Design a wedding party and make your own wedding flower bouquet to add a unique touch of creativity and style to your event. Choose each flower and ornament. Bring a few bridesmaids so they can make their own bouquets at the same time.
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Part 1 of 4: Planning a Flower Bouquet
Step 1. Decide on the overall color
White or beige are common colors, but it's a good idea to choose a color that matches your wedding dress. If the dress you are going to wear has an intricate cut, it will definitely be the center of attention. Therefore, limit it to making a bouquet of one color or only a few color series. Dresses with simple cuts are suitable to be matched with a more festive flower bouquet, with various colors and ornaments.
- For a simpler bouquet, choose the same color as the wedding dress. Avoid identical colors and consider adding an accent color. Too much similarity can flatten the scene and make taking photos difficult.
- A bouquet of flowers of the same color and pattern is the easiest to assemble. The classic flower bouquet features white, cream, peach and bright pink flowers.
- Complementary colors will create a beautiful bouquet. Try mixing yellow and purple, blue and orange, or red and green. If you don't want a flower bouquet with bold colors, go for soft, light colors.
Step 2. Choose a strong primary flower
This flower requires a long, strong stem to support the bouquet so it doesn't fall apart. If possible, choose flowers that are in season during your wedding. Flowers that are out of season will be much more expensive, may need to be specially ordered, and difficult to replace in an emergency. Choose one to three of your favorite flowers according to your financial situation, or check out these options:
- Single rose (not small roses (spray rose))
- Peonies (ask the florist to recommend a few, as many peonies are weak-stemmed)
- Hortensia
- Magnolia
- Stacked dahlias (single dahlias tend to drop their petals)
- Lisianthus
- cymbidium orchid
- Kala lilies (or colorful mini lilies)
- Stargazer lili
Step 3. Choose a second flower (optional)
A flower bouquet with one type of flower will indeed look beautiful, and it will not be a hassle for a florist who is still a beginner. But to strengthen the artistic side, choose a number of smaller flowers to add variety. You can use any flower for this. If you don't know what flowers to choose, look around online florists and flower arrangements.
- The second popular flowers include the small single rose, small roses, and freesia.
- For "filler flowers" you can use small or branched flowers, buds, or berries. Try waxflowers, carnations, or seeded eucalyptus.
Step 4. Set the size
The size of the bouquet should be adjusted to your body size and how big the event is. Large bouquets are suitable for large church and beach weddings, while smaller bouquets are suitable for small spaces. According to experience, the bouquet should be no wider than the bride's waist. Also keep in mind: carrying a large bouquet is exhausting.
- The diameter of most bridal bouquets ranges from 20cm to 33cm.
- Provide more flowers than you need. The number of flowers depends on the variety. It usually takes fifteen to thirty flowers, but order more. You may change your mind or come up with a new idea while making a bouquet.
Step 5. Cut the stalks in the water
Place the flower stalks in a bucket or sink filled with water. Cut the ends at a 45º angle, approximately (2.5–5cm) from the ends. Cutting like this allows the flowers to absorb water without creating bubbles on the stem. Place the flowers in a container of cold water until you are ready to make a bouquet.
Keep the stem long to make it easier to work with. You can later cut the stems again once the bouquet is finished
Part 2 of 4: Making a Round Bouquet
Step 1. Choose one type of flower for this arrangement
Usually you will need 12 dozen roses.
Step 2. Remove the thorns and leaves
Remove thorns and leaves with stem strippers or plant shears, or pluck them by hand if the stems have no thorns.
Discard damaged or faded flowers
Step 3. Create the center with the largest flower
Choose four of the largest blooms from the main flower. Place the blooming flowers in a parallel position and the stems crossed.
Hold the bouquet just below the blooming flower, where the stems cross. If you hold it in a lower position, the stem will bend and the flower may break
Step 4. Add the main flowers one by one
Place the main flowers one by one, placing them parallel to the outside from the center. Arrange the flowers as close together as possible, crossing the stems so that they face outward in a dome.
- When crossing the rods, rotate your hands in a twist while holding the rods.
- A small bouquet may only use a circle consisting of the main flower around the center, especially if the blooms are large and delicate.
Step 5. Expand the dome while adding flowers
If you are using a second flower, place it to fill in the gaps between the flowers. Place the flowers on the edge of the dome, arranging them facing outward. Arrange them slightly apart so that no two flowers of the same kind touch each other. When you're done, you'll get a compact, round bouquet, with the largest flowers right in the middle.
Alternatively, make a bouquet in the Biedermeier style. This bouquet features concentric circles of flowers in different striking colors
Step 6. Trim the flower stems to make it easier to work on the bouquet
Cut flower stems to equal lengths using a clean flower knife or plant shears. Leave the stems a bit long (at least 25.4cm) because later in the last step they will be pruned again.
Step 7. Make the finishing touches
Play the bundle in your hands, adjust the length and make sure the bouquet looks balanced and round. If you notice any uneven cuts, fill them with extra flowers.
- If you have bouquet jewelry, push it down between the flowers throughout the bouquet. It only takes three or four pins to stand out, but feel free to use more.
- Insert filler flowers along the entire length of the bouquet. To expand the edges, tuck the filler flower only between the outermost flowers.
