven to last up to five days longer than non-seasonal blossoms – so by picking seasonally appropriate swags, you can be sure that your wedding decorations will stay looking beautiful at least until the end of the day.
DIY Floral Arch Swag Tutorials
Work better with visuals rather than written directions?
Take a look at some of our favorite tutorials on how to make a floral arch swag for your wedding.
1. Visual guide to our step-by-step directions
This tutorial follows the same steps that we discussed above, so it’s a great place to start.
2. Floral Swag made with pool noodles
Foam blocks and cages can be oddly expensive. This tutorial saves you money by using pool noodles instead!
3. DIY Dollar Store wedding floral arrangements
This one is fantastic for those on a super tight budget. Most- if not all- of the supplies come from a dollar store.
Learning how to make a floral arch swag for your
Well, we hope this helps you not only achieve your dream aesthetic but do so in a truly authentic way. Remember to show us your designs, attempts, and masterpieces.
I’m a freelance journalist/writer/content marketer with BA Hons in Journalism.
Thank you for the tutorial. I’m doing the florals for my sons wedding all from the dollar store and this helped. I’ll send pics when I’m done.