How to Make Live Wedding Kissing Balls

Make a kissing ball using fresh carnations.

Kissing balls are a traditional wedding decoration that you can create yourself. The secret to making a kissing ball with fresh flowers is using a wet floral foam ball that will hold water. Usually it takes more flowers than you think to complete a kissing ball, so buy a few extra stems to be sure you have enough. As decor, they can be set on tables or in the tops of vases or you can suspend them from chairs or hooks. Flowers girls often carry kissing balls, but they are also a good alternative to bridesmaids' bouquets.

Things You'll Need

• Floral foam ball for fresh flowers
• 1-inch wired ribbon
• 2-inch wide ribbon
• Floral wire
• Scissors
• Carnations, open roses or other flowers
• Filler or greenery (optional)

Instructions

Preparing the Floral Ball

1. Soak the floral foam ball in water until it's completely saturated.

2. Cut two pieces of the 1-inch wired ribbon that will be long enough to wrap around your floral ball.

3. Lay one piece of ribbon on top of the other to form a "T."

4. Set the floral foam ball on top of the ribbon and tie the ends of both pieces of ribbon securely at the top of the ball. Trim off the excess ribbon.

5. Cut a piece of 2-inch ribbon approximately 18 inches long and fold it in half.

6. Slip the ends of the 2-inch ribbon under the knot on top of the floral ball.

7. Tie the ribbon in a knot. You should now have a loop of ribbon to use to hang the ball.

Inserting the Flowers

1. Cut your flower stems to around 1 1/2 inches long.

2. Take your first flower and insert it in the ball. Push the flower in until the base of its head touches the ball.

3. Insert another flower right next to the first. Don't leave space between the flowers.

4. Continue inserting flowers following a straight line all the way around the ball. Make another line of flowers around the ball starting at the middle of the first line of flowers.

5. Fill the rest of the ball with flowers, evenly spacing them.

6. Add filler or greenery in any small spaces between the flowers, if desired.

7. Make a bow out of the ribbon and secure it in the center using a piece of wire.

8. Insert the bow at the top of the kissing ball, at the base of the loop of ribbon.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't include the ribbon if you plan to rest your kissing ball on a table or on top of a container.

• Water will drip from the ball as you insert flowers, so protect your work area and the ribbon.

• Roses and other delicate flowers can easily be crushed, so don't grasp them too tightly when you're creating or moving your kissing ball.

References

• Perfect Wedding Day: Make a Gorgeous Pomander Flower Bouquet
• Google Books; A bouquet of Roses: Glorious Arrangements for All Occasions; Christina Wressell, Kate Chynoweth, Susie Cushner