I’ve LONG had a love affair with Pinwheels, rosettes, fans, whatever you wanna call them! I’ve even launched my very own HOW TO MAKE PINWHEELS COURSE which teaches you not only how to make Pinwheels, but how to customise, create bespoke ones AND create a whole installation with!

I thought I’d do a celebration post collecting some of my favourite pinwheel backdrop inspiration from across the internet to demonstrate how versatile these papery constructions can be, as well as give you some ideas for your own DIY wedding or event backdrop!

Here are 7 reasons I think decorating your wedding with Pinwheels is the way to go…

1. GET COLOUR ON WALLS without repainting the whole space!

How are you going to get your wedding colours into that period wedding venue? You can’t feasibly repaint the space, and hanging coloured drapes around the room MAY work but it can be expensive and a big effort to install, unless you use a hire company. What about a Pinwheel backdrop to inject those colours into the space, without disguising the character of the venue you probably chose because you love! Or on the flipside; you can cover the whole bloody wall if you DON’T love a wall in your wedding venue!

2. PAPER PINWHEELS ARE INFINITELY CUSTOMISABLE

Of course you can buy readymade, cheap paper pinwheels… but what about making and customising your own that haven’t been seen anywhere else? Because you’re using paper as your base material, just THINK of all the different variations you can make, that’s even before considering cutting, painting and printing! I’ve got a whole section on How to Customise Pinwheels on my Online Making Course to give you some brilliant ideas before you design and make your DIY Wedding.

3. THEY’RE CHEAP AND EASY TO MAKE - I.E. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A CRAFTING PRO!

You really can’t go wrong if you have the right making technique, which I think I’ve perfected over the last few years! The method in my course can’t be found on youtube or Pinterest - because it’s from my brain and years of trial and error whilst I’ve been making them to sell in my shop! I believe I’ve got a technique which creates perfect circles every. single. time…

4. THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO CREATE A WEDDING BACKDROP WITH PINWHEELS

Archways, lines, random, overlapping, spaced - combined with different sizes and colours means the opportunities for creating your own custom wedding backdrops are endless.

You could create a scene behind your wedding breakfast table, the dancefloor, your ceremony or create a beautiful area for photos, all with these paper rosettes.

Think about how you might pair with lights like festoons, fairy lights, neon strip lights or coloured floor spots to add even more of a wow factor at your wedding.

5. Pinwheels are EASY & THERAPEUTIC TO MAKE

Some of my favourite crafts are the ones you can do whilst listening to a podcast or some Netflix at the same time. Once you’ve learnt the Pinwheel making technique you’ll be able to get into a lovely zone where you can pleat and glue and feel the satisfaction of making something with your hands at the same time.

Crafting has always had a powerful effect on my mental health and is one of the reasons I think I’ve been able to cope with stress throughout my life. I’d definitely recommend a crafty hobby or activity if you’re finding your wedding planning stressful.

5. THEY’RE QUICK - YOU CAN CREATE A BACKDROP IN MINUTES

Once you’ve done the making part they are so speedy to get up on a wall to create a scene. I’ve even built in something on the back of all my Pinwheels for even quicker installation! If you aren’t confident with how to install pinwheels or how to arrange them into a backdrop, this is covered in the final section of my How to Make Pinwheels Course. Even if you are working with a wedding venue that doesn’t allow you to attach to walls, there are some clever ways of getting around this. After 10 years doing events in unusual spaces, I know a few tricks of the trade!

6. PAPER PINWHEELS ARE A GREAT WAY TO MAKE YOUR WEDDING MORE ECO-FRIENDLY

Not only can you MAKE them using a sustainable recycled paper source (check when you buy the paper to make them) but you can recycle them in your recycling bin (in the UK I’m talking about here) after you’ve used them! And because they’re made from paper fibres they’re not like plastic - they won’t last for hundreds of years or molecules find their way into our water systems!

7. YOU CAN EASILY RE-USE PINWHEELS IN YOUR HOME AFTERWARDS

Another eco-friendly benefit; pinwheels/paper fans/paper rosettes look brilliant in homes so they can easily be re-used. Group together on a wall behind a bed, create a focal piece above a fireplace or an installation up a staircase - they really do bring character and colour to interiors and can be easily re-arranged to give a fresh look every few seasons.

See my full PINTEREST INSPIRATION BOARD here, no matter when you read this post, I’ll still be adding to it as I can’t see my love for Pinwheels disappearing anytime soon!

If you’re interested in me teaching you everything I know about How to Make Pinwheels, including how to confidently make your own DIY Wedding backdrop, click the button below…