Wedding Traditions are Better with Ribbons

custom blue ribbons around tealight candles used for a wedding

A wedding is a day for celebrating love, joy and the families that come together. And, what better way to bring two families together than wedding traditions? Whether it is a tradition handed down for many generations or something the special couple has chosen for themselves, it is a time to celebrate their love for each other.

Every detail should be just right, from finding the perfect dress to picking the right venue. While there is much to do, here are a few fun traditions we discovered that will have added meaning when you incorporate custom ribbons. So try these out, or suggest them to a friend about to tie the knot.

Handfasting Ceremony Traditions

handfasting ceremonies are just one of the many traditions performed at weddings

This particular ceremony is becoming increasingly popular but has strong, traditional roots. No matter why the bride and groom chose this ceremony, it always involves cords or ribbons. The word handfasting has given us phrases such as “tying the knot” and “bonds of matrimony.” It signifies the joining of the individuals involved. During the ceremony, the bride and groom weave ribbons together using their chosen colors, messages and symbols.

Make sure everyone feels involved by including small trinkets, such as charms, into the ribbon weave or braid. Each trinket should be unique, from favorite colors to symbols representing different events in the couple’s lives. Another way to include everyone is to have various family members, such as mom/dad or grandma/grandpa, place different parts of the ribbons around the couple’s hands.

Why not make this an even more unique and individualized experience? Customize your ribbon rolls before braiding them together in the traditional manner. Choose names, dates, sayings or anything involving the couple getting married. Consistent with tradition, the bride and groom will have individual ribbons wrapped around their clasped hands. So, the ribbon imprint should be unique to the couple and individualized to the person. This personalization will help signify the joining of the two in marriage.

The Cake Pull

While this tradition is often found in the American South, it still fits in for nearly any wedding. Customizing the ribbons to match the pulls adds a specific and unforgettable charm. So, what is a cake pull?

cake pulls are a fun way to incorporate southern traditions into your wedding

A cake pull, sometimes also known as a ribbon pull, is a New Orleans wedding tradition not unlike the bouquet toss. The bride gathers a number of her single or eligible female friends around the wedding cake. Inserted into the wedding cake are various charms with ribbon tails. After a count of three, each of the women pulls a ribbon, exposing a charm. The charm is meant to signify the puller’s future.

There are eight classic charms historically used for ribbon pulls, each with its own meaning. The ring (which indicates the next to get married), the horseshoe or the four-leaf clover (signifying good luck), the telephone (offering good news), the anchor (encouraging hope), the heart (indicating impending love), the thimble or the button (revealing the old maid), and the penny (meaning poverty). While these are the charms used most often, a cake pull can have up to twenty different charms for the various single friends of the bride.

The charms are usually inserted into the bottom layer of the cake (after it is baked, but before it is frosted) and are often made of sterling silver to be a keepsake for the woman who pulled it. Many brides provide bracelets as gifts for the charm to be worn on.

Now, you can take this fun filled tradition and make it your own. Personalize small ribbons attached to each charm with memorable, custom text before baking them into the wedding cake.

Accessories & Traditions

From trading out traditional flowers for a ribbon filled embroidery hoop to adding custom ribbons to jewelry, every wedding will be perfect with personalized ribbons. Here are some great ideas to add to your new traditions.

add something blue and keep in line with wedding traditions using custom ribbons on shoes

Make a statement during the wedding by braiding custom ribbons into the bride’s hair instead of a veil. And remember the bride’s maids and flower girls. Let them in on some of the ribbon fun. Give them ribbons to carry with their flowers, or weave some custom ribbons into jewelry as a statement piece.

Need something blue for the bride? Order custom blue ribbon rolls and tie big, beautiful bows to her wedding shoes. Keep the traditions alive with blue ribbons in the bride’s bouquet or throughout her accessories. From the garter to a small piece of ribbon tacked inside the hem of her wedding dress, help that special gal find something blue for her special day.

And don’t stop there! Add these pretty ribbons to embellishments for all the dresses and suits for the wedding party. Yes, it is traditional to use flowers, but incorporate ribbons to make everything even better. Even the men at the wedding party can be part of these fun traditions.

two ribbon rolls designed with bride and groom names for weddings

So, no matter what traditions you plan on having at your wedding, remember that custom ribbons make everything better.

MAKE MEMORIES WITH RIBBON ROLLS

3 Easy Decorating Tips for Any Wedding

From centerpieces to the cake, decorating for a wedding is fun.

