How to Decorate a Flower Girl Basket

Try a new approach to a traditional flower girl basket

By Julie Hampton

Photo by iStockphoto.com

The flower girl is the little sweetheart of the wedding; sprinkling petals down the aisle is her primary role. The basket used to hold the flower petals should be easy for the child to manage and carry down the aisle. Make sure the basket matches the theme and colors of other wedding decor. You can decorate a flower girl basket yourself in a few steps, but take the time to be sure that all decorations are properly attached so nothing falls off during the ceremony.

Watering Pitchers

Choose galvanized watering pitchers instead of baskets. The pitchers are for decorative purposes and can often be found at craft and hobby stores. Attach an oversize gerbera daisy, real or artificial, to the handle of the watering pitcher using floral wire. Add long ribbon streamers in the wedding colors to the handle. Cut approximately nine streamers in various colors 1.5 feet long. Tie the streamers to the handle. Cut the ends of the ribbon at an angle for a finished and professional look.

Corsage Handles

Pick a basket that the flower girl can easily handle during her walk down the aisle. Because real flower arrangements can be heavy, add two simple corsages to each side of the basket handle. The corsages can be made ahead of time by the florist to match the bride's bouquet. Consider making your own corsages by wiring flowers similar to those found in the bride's bouquet to the sides of the basket. Add a few sprigs of baby's breath for additional greenery. Tie ribbon streamers to the basket, or tie tulle into a bow. Attach additional flowers to the basket by weaving the streamers into the basket and gluing the flowers in place with a hot glue gun.

Flower Basket Cones

Create a basket cone by rolling a large piece of cardboard into a cone, similar to an ice cream cone. Create the correct size of cone by rolling and cutting it so that it is small and easy for the flower girl to reach inside and grab petals. Trim the top of the cone with scissors so it is even. Unroll the cardboard, spray it with adhesive spray and attach fabric to one or both sides. You'll need approximately ½ yard of fabric per side, depending on how large your cone is. Using fabric on both sides gives a more finished look. Smooth the fabric as you're applying it to prevent wrinkles. Roll the cardboard into a cone again, this time adding hot glue or staples to the seam. Cover the seam with a long piece of 1-inch ribbon. Glue the ribbon down with adhesive spray for a smooth, finished look. Glue flowers around the top of the cone and attach a variety of other decorative items, such as tulle and ribbon streamers.

Match Your Budget and Theme

You can easily coordinate a flower girl basket to the theme of your wedding. From specialty ribbons and flowers to the color and type of basket itself, local craft stores and bridal magazines can provide a wealth of inspiration. If you're on a tight budget, use carnation petals instead of rose petals to save money; carnation petals will also not brown as fast as rose petals.