How to Make Small Topiaries for a Wedding

Beautiful artificial topiaries can easily be created to fit with the theme of your wedding. The topiary can be made well in advance and stored covered, ready to place on the day of the wedding without the worry that live plants may shrivel. Place them on reception tables for a low, space saving centerpiece. Small topiaries are easy to personalize, making them perfect wedding favors that guests are sure to pick up as they leave your wedding reception.

Things You'll Need

• Two green styrofoam balls
• Knife
• Wire cutters
• Small pot
• Small sponge
• Paper towel
• Light colored acrylic paint(complementary to wedding color theme)
• Contrasting acrylic paint (complementary to wedding color theme)
• Pebbles or marbles for weight
• Silk or dried miniature flowers (rose buds, lilacs, baby's breath, etc.)
• Green leaves/fake moss/ivy
• Green wooden dowel
• Scissors/wire cutters
• Glue gun
• 1/8-inch ribbon in theme colors
• U-pins
• String of tiny beads (optional)
• Glitter or confetti (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the Pot

1. Paint the pot with the light colored acrylic paint, including the top inch inside the pot.

2. Let the pot dry. Acrylic paint will dry quickly.

3. Dip the sponge in contrasting paint.

4. Blot excess paint from the sponge by gently blotting on the paper towel.

5. Add contrast to the pot by lightly tapping sponge over original paint.

6. Repeat Step 5 until you achieve a look you like.

7. Let the paint dry completely.

8. Slice the top 1/3 off of one of the Styrofoam balls.

9. Center and glue the flat side of the Styrofoam ball to the inside bottom of the pot.

10. Insert the dowel into the center of the second, still round Styrofoam ball.

11. Insert the other end of the dowel into the center of the Styrofoam ball that is glued into the pot.

12. Add pebbles or marbles to the pot, leaving approximately 1/2 inch of space at the top.

13. Remove the round Styrofoam ball from the dowel.

14. Add ribbon, a bow, beads or leaves to the dowel as a finishing touch.

15. Set the pot aside.

Creating the Wedding Topiary

1. Wrap ivy vines around the Styrofoam ball, using u-pins to hold it in place. Leave the dowel hole at the bottom free.

2. Cut small clusters of buds and flowers from their stems.

3. Poke the stems of the buds and flowers into the ball amongst the ivy. If the stems are too short, use a bit of hot glue.

4. Continue adding buds and flowers until you are pleased with the effect.

Adding Glitz to the Topiary

1. Decide if your topiary needs more decoration, and follow any of the steps below.

2. Attach ribbon to the topiary with u-clips.

3. Cover bare spots of the topiary by attaching small leaves.

4. Wrap strings of beads around the topiary, attaching with u-clips.

5. Sprinkle glitter or confetti onto the topiary.

Putting it all Together

1. Squirt hot glue into the hole at the bottom on the topiary.

2. Place topiary on the dowel.

3. Fill pot with moss.

Tips & Warnings

• Topiaries for a wedding can be elegant or festive, depending on the wishes of the bride. Blow away strings of glue with a hairdryer set on low.

Resources

• Wedding centerpiece ideas