Personalized ribbons pair perfectly with any event. And that includes a wedding! Use custom ribbons on your party favors, for your invitation cards, and, of course, in all of your decorating.

Customize ribbon rolls with the bride and groom’s names, the wedding date and any other details about the day. Or choose a romantic phrase such as Forever Begins Today or True Love Is The Greatest Adventure. Match the ribbons to the wedding theme by choosing colors that either match or complement them.

One thing to take into consideration when getting ribbon rolls for your wedding decorating is the size of the ribbon. Wider ribbons are used to decorate cakes, tables and chairs. Use skinnier ribbons for centerpieces, flowers and party favors. So, make sure to pick the width that best matches what your needs are. And don’t be afraid to mix the widths to create a unique creation in your decorating.

Tables, Chairs and Walls

From ribbon backdrops to simple table centerpieces, personalized ribbons are perfect for all your decorating needs. Spice up a photo booth with colorful, custom ribbons. Add a unique flair to tables with cheerful and detailed ribbons tied around candle holders or even silverware.

Make seating arrangements with specially made ribbons for the bride and groom. Or wrap ribbons around the back of all the seats for a more traditional approach. Drape ribbons across or around each table for added charm.

Everyone enjoys a thank you.

Party favors are extremely popular with wedding guests. And, making these gifts part of your decorating adds a unique charm. Wrap ribbon rolls around small bags of goodies or a box with a special treat. Or, use other custom ribbons a bit more creatively. Use full-color ribbons for a fun keepsake. Add pictures or graphics to make these ribbons something special and give them to attendees, so they remember your special day.

And, of course, a wedding isn’t complete without flowers!

From boutonnieres to the bridal bouquet, ribbon rolls enhance even the smallest flowers at a wedding. Add custom wedding information to any ribbon for your personalized look. Create a romantic and ornate bouquet of flowers by adding a trail of flowing personalized ribbons. Wrap flower stems with your color and fabric choice. Hang small flower bunches from tables and wall fixtures for a fun and festive feel.

Planning a wedding takes time and a lot of patience. But, no matter how simple or how lavish your wedding is, personalized ribbons will make any wedding unforgettable.

Creative Ribbon Flowers and Roses

Who needs a garden when you can have flowers all the time?

Spring is in the air, and flowers are blooming everywhere. But, if you’re like me, you want flowers all year long. So, here is a quick ribbon tutorial to make some bright, fun flowers that will last a very long time.

Simple Loop Daisies

These fun flowers can be as bright or as mellow as you want them. Choose anywhere from one to three or four colors when you create this masterpiece. These particular flowers were made from 3/8 inch grosgrain ribbons.

Cut each ribbon to your desired length remembering that exterior colors will need to be longer than the inside ones. Using a needle and thread, start sewing these ribbons into small loops. Start by stacking your ribbons with one end of each ribbon lined up square with the others. Once this is done, push your needle through. Then, line up the other ends to create your loop. Repeat this process until you have eight to ten loop sets finished.

Once you have these done, remember to tie off the ends of the thread. Then, apply a little dab of glue to connect the two ends to form the flower. If you want, add a button or other accent piece to the top of the flower to embellish it to your taste!

Knotted Chrysanthemums

This flower will use about 24 ribbon strips. How full your flower will be is dependent on the ribbon width and length. Start by placing a knot in the middle of each ribbon strip. You can make the knots as loose as you want. Remember that the tightness of the knots will make your flower vary in appearance.

Once each ribbon strip has a knot, form them into loops and either sew or glue them together. Sewing will allow for shaping once the flower is all put together. Continue sewing each ribbon strip to the others until you reach the desired look. And, when that is finished, add any center embellishment you wish.

Ribbon Roses

One of the easiest ways to turn a strip of ribbon into a flower is with this rose tutorial. Start with about two feet of ribbon roll. Use a running stitch along one end of the snipped ribbon and down one side of the ribbon the full length. Finish the stitch by running it along the other end and tie your thread off.

Once this is done, tie one ribbon end into a knot and carefully gather the ribbon together around this knot. Then, hold the knot in one hand and wrap the rest of the ribbon length around it. Arrange the folds and petal shapes into the desired effect and sew the bottom of the rose together so it will hold its shape.

Finishing Touches

Add stems to each of these ribbon flowers and put them in a decorative vase to display in your favorite place. Or, add a clip to the back and wear them in your hair or on a lapel. How about using them as table scatter? No matter your choice, each flower is sure to find its place in your home and your heart!

