How to Make Flower Pomanders for Weddings

For the Bride

• 1

  Purchase a 20-inch floral foam ball. Soak it overnight in water.

• 2

  Fold a 48-inch-long by 3-inch-wide ribbon in half. Push the crease through the ball with a crocheting needle until it comes out on the other side. Pull the ribbon until you have a satisfactory loop from which to hold the pomander, and tie a small knot at the bottom.

• 3

  Buy between 40 and 50 flowers of your choice. Cut the stems of the flowers at an angle, 2 inches from the bloom. Lay them on butcher paper while you work.

• 4

  Hold the ball steady with one hand while pushing the entire stem of the first flower through the top with the other. Continue to press more flowers into the ball in a straight line until they encircle the ball and meet back at the top.

• 5

  Turn the ball 90 degrees, and repeat the process with another ring of flowers. Press the rest of your flowers into the four sections that remain until none of the foam ball shows through.

Crepe Paper Pomanders

• 6

  Decorate the chapel and reception hall with pomanders made weeks in advance. Purchase Styrofoam balls in various sizes. Use single colors per ball or mix them to match the wedding party.

• 7

  Cut the crepe paper in strips of different sizes since you are implementing an assortment of large and small paper flowers for your pomanders. Crumple the paper into a ball and unwind into strips, separating according to size.

• 8

  Roll a small portion of one end of the crepe paper and twist into a small stem. Twist and roll the paper at the same time, wrapping it around the stem until it widens into the shape of a flower. Wrap them loosely for the best rosettes.

• 9

  Cut the stem so that it is flush with the flat rosettes. Run a clear piece of tape beneath the flowers to hold their shape, and lay them aside.

• 10

  Steady your Styrofoam balls in small cups or bowls as you hot-glue the rosettes in place. Make a single ring with one row of the flowers, and repeat the process cross-wise. Insert various sizes of rosettes into the four remaining sections. Fill any gaps with decorative beads or faux glass crystals.

• 11

  Arrange the balls in groups of three using bowl-shaped candle holders set on tables. Hang others from doorways and windows after pinning ribbon into the tops of the pomanders.