There is a certain quality to native Australian flowers that is unparalleled in other blooms. They are understated in their elegance and maintain a refined, restrained beauty. The palate of native blooms work for a natural or rustic themed wedding.
We’re thinking raw wood, neutral linens and candles, all paired beautifully with the silvery green of a eucalypt leaf, or the deep blush of a Geraldton Wax flower. With only a few simple materials you can create these native Australian placecards – a welcome addition to a pared back, subtly elegant wedding tablescape.
You will need:
- 1 x bunch of native flowers
- 25 x plain gift tags in cream or white (we found ours at Officeworks)
- Jute twine
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun + glue
- Inky black pen
Step 1. Work out exactly how many place cards you need and gather sufficient materials.
Step 2. Separate your flowers and greenery into each different type.
Step 3. Trim flowers and greenery to appropriate length. We found approximately five to six centimetres to be a good length as a guide.
Step 4. Take your time to create miniature arrangements with the flowers and greenery using different combinations.
Step 5. Secure the arrangements with a small piece of twine, knotted twice. Trim excess twine.
Step 6. You may find some of the flowers or greenery look best by themselves; if this is the case, trim them ready to apply to the gift tags.
Step 7. Using the hot glue gun, apply a small bead of glue to the back of the arrangement or stem and press onto the gift tag until the glue sets.
Step 8. Once all have been glued, use an inky black pen to write guest names. Even better, if you have a friend or family member that knows calligraphy, ask them to write them for you.
Other Hints & Tips
1.We found our bunch of natives made approximately 25 place cards but this number will depend on the size of your flowers and how many you use in each miniature arrangement.
2. How far in advance you will be able to make the place cards will depend on what variety of flowers you choose to use. Hardier flowers such as Geraldton Wax will last a few days without drying out. It would be best to have a trial run so you know how long the flowers are going to stay looking pretty. The flowers we’ve used in this tutorial will work best if created the day before the event.
3. Be creative with your choices, for example we used a petal of a protea flower for one of the arrangements and the pop of deep pink was perfect against the greenery accompanying it. Play around and see which combination work best!
4. A hot glue gun is a DIYers best friend and these days you can find them for under $10 at any good dollar discount store.
Ms Chinoiserie Says: Such a lovely way to include a touch of Australia into your wedding – I love the simplicity of the eucalypt leaves and the protea!
About Jess Bauer: Hi, I’m Jess and I’m a writer. I am a lover of words and stories, pretty papers and flowers. I find great satisfaction in creating something beautiful from the simplest of materials and am happiest in a home bustling with conversation and music, sitting at a beautifully decorated table surrounded by good friends and delicious food – with a glass of champagne in hand, of course.
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