How To Make Your Own Natural Wedding Confetti

Our DIY Guide to Natural Cherry Blossom Confetti

Last updated on Monday 4th March, 2024 at 17:00 by Trina Gill

Living a zero waste lifestyle extends to all areas of my life. While my household is full of plastic-free products, I walk or cycle everywhere I can, and work on reducing my carbon footprint, it was important that this extended to my wedding too.

One of the things I did was make my own eco-friendly, compostable and plastic-free wedding confetti. It was so easy to make and completely free! It won't cost you a penny! I've broken it down into a few easy steps to follow. Or if you don't have the time, this ready-made natural confetti is similar to the one I made.

What time of year would you find your confetti? 

I was really lucky, as I got married in June. Cherry blossom is in full swing during the months of April and May, so on every dog walk I was pulling out a  compostable doggy bag and filling it with petals collected from the ground. Cherry blossom is such a lovely shade of pink it was perfect for our day, as it can stand out within any theme. It also keeps (once dried) for around 6-12 months, if you store it in a dark and dry place. 

How to dry your petals

Next step is to dry out the petals. This step must be done on the same day you collect the cherry blossom, so they don't have a chance to change colour. It can be done a couple of different ways. The best way is to use the mild heat from an airing cupboard. Pop some toilet paper or paper towel down on the shelves in the airing cupboard and then lay your petals down on top of it in a thin layer, making sure you don't pile them up so they have room to dry. Check on them every two hours, but they should be dry after about 4-5 hours. 

Alternative way of drying petals for confetti

Alternatively, you can also dry your petals in the oven. This is a lot quicker, but also uses up unnecessary energy. Put a reusable baking liner on a baking tray and then a thin layer of petals on top. The oven should be set to around 150 degrees (fan) and the drying shouldn't take any longer than 10 minutes. It's really important to keep an eye on them so they don't burn. If you have different sized petals, they may dry at different times. Remove the smaller petals once they're done.

How much should you dry?

This depends on how many guests you have at your wedding. I'd dry as many as possible. I filled a large mixing bowl full and had enough for around 50 guests. You might feel like you've got loads, but the petals shrink a lot during the drying process.  

Another tip is to use bunches of flowers that you, friends or family have received, and dry them out just before they're ready to die. We moved house about three weeks before we got married and I got a lovely bunch of blooms from my dad as a moving gift. I pulled off all of the petals a couple of days before they were well and truly wilted, and dried them out. Those petals were used by my flower girls and boys, who sprinkled them down the aisle.

How to store your plastic free confetti

I used some small paper bags to put my confetti into and then my niece had the job of handing them out. Alternatively, you can just pop it into a nice bowl or small bucket (something that fits your theme) and each of your guests can grab a handful before they get into position.

Conclusion

It might be that you are getting married in the Autumn or Winter instead. You can get prepared early as dried cherry blossom can last up to six months in an air tight container, or you could use dried leaves as an alternative. 

Don't fancy making your own but still want a natural look? This natural confetti is very similar to the confetti I had at my wedding. 

You might also be interested in personalised natural candle wedding favours, and reading more about how to have a plastic-free wedding. 

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you choose to make a purchase, we will earn a small commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much for reading!

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