Flower Bouquets and 4 Easy Ways to Tie Them

From school dances to weddings, personalized ribbons and flower bouquets are almost synonymous. No matter the occasion, flowers wrapped with ribbons are a great accessory. Adding flair and dressing up bouquets may seem like a daunting task. However, with these simple ideas, you can make any floral arrangement even more elegant than you thought possible. From tying simple bows to wrapping long stems together, these ideas are perfectly paired with personalized ribbons.

using single face satin ribbon to tie flower bouquets for weddings and other events

Simple Knot or Bow

It is amazing what a simple bow can accomplish. From a simple floral arrangement with only a few flowers to an abundance of flowers and other additions, a small bow will make any bouquet perfect. And, there are multiple ways of presenting this simple bow. Use a small and simple ribbon tied around the bulk of the bouquet stems. Or layer several ribbons together. Organza and satin faced ribbons are great for this effect.

Wrapped Stems

Make your flowers perfect with custom ribbon rolls. Start at the top of the stems and simply wrap a ribbon around your bouquet or boutonniere stems from top to bottom. Yes, it is just as easy as it sounds. Once you have the stems wrapped secure the ribbon with a simple tuck or glue it down. Wrapping stems is an elegant way to make your bouquet a bit more formal. This tying method is commonly used for wedding bouquets.

using custom ribbon rolls to tie flower bouquets for weddings and other events

Integrated Ribbons and Bouquets

Start this tying method by cutting strips from your custom ribbon rolls. Then, work these strips into the bouquet. Arrange them however you want to make your bouquet even more unique. Once you have worked in all the ribbon strips you want, secure the flower stems with another ribbon strip tied around them. Make this method even better with multiple colors or ribbon types. And once you have the stems secured, tie multiple bows or weave the ribbons together around the bouquet.

Long Flowing Streamers in Bouquets

Currently, floral cascades are trending in the wedding industry. Try taking this lovely idea to the next level with long flowing ribbon streamers to match the length of your bouquet. From delicate ribbons such as organza to flowing lengths of satin faced ribbons, customize these rolls with dates, names and any other important information about your special day. They will make a stunning difference and truly make your bouquet perfect.

Remember to make your ribbons match your bouquet.

using long streamers to tie flower bouquets for weddings and other events

No matter the method you choose for tying your perfect bouquet, make sure you choose the right color as well. Each ribbon roll option comes with multiple color choices that will match nearly any floral arrangement you can imagine. And, don’t forget to make sure you customization matches your needs as well.

>> Shop all custom ribbon rolls here: www.personalized-ribbons.com <<

Finishing Touches: Wedding Kissing Balls

Kissing balls, also known as pomanders, are perfect for an alternative bouquet for bridesmaids.

Traditionally, kissing balls came from England during the Middle Ages. They are a symbol of goodwill. They were hung over doors to welcome visitors and celebrate Christmas. However, these decorations eventually became a symbol of romance and eventually became a favorite wedding tradition.

Use these hanging floral arrangements to dress up the aisle at your wedding. Or, use them as an alternative bouquet for flower girls and bridesmaids. Some brides even opt for using pomanders as a bridal bouquet. They are also beautiful when arranged from a doorway or arch.

And, pomanders are easy to make with silk flowers, fresh flowers, or even from tissue paper.

HOW TO MAKE A KISSING BALL

First things first, make sure to have all your materials gathered! You will need:

Foam Ball
Flowers (you can use real or artificial)
Personalized Ribbon
Wooden Skewer or knitting needle
Hot Glue

Now, the assembly!

Gently push the skewer through the top of the foam ball. This action will cause it to go in one side of the ball and out the other. Once this is done, thread the personalized ribbon through the ball using the skewer or a knitting needle.

Next, gather all the flowers without stems together. You will need roughly 38 flowers to cover a 4 inch ball. Put a dab of hot glue on the base of the flower and gently push it into the foam ball. Repeat this step until you cover the ball in flowers.

Play with colors and layout with different flower types. We also added some extra ribbon among the flowers for a personalized touch. You can also add additional details like beads or crystals in between the flowers. Or add another decorative piece at the center of each flower. By using artificial flowers, these balls will last a very long time.

Kissing balls made with real flowers are just as easy to make. Make sure to use a floral foam ball instead of Styrofoam. Cut each flower with about a one-inch stem to insert into the ball. Be gentle so as not to damage the flowers. And, keep in mind when using fresh flowers that the pomander will not keep as long and should be used within a couple of days of making them.