Creating Your Own Wedding Bouquet: A Beautiful Possibility

Making your own wedding bouquet can be a fun and creative way to save money and add a personal touch to your big day. It may seem daunting, but creating a DIY bouquet is simple and easy. You can make a bouquet that is just as beautiful as one made by a professional florist, and it will hold a special place in your heart forever. With the right materials, a bit of planning, and a creative spirit, you can design a bouquet that perfectly complements your wedding dress and theme.

Choosing flowers and colours

Consider the Season

Think about the types of flowers that are typically in bloom during the season of your wedding. For example, if you're getting married in spring, you might choose from flowers such as peonies, hydrangeas, tulips and anemones. In summer, you could opt for colourful blooms like orchids, proteas, anthurium and garden roses. Autumn weddings often feature flowers in rich, warm hues, like sunflowers, dahlias and ranunculus, while winter nuptials might call for in-season blooms like amaryllis, anemones, paperwhites and poinsettias. Using flowers that are in season can also help keep costs down.

Reflect Your Wedding Style

The type of flowers you choose will help shape the tone of your wedding. For instance, white calla lilies are timeless and elegant, while bright pink ranunculus are playful and peppy. If your wedding is formal and black-tie, your flowers should be more traditional, whereas a relaxed, informal wedding might call for mix-and-match arrangements and looser, garden-style bouquets.

Choose a Colour Scheme

Your wedding flowers don't have to exactly match the rest of your decor, but they should complement your colour palette. Consider the colours used in your invitations, attire, table linens and other accents. If you want your flowers to be a perfect match, be specific when discussing shades with your florist – for example, "coral pink" could mean light orange or blush to different people. Provide paint chips, fabric swatches and photos of the decor so your florist can find the closest match.

Dress and Bouquet Shape

The shape of your bouquet should complement the silhouette and details of your dress, not distract from it. For instance, a narrow bouquet might suit a mermaid or form-fitting dress, while a ball gown could be paired with a fuller bouquet. Bring a picture of your dress when speaking to your florist about bouquet shapes.

Add a Personal Touch

Incorporate a meaningful detail into your bouquet, such as a family heirloom or a charm, to honour the "something old" or "something borrowed" traditions. You could also add your birth flower or a flower that represents a loved one.

Sourcing flowers

Choose Your Flowers

The first step is to decide on the type of flowers you want to use. Consider the style of your wedding dress, the colour palette of your wedding, and the overall theme. Do you want complementary colours for a subtle, balanced look, or do you prefer contrasting colours for a bolder, more dramatic effect?

Determine Your Style

Are you envisioning a classic, tight bouquet or something more whimsical, like a cascading garden-inspired arrangement? The style you choose will dictate your approach to flower selection and arrangement. For a modern and simple design, consider using fewer varieties of flowers (one to three types) with little to no greenery. If you're aiming for a garden-style bouquet, you can use more varieties (five to seven) and include plenty of greenery and flowers with different textures.

Source Your Flowers

Once you've decided on the style and types of flowers, it's time to source them. Here are some options for where to find your flowers:

• Local gardens: If you have access to a friend's garden, take a look at what's in bloom.
• Local farms or grocery stores: These are great options for finding fresh, seasonal flowers at reasonable prices.
• Online wholesalers: You can order flowers in bulk from online wholesalers, but be sure to plan ahead to allow for delivery time.
• Flower markets: Check out your local flower market for a wide variety of options.
• Big-box stores: Stores like Costco and Sam's Club can offer great deals on quality flowers.

Timing

Timing is essential when it comes to sourcing your flowers. Ideally, you should make your bouquet the day before the wedding. If your wedding is on a Saturday, source your flowers on Thursday and create the bouquet on Friday. Add the final touches, like ribbons, on the day of the wedding. This timing ensures that your flowers are at their freshest and most vibrant for your big day.

