If you stopped by anytime during the month of April, no doubt you saw the beautiful floral wall/backdrop we used for the Derby Dress of the Day series. In reading the comments and hearing feedback, it was clear that the backdrop stole the show on more than one occasion so I knew it needed a post of it’s own.

When I set out brainstorming on ways to make this past year’s Derby series even better than last, I immediately knew I wanted to create some sort of whimsical backdrop. Something that captured the bright, fun spirit of spring but would compliment the dresses and headpieces without overpowering the scene. Enter Jaclyn Journey. Jaclyn is an insanely talented event planner and floral designer who just happens to be best pals and share studio space with Whitney Neal (the gal behind the lens of all my outfit pics). If you’re getting married sometime soon, call her. She is truly wonderful to work with and her aesthetic is both dreamy and aspirational but also inviting and comfortable. 

I’ve wanted to work more with Jaclyn for forever and this project proved to be the perfect opportunity. After a couple meetings and some shared Pinterest brainstorming (see the inspiration here), Jaclyn had it all figured out. With a collection of blooms from the team at FiftyFlowers.com, she created the amazing wall that became the backdrop for almost the entire Derby series. The backdrop was so beautiful that it was a little heartbreaking to tear it all down at the end. I wished I could just relocate it to my house (as crazy out of place as it would be) to just enjoy it a little longer.

A backdrop like this would be beautiful for a wedding – at the alter or as a photo booth backdrop –  a spring party or bridal shower. You can make it your own by picking a color palette to match your event or changing up the sizing. Check out Jaclyn’s amazing work and then get the steps on making one yourself.

What you’ll need: 

* Photo Backdrop Stand 
* Muslin Backdrop Paper
* Clamps
* Fresh Flowers of your Choice – We used approx. 5 bunches (mix of real and silk).
Jaclyn used a mix that included lots of fresh garden roses from great team at FiftyFlowers.com  but you could use silk flowers for something more permanent/long-lasting. Tip: Go for bigger blooms that make a bigger visually impact.
* Water Tubes 

Instructions: 

1. Set up the photo stand with backdrop paper. Secure in place with clamps.
Note: Whitney already had this in her studio to use but if you’re not wanting to splurge on a stand, you could attempt to hang it with clamps from a wire. You’re just going to need some space between the wall and the backdrop. Making sure your stand/backdrop is secure is the most important part of the process. You don’t want the entire thing to collapse. 

You could probably use burlap or another fabric as a backdrop if you wanted, you’ll just need scissors to cut small holes in the material. 

2. Cut flowers.
Jaclyn cut the stems down so that they were around 3 or 4 inches long.
Tip: Go for bigger blooms that make a bigger visually impact. 

3. Create a game plan. Before you just start poking holes and placing the flowers in, lay out some of the buds in clusters so you can get an idea of the look and tinker with it before you place them.
Once you poke that hole, you can’t take it back! 

4. Get your water tubes ready.
Having these filled and ready to go will make the placement more seamless and will save time. 

5. Poke a hole in the paper and place bloom through.
At this point, you can take a step back and determine whether you want to change up the flower. 

6. Secure in back with water tube.

7. Repeat until complete.
I suggest stepping back a bunch to check out your progress and make sure you’re getting the look you want. 

Credits:
Floral Backdrop by Jaclyn Journey 
Photos by Whitney Neal
Flowers c/o FiftyFlowers.com