Paper Flowers for Weddings

There has been a lot of buzz about paper flowers recently and a new trend is emerging! Brides are skipping the live stuff and picking blooms made of paper. Decorative, last longer, affortable, color matching, edgy colors and fancy designs make paper wedding arrangements worth checking out!

Photo provided by St Jude's Creations

The following is an interview with St Jude Creations designer, Maria Jude Noble. She has some of the most beautiful and artful paper flower designs I've come across. Maria takes custom orders and the photos on her site are a wealth of inspiration.

Maria Jude Noble of St. Jude Creations Interview

How did you learn to make paper flowers & how long have you been doing it?
Making artificial flowers has been a passion for me for many years. It started with my mother and her sister who used to run a floral business many years ago. They learnt the method of making beautiful flowers from fabric,paper and other materials and from then on this trade was picked up by us from a very young age. It started as a hobby and on finding that people love the flowers, I turned it into a website where customers could pick and choose the colors and varieties.

Photo provided by St Jude's Creations

What are some benefits of using paper flowers for a wedding?
The are many benefits, one being they are different and unique. They can be ordered in your custom color, and of course they last longer than fresh ones, so they can be preserved to keep the memory of your wedding day alive forever. They can be put together well ahead of the function and so there is no worry of it wilting at the time of the wedding, or worrying if it will open it's closed blooms for the wedding. It's ideal for destination weddings, as you can pack and take it with you.

Other than bouquets and centerpieces, do you have any other ideas for paper flower uses in a wedding?
Other than bouquets and centerpieces, they can be used as corsages, headress, chairback ties, favor ties, swags. "Paper" is for first anniversary, so these are good for a first anniversary present. The flowers are great for parties and other functions for adding a splash of color.

How do decide on prices for your flowers and can you give a few examples?
Since the flowers are handmade and custom made to customer choice the price of the flowers involves the time involved in making that particular flower and of course the type of material that's used to make it. A large order of $100 and more would however get discounts. Prices ranges from .50/flower to $20.99/dozen depending on the flower of choice.

How do you work with customers to make sure the color is correct?
How I usually proceed with the order is either :

• The customer picks a color already displayed on the website or the blog site.
• If the particular color is not shown on the site, and it is a color I have already available with me I make a sample and sent the customer a picture of the finished product in the color of choice.
• The other option is upon request from the customer for $15 a sample will be mailed to the customer. The sample will contain 2 flowers of choice and the extra amount if any will be offset once they place the order with us.

What kind of paper are your flowers made of?
Paper flowers are made with a variety of papers from crepe to exotic imported paper.

Photo provided by St Jude's Creations

How long do they last?
The will definetely last as long as you want them to, depending on the care you give them. Place them in a vase and they will look wonderful for ages.

How can a bride tell the difference between good quality paper flowers and poor quality?
Good quality flowers like fresh flowers last longer and of course are more beautiful!

Any advice or tips to people interested in trying out paper flower crafting?
The advice for flower crafters is try and try again, as the first time you most probably will not get it right..! The sky is the limit for passionate crafters...

It's your wedding, do it the way you want!