How To Make Easy Bridal Accessories

Create bridal accessories to fit your budget.

Many brides are looking for easy do-it-yourself options when planning their weddings. They find the cost of their perfect wedding far exceeds the reality of their pocketbooks. Make easy bridal accessories to help lower the cost and allow the bride to have the wedding of her dreams. Create simple wrist corsages for the bridesmaids, instead of pricey bouquets, and a garter made from purchased ribbon and lace. These projects are simple to craft and can be made well in advance of the ceremony.

Things You'll Need

• 2-inch-wide wire-edged organza ribbon, 18 inches
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Hand sewing needle and thread
• 1/2-inch-wide satin ribbon, 15 inches
• Straight pins
• 1-inch-wide satin ribbon, 36 inches
• 2-inch-wide flat lace with one straight edge, 36 inches
• Iron
• 5/8-inch-wide elastic, 18 inches
• Safety pin
• 1/4-inch-wide satin ribbon, 10 inches
• 1/2-inch purchased ribbon rose

Instructions

Bridesmaid's Wrist Corsage

1. Cut two-inch-wide wire-edged organza ribbon to 18 inches long. Pull the wire out of one edge of the ribbon. Fold over a 1/2-inch end of the remaining wire to keep the wire from slipping out. Slide the ribbon along the wire, until the gathered length measures nine inches. Clip off the excess wire and fold over the end a 1/2-inch to secure.

2. Roll one end of the ribbon tightly for two inches. Hand stitch the edges together on one end of the roll. This end is the back of the rose. Loosely roll another two inches and stitch the edges on the back of the rose to secure. Continue to the end of the ribbon's length. Do not cut the thread.

3. Cut 1/2-inch-wide satin ribbon to 15 inches long. Pin the back of the rose to the center of the ribbon's length. Hand stitch the rose to the ribbon to secure. Knot and cut the thread.

4. Place the ribbon around the wrist and tie into a bow.

Bride's Garter

1. Cut one-inch-wide satin ribbon to 36 inches long. Cut two-inch-wide lace with one straight edge, 36 inches long.

2. Fold the ribbon in half with the long edges matching. Iron the fold. Open the ribbon.

3. Lay the straight long edge of the lace over one long edge of the ribbon, overlapping the ribbon a 1/4-inch. Fold the other long edge of the ribbon over the lace, to sandwich the lace in between. Pin through the ribbon and lace layers to secure.

4. Stitch the length of the ribbon, using a sewing machine, as close to the pinned edge as possible, creating a casing. Stitch the length of the ribbon as close to the folded edge as possible.

5. Wrap 5/8-inch elastic comfortably around your thigh. Note: Do not wrap too tightly. Add an inch to your measurement. Cut the elastic. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and guide it through the ribbon casing of the garter. Remove the safety pin. Overlap the ends of the elastic a 1/2-inch and stitch to secure. The ends of the lace and opening of the ribbon casing are on the back of the garter.

6. Cut 1/4-inch-wide satin ribbon to 10 inches long. Tie the ribbon into a bow. The ends of the lace and opening of the ribbon casing will be on the back of the leg. Hand stitch the bow to the front of the garter. Place a 1/2-inch purchased ribbon rose over the center of the bow and hand stitch to hold.