Preparing flowers

Timing and Storage:

Plan to receive your flowers two days before the wedding, allowing them time to rehydrate and bloom. If your wedding is on a Saturday, source your flowers on Thursday, and create the bouquet on Friday. This timing ensures the blooms are at their best on the big day. Store the flowers in a cool place, away from direct sunlight or heat sources, to keep them fresh.

Tools and Supplies:

Have all the necessary tools and supplies ready before the flowers arrive. You'll need sharp floral snips or scissors, a bucket of fresh water, and gloves for protection. It's also a good idea to have ribbons, floral tape, and any other decorative items you plan to use.

Remove Leaves and Trim Stems:

Start by removing all the leaves from the floral stems, especially those that will fall below the waterline. This step helps prevent bacterial growth and keeps the flowers healthy. Next, cut the stems at a 45-degree angle, ensuring a clear path for water uptake. Place the flowers in the bucket of water to rehydrate for at least six hours before arranging.

Choose a Focal Flower:

Select a flower that will be the centrepiece of your bouquet. This flower will be the focal point, so choose one that stands out and complements your wedding theme and colour palette.

Prepare Greenery:

If you're using greenery, separate the branches so that the leaves radiate outwards, creating a natural, realistic effect. Ensure the greenery complements the flowers and adds texture to your bouquet.

Experiment with Placement:

Begin designing your bouquet by inserting flowers into the greenery. Play around with the placement, adding flowers one by one in a circular direction to form a globe-like shape. Angle the flowers diagonally, with larger blooms towards the centre and smaller accent flowers around the edges.

Remember, preparing your own wedding bouquet is a creative process, so feel free to experiment until you achieve the desired look.

Assembling flowers

Once you have your flowers, you can start assembling your bouquet. Here are some general steps to follow:

• Build the shape and framework of your bouquet: Start by creating the base of your bouquet, adding larger, focal flowers, and then smaller flowers and greenery. Think about the dimension and balance of your bouquet as you build it.
• Stand in front of a mirror: This will help you see exactly what your bouquet looks like from the front and make any necessary adjustments.
• Secure the bouquet: Once you're happy with your bouquet, snip the stems to trim them and secure the bouquet with a rubber band. Make sure the rubber band is tight before adding floral tape to cover it.
• Add ribbon: Loop a ribbon around the stems for a classic look, or let it cascade down the side for a more relaxed, garden-style aesthetic.
• Be creative: Don't be afraid to break the rules and experiment with different flower combinations and colours.
• Add depth and dimension: Pull certain flowers forward to create depth and make your bouquet look more natural and full.
• Use filler flowers: Insert small, green filler flowers between the larger flowers to give your bouquet a natural look and add symmetry.
• Tie and trim the stems: Use wire or ribbon to secure the stems, then trim them to a uniform length, leaving enough room to hold the bouquet comfortably.
• Wrap the stems: Use floral tubing or tape to cover any exposed wires and keep your bouquet neat and organised.

Assembling your own wedding bouquet can be a fun and creative process. Don't be afraid to experiment and enjoy the moment of creating something beautiful.

Finishing the handle

Now for the finishing touches! Once you're happy with the shape and composition of your bouquet, it's time to finish the handle.

First, cut the stems so they are all the same length—this length will depend on your preference, but typically, you'll want to leave 4-5 inches of exposed stem at the bottom. If you plan to carry the bouquet as an arm spray, keep the stems longer for comfort and balance.

Next, wrap the stems with ribbon, lace, or fabric to create a comfortable and attractive handle. Cut a length of ribbon about three times the length of the stems. Tuck the end of the ribbon inside the top bind and start wrapping it in a spiral down the length of the stem. When you reach the bottom, wrap it back up the stem in a spiral. Secure the ribbon with pins. If you want a bow, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just below the flower heads. You can also use floral tape to bind the stems and then wrap the ribbon over it.

Finally, give your bouquet a light spritz with fresh water, and place a sheet of damp tissue paper over the flowers to keep them fresh until you're ready to walk down the aisle!

Frequently asked questions