FiftyFlowers Blog

Wedding Bow Decorations

Decorative bows can are one of the most versatile wedding decorations available. They are also one of easiest to create. While at first bow-making can be a frustrating task, once you get a feel for it, it will not take long to make them in all sizes and styles. We suggest you first practice with basic ribbon before using wedding material. The thicker the material, the easier it will be to work with. Bridal ribbon usually comes with wired edges. Although it may cost a bit more, wired ribbon gives a do-it-yourself decorator the control to style the ribbon exactly as desired. It also takes the worry out of your bows losing their form. The steps below outline the basics for many types, styles and sizes of bows. Ones you master these simple steps, you will discover a cheap yet elegant way to decorate pews, entrances, fences, tables, hand-rails, and whatever else you can image!

Materials: ribbon, craft wire, wire cutters, scissors, a foam board (optional but your thumbs work equally as well).

Step 1: Forming the loops. Lay your ribbon out horizontally on a table. Find the middle, and from about 6-8” from the center, on both its left and right sides, pinch the ribbon and wrap it inwards toward the center. Firmly hold the center with your thumb and pointer finger (if you are right handed, it may be easier to hold the bow in your left hand while you use your right hand to work with the ribbon).

These first two loops will determine the width of your bow. To make loops of various sizes, simply make each set of loops slightly smaller than the previous. The amount of loops you want, as well as the length of the “tails” that will be left over on each end, will determine the length of ribbon needed. Tails can also be attached as a separate piece of ribbon by using a glue gun.

Another thing to note is that many ribbons have two sides, one side flat, the other shiny. Be sure that the shiny is always facing out as you make your loops. In order to do this, you will need to twist the ribbon as you gather it at the center.

Step 2: Securing the center. Now that you are holding the completed bow firmly between your fingers, you must use the craft wire to secure the center. Secure the center by twisting wire securely around the center. This wire must be very, very tight so that the loops do not move. Don’t panic! As you do this, the bow will be distorted. Simply shape the bow as desired once the wire has been attached.

Unless you are using attractive wire, you may want to consider adding beads, pearls or some other decorative piece to conceal the wire.

Step 3: Attaching the bow. Here, you have several options that work well. If you use a long piece of wire to secure the ribbon, the extra wire can be used to attach the bow to a pew, entrance or hand-rail. Another good option is to use a glue gun (and maybe a pin or two) to attach an additional piece of fabric to the backside of the bow. This fabric also serves as part of the decoration, so make sure it matches, but be careful that it does not distract from the bow itself!