Doorway Drop Festoon

Doorway Drop Festoon

These flower balls are a simple but glamorous welcome to the ceremony whether hung from an exterior iron railing, as shown here, or suspended next to doorways or on interior beams or arches. Smaller versions make an ideal decoration at the edges or corners of a chuppah, the canopy included in traditional Jewish wedding ceremonies. As you plan, consider the style of the architecture in your location, the best and most visible positions for hanging, and any floral or decorating restrictions.

Here are the materials you will need to make one doorway drop festoon:

• one 12” (30.5 cm) plastic-foam ball
• two large bunches of flowers (one each of cranberry and purple)
• 2 yd. (1.8 m) of 1/21" (1.3 cm)-wide ivory satin ribbon
• floral pin
• one roll of 2” (5 cm)-wide white satin ribbon
• floral snips
• hot-glue gun
• floral wire
• scissors

STEP 1. Cut all the blossoms off the flowers so that the stems are short, about 1” (2.5 cm), as shown here. Press one blossom stem into the plastic foam ball and push down to hold it in place. Glue around the stem to secure it. Repeat with the remaining blossoms until the entire ball is covered.
STEP 2. Loop the narrow ribbon around the flower ball four times, leaving a 16” (40.5 cm) length of ribbon for a tail at each end. Push the floral pin around the center of the loops and secure the ribbon to the ball.

STEP 3. To make the bow, fold the wide ribbon to make four loops, leaving a length of ribbon approximately 18” (45.5 cm) in length for a tail. Roll out the ribbon another 18” (45.5 cm) for the tail at the other end. Holding the center tightly, wrap floral wire around the ribbon and twist a few times to secure.
STEP 4. Squeeze the wire together to make the bow bunched and full. Fluff out the loops. Cut the wire. Trim the ribbon ends straight across or at ri angle, whichever you prefer.