TUTORIAL
Baby's Breath Cloud Tutorial
This tutorial will walk you through how to create your own suspended baby's breath cloud. This is considered a day-of tutorial and you'll need a ladder and a few extra helpers to make this a reality. You'll also want to make sure your venue allows this type of design. Grab your bestie, call your venue, and let's learn how to create this stunning installation.
What You'll Need
- 1 stury board in the length you'd like your cloud(s) to be
- Chicken wire, enough to wrap around the board and create movement
- Zip ties
- Drill
- Wire cutters and gloves
- Fishing line rated heavy enough to support your structure
- Baby's breath, approx 10-15 bunches for the size created in this tutorial
- Ladder tall enough to reach the ceiling or handing achor of your venue
- 2-3 helpers
Steps
- Call your venue. Before attempting this tutorial, make sure your venue allows this kind of structure to be hung from their ceiling.
- Wrap the board. Carefully cut your chicken wire if it's too long or wide. Wear gloves unless you enjoy having your hands scraped up. This wire will be the base of your structure so make sure you use use varying heights for dimension.
- Zip tie. Then zip tie your chicken wire in place. Cut off your zip tie tails to clean it up.
- Drill holes for the line. Drill 2 holes on each end of the board for the fishing line to go through.
- Hang it up. Find the proper spot for your installation once you arrive at your venue. With your helpers, secure the structure.
- Add your baby's breath. Start with shorter pieces and tuck them in to cover your mechanics. Then begin adding your longer pieces to start creating your shape.
- Keep adding pieces until you're happy with the overall design. This took our team about 20 minutes. Step back frequently to check for bare spots.
Pro Tips
- Use silver chicken wire instead of green-coated floral. Silver is more rigid so it holds its shape better and the silver color is more easily concealed.
- Do not stress if it's not perfectly even. Baby's Breath clouds are supposed to be a bit whimsical and wild by design. It should have movement.
- Be mindful of the size. We made our larger than planned which used more product than planned. Setting your margins first - setting a few longer pieces and making sure you don't exceed that imaginary line - will help keep everyone within range.
- Twenty-pound fishing line should be fine for baby's breath but if you start adding more flowers, you'll need some stronger support.
Common Mistakes
- Skipping the board and only using chicken wire. Over time, gravity will win and your arrangement will slump. The board keeps everything stable.
- Building too early. This style of arrangement will not have a water source. Building this the day-of will be your best bet for keeping everything fresh looking. You can build this the day before if your venue/time of year is very cool.
- Not asking ahead of time. Not all venues allow for this kind of suspended installation. Ask beforehand so you don't get your heart broken.
- Using the incorrect support. Don't use fishing line and then start adding on heavier blooms. If you go heavier on flowers, go heavier on support.
FAQs
Can I make a baby's breath cloud by myself?
Yes, but it's a two-part job. The filling is easy, while the hanging takes a tall ladder and some helpers. It's best built on site the day of your event, so recruit a few handy friends or family members.
How far in advance can I make a baby's breath cloud?
Plan on the day of, since the cloud has no water source. If you're building in a cold space like a garage in the 30s or 40s, you can build it a day ahead and spray it down with Crowning Glory. Under normal conditions, day-of is the way to go.
How many bunches of baby's breath do I need to make this cloud?
We estimated 10 to 15 bunches, but we ended up using closer to 15 to 20 for a cloud about the length of a sweetheart table. If you want a smaller cloud, you'll need fewer. It's better to have a few extra bunches on hand than to run short.
How long does it take to build a baby's breath cloud?
About 20 minutes to fill out with a team helping. You can keep adding to it if you have time, but this gets you a full, gorgeous cloud. Hanging the frame takes additional time, so build that into your setup schedule.
Why do I need a board inside of the baby's breath cloud?
Chicken wire on its own can start to bow in the center, which throws off the whole shape. The board keeps the structure flat and stable so your cloud hangs the way you want it to.
What if my venue won't allow suspended installations?
Try a table arch, which is a pole that clamps to the table, goes straight up, and arches over. You can find them at eFavorMart or Tablecloth Factory. It gives you a suspended centerpiece look without hanging anything from the ceiling.
What kind of fishing line do I need?
Fishing line that can handle about 20 pounds is plenty for a baby's breath cloud. It's only enough for baby's breath, though, so use something stronger for heavier flowers.
