For going flowers for a funky, one-of-a-kind bouquet? Here’s our 3-step guide to making a beautiful sparkling crystal bouquet that’s sure to wow your guests.
When it comes to choosing the perfect bouquet for your big day, there is certainly no shortage of beautiful blooms and artful arrangements to choose from. But traditional floral bouquets can be costly and the sad truth is that they won’t last forever. If you’re looking for something a little different for your “I dos,” a one-of-a-kind DIY bouquet that lets you show off your personal style may be just the ticket.
Here’s how to put together a sparkly crystal bouquet that will not only add a little extra glamour to your wedding, but will also last for years to come.
What you’ll need for one bouquet:
• Crystal beads
• Floral wire
• Wire cutters
• Ribbon
• Hot glue
• Cup hook
• Power drill
• Pliers or other grips
• Electrical tape or duct tape
Crystal beads can be pricey if you’re looking at your local craft store, but we found these Swarovski-inspired gems online at crystalbeadshop.com. We opted for a mix of 8 mm beads ($4 for a package of 10) and 6 mm beads ($4 for a package of 15) in classic crystal, but there are several colours to choose from.
For flower wire, we chose 26 gauge—just pliable enough to allow for arranging your “stems,” but not so weak that the weight of the beads will cause them to droop. The floral wire, ribbon and cup hooks can all be found at Walmart or other discount stores.
Step One: Attaching your crystals
Insert the cup hook into your drill in place of a regular drill bit. To create one crystal stem, you’ll need to clip the floral wire so you have a strand that is approximately 30 inches in length. Thread a bead onto the wire and secure at the centre by gently twisting the wire (by hand—one or two twists should do the trick) to hold the bead in place. Be sure to leave enough room so that you can slip the hook on your drill into the newly formed loop.
Step Two: Creating your stems
Slip the hook into the loop at the beaded end of the wire, while holding the two loose ends together with your pliers. Then simply squeeze the trigger of your drill and watch the two pieces of wire spin together to create a single twisted stem. Repeat this process until you’ve created enough individual crystal stems to complete your bouquet (in this bouquet, there are approximately 300 stems).
Tip: If you are working on this project with members of your wedding party, divvy up the tasks to create a kind of production line. One person can be assigned to cut wire while another attaches beads and another drills. It will make the whole process go much faster—which is a bonus if you’re making extra bouquets for bridesmaids and/or matching boutonnieres for groomsmen.
Step Three: Finishing touches
Use wire cutters to cut your stems to the desired length and use electrical tape or duct tape to secure stems together before wrapping them in ribbon. You may also choose to cover the ends of your stems with a little extra tape to protect against being scratched by the wires. Wrap your stems in ribbon as you would with a floral bouquet and secure loose ends with hot glue. Finish with a simple bow and voila!—you’re ready to walk down the aisle with a fab bouquet that’s sure to impress your guests.
Post-wedding, pop this bouquet into a funky vase for a unique DIY decor item that will add a little extra sparkle to your home and serve as a beautiful reminder of your big day.