Step 8. Secure the bouquet with floral tape or natural palm raffia
Tie the bouquet about 2.5cm below the blooming flowers, or as close as possible to keep the flowers close together. Wrap around the stem with floral tape several times, then loop downwards about 7.5–10cm.
You can use a hefty piece of tape, unless you're using soft-stemmed flowers like tulips and hyacinthus. Wrap two stems with tape on one side of the flower bundle and then twist to secure them. Wrap the tape around the flower bundle several times, without adding any stems to it. After the meeting, open the tape again and slide the two sticks to the opposite side. Glue one piece of tape near the top of the stem, and another about 10cm below it
Step 9. Tie with a ribbon or wrap the ribbon downward along the stem
Choose a ribbon to match your wedding dress or the color of the bouquet. Cut the ribbon about three times the length of the stem.
- For a loop, twist the tape down along the stem, tucking it into the tape at the top and bottom. Secure it with a pin tucked between the flower stems.
- To make a ribbon tie, cut the ribbon and tie it around the bouquet. Make sure you cut out the flower-visible tape, natural raffia from palms, or the tape used to secure the bouquet.
- For an added touch of luxury, use a pin with a pearl tip.
Step 10. Cut the stems one more time
This type of bouquet is usually held by the bride and groom in front of the chest, so the flower stems should be short enough so as not to scratch the dress. Usually 15–17.5cm is sufficient. Dry the stem ends with a tissue before handing the bouquet to the bride and groom.
Step 11. Keep the bouquet fresh
Store the bouquet in a cool place until the wedding day, put it in a bucket of water. You can get flower preservatives at flower shops to make flowers last longer. Transport a bouquet of flowers dipped in water if possible.
- If you don't have a cold room, store the flowers in a refrigerator set above 1.7ºC. Remove the fruit from the refrigerator; most fruits produce gas that makes the flowers wither quickly.
- A little hairspray can also make your flower bouquet last longer. Hang the bouquet upside down for a few minutes to allow the hairspray to dry on the blooming flowers, before returning to the vase.
Part 3 of 4: Making a Hand Bouquet
Step 1. Select the flowers you want to arrange
A common combination is white roses, lilies, and additional green leaf shades (Gunny Eucalyptus, Ferns, Camellia, Foxtail, Millipede)
Remember, consider allergies to certain flowers or plants when choosing flower combinations
Step 2. Gather the flowers you need before you start arranging them
Prepare stripper pliers, scissors, raffia or tape, clipper pliers, and white tape
Step 3. Clean the flowers and leaves before assembling
Using paring pliers, remove most of the leaves and thorns from the flower stems. You can remove the outermost petals, the ugly petals, or the wilted part of the stem.
- If you want green for your bouquet, leave the top leaf of each flower.
- Remove the stamens from the lilies as they will turn brown and stain the wedding dress.
- Prune the leaves so that the part of the stem that is under your handle is clean.
Step 4. Hold the flower bouquet with your non-dominant hand when arranging it
If your right hand is dominant, hold the bouquet with your left and arrange the flowers and leaves piece by piece with your right. Arrange the flowers in the direction of the natural curve of the flower.
Step 5. Rotate the flower bundle when you add flowers
Add the flower stem on the open side, close to your wrist, crossing the flower stem to form a spiral.
Step 6. Arrange the flowers while rotating the bouquet
Make sure the flower is not at an awkward angle or protrudes too far from the center. Add filler flowers to the edges to hold the bouquet together and serve as a fringe.
Step 7. Cut the stems about 15cm
This will make it easier to assemble the bouquet.
Step 8. Lock the arrangement of the bouquet
Tie the flower bundle with natural raffia string or tape as a temporary binder.
Step 9. Wrap the bouquet with ribbon and cut the raffia or tape after wrapping the ribbon twice
Use a ribbon between 4 and 6 meters, depending on the width of the bouquet. Tie with a regular knot or ribbon tie.
Step 10. Cut off the remaining stems and put the bouquet in water to keep it fresh
Cut the stems evenly about 2.5cm below the ribbon.
Part 4 of 4: Making Other Kinds of Bouquets
Step 1. Create a presentation bouquet
This bouquet has a long flower stem and the top is a flower with long petals. The bride and groom will rock the stem, and place the bouquet in one hand. This bouquet is easy to make, but will tire you out holding it for a long ceremony.
Step 2. Use a bouquet support
In addition to beautifying the appearance, the support for the bouquet also helps to refresh the flowers. Water the "wick" supporting the bouquet before filling it with flowers so that the flower stalks absorb water throughout your wedding.
The term "nosegay" (a small bouquet of fragrant flowers) refers to a small, round bouquet in a bouquet support or an ornamental "tussy mussy" (metal bouquet handle). The term also refers to a small, loose bouquet, which includes green foliage or plants
Step 3. Make a bouquet with dangling flowers
This is perhaps the most difficult bouquet to make, as it is easy to tilt or add to the impression of other decorations. First choose a special bouquet holder with the mouth opening downwards. Arrange the flowers so that they hang out of the supports. Long vines will hang out at the front, and larger blooms fill the mouth of the bouquet holder.
