The Perfect Timing For A Wedding Bouquet

Creating a wedding bouquet is a special task, whether you're making it for yourself or a loved one. It's a labour of love and a wonderful way to express your creativity and add a personal touch to the big day. But how far in advance of the wedding can you make the bouquet? Well, it depends on the type of flowers you're using. If you're using fresh flowers, it's best to make the bouquet the day before the wedding to ensure the blooms are at their best. This means that if your wedding is on a Saturday, you should source the flowers on Thursday and create the bouquet on Friday. If you're short on time or tasks on the wedding day, you can make the bouquet on the morning of the ceremony. However, this depends on the number, size and complexity of the bouquets. On the other hand, if you're using faux flowers, you have more flexibility as they won't lose freshness, so you can make the bouquet several weeks or even months in advance.

Timing: Make the bouquet the day before the wedding

Timing is crucial when it comes to creating a bridal bouquet, and it's recommended to make the bouquet the day before the wedding to ensure optimal freshness. Here are some detailed tips and instructions to help you create a beautiful bouquet that will be the perfect accessory for your special day:

The day before the wedding is the ideal time to craft your bridal bouquet. This timing ensures that your flowers will be fresh and vibrant for the ceremony. If your wedding is on a Saturday, plan to make the bouquet on Friday afternoon or evening. This allows you to focus on final preparations and any last-minute touches on the morning of your wedding.

Choosing and Ordering Flowers:

Decide on the type of flowers you want, considering your wedding theme, colour palette, and the style of your dress. Order your flowers well in advance, allowing enough time for delivery and any necessary rejuvenation. If using flowers from your own or a friend's garden, pick them a few days before to ensure freshness.

Preparing the Flowers:

Before you begin assembling your bouquet, prepare the flowers by removing any leaves from the stems and trimming the stems at an angle. Soak the stems in water to keep them hydrated, and if using roses, you can open the blooms by placing them in hot water for a couple of minutes. Keep the stems long for now and trim them to the desired length later.

Assembling the Bouquet:

Start by choosing a focal flower, which will be the centrepiece of your bouquet. Add the next flower at an angle, facing left, ensuring the blooms are at the same height. Continue adding flowers, rotating the bouquet a quarter turn to the right each time. Add filler flowers, which are usually smaller, green flowers, to give a natural look to the bouquet. Ensure you insert these at the same angle to maintain symmetry.

Securing and Finishing the Bouquet:

Once you're happy with the arrangement, secure the stems with a rubber band or floral tape. Trim the stems to a comfortable length, leaving enough space for the bride to hold the bouquet easily. Wrap the stems with ribbon, starting from the top and working downwards, to add a elegant touch. You can tie a bow with the ribbon for a charming finish.

Storing the Bouquet:

After you've made the bouquet, store it in a refrigerator set to 40°F, in a vase with clean water, until you're ready to leave for the ceremony. Keep the bare stems in water as much as possible and mist the flower heads to maintain their freshness.

Creating your own bridal bouquet is a labour of love, and with these steps, you'll be able to craft a beautiful arrangement that complements your wedding day look. Enjoy this creative process and the memories it brings as you walk down the aisle carrying your very own handmade bouquet.

Freshness: Store in a refrigerator overnight

To keep your bouquet fresh overnight, you should store it in a refrigerator. This will help slow down the process of water loss and keep your blooms looking crisp and fresh. Here are some detailed steps to follow:

Firstly, ensure your refrigerator is set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, but make sure it's above freezing. Clear out a shelf in the refrigerator and remove all fruits and other items. Fruits naturally emit a type of plant hormone known as ethylene gas, which helps them ripen but will cause flowers to wilt and die faster.

Next, fill a vase about 3/4 full with water. Cut the stems of the flowers at an angle, allowing them to take up as much water as possible. Place the flowers in the vase and put them in the cleared space in the refrigerator. Leave them there for about six hours overnight.

By following these steps, you'll have fresh and crisp flowers in the morning, ready for the wedding!

Flowers: Choose hardy flowers like roses

When it comes to choosing flowers for a wedding bouquet, it's important to select hardy varieties that will last through the big day and beyond. Roses are an excellent choice for bridal bouquets as they are timeless, come in a wide range of colours, and pair well with any flower. They are also easy to arrange and can endure some handling. To ensure your roses are fully bloomed and ready to use, you can place the stems in a bucket of hot water for a couple of minutes, but be careful not to leave them too long or you may kill the blooms.

Another benefit of choosing roses is their long vase life. With the right care and conditions, roses can last for pretty long in a vase, making them a good option if you're preparing your arrangements a day or two before the wedding.

If you're looking for something a little different, there are plenty of other hardy flowers to choose from. Succulents, for example, are unique and incredibly versatile. They have an extremely long vase life, require very little water, and are easy to care for and arrange.

Chrysanthemums are another great option, as they are naturally strong and come in a variety of colours and textures. From Bahlia mums, which resemble dahlias at a fraction of the price, to football mums with their large, lush blooms, and spider mums with their unique, spiky texture, chrysanthemums are a long-lasting and affordable choice.

For a more tropical feel, anthurium and birds of paradise are excellent choices. These flowers are naturally heat-resistant and will add a vibrant pop of colour to any bouquet.

Finally, if you're looking for something low-maintenance, consider baby's breath. With its small blooms and rough texture, baby's breath requires very little water and is ready to go with just a little preparation.

Tools: Floral tape, shears, ribbon

Making a wedding bouquet is a fun and creative task, and with the right tools and techniques, you can achieve a beautiful result. In this guide, we will focus on the tools: floral tape, shears, and ribbon, and how to use them effectively to create a stunning bridal bouquet.

Floral Tape:

Floral tape is an essential tool for securing your bouquet. It is used to bind the stems together, providing a firm hold that keeps the flowers in place. When using floral tape, it is important to start by wrapping it around the stems just below the flower heads. This initial binding spot is crucial as it holds the bouquet together at its natural joining point. Repeat the binding process towards the end of the stems, leaving a small excess that can be trimmed later.

Shears:

Shears, or sharp scissors, are another important tool in your bouquet-making arsenal. They are used to cut the stems of the flowers to the desired length. Before arranging your flowers, use shears to remove any excess foliage, thorns, and damaged petals. This step ensures that your bouquet has a neat and elegant appearance. When preparing the flowers, cut the stems at an angle, about 2 inches from the bottom, and allow them to rest in water.

Ribbon:

Adding a ribbon to your bouquet is the perfect way to enhance its beauty and give it a polished look. Choose a ribbon that coordinates with the colour of your flowers for a seamless finish. Cut a length of ribbon that is three times the length of the stems. Place the ribbon with the shiny side facing the stems, and the matte side visible. Start wrapping the ribbon in a spiral motion from the top of the stems downwards, leaving about 40cm of ribbon at the end. Use this excess ribbon to tie a knot and create a bow, adding the perfect finishing touch to your bouquet.

Final Thoughts:

With these tools and techniques, you'll be well on your way to creating a gorgeous wedding bouquet. Remember to take your time, enjoy the process, and don't be afraid to add your personal touches. Happy crafting!

Shape: Assemble flowers to create a dome shape

To create a dome-shaped bouquet, you will need to follow a few simple steps. This classic dome shape is a popular choice for wedding bouquets as it complements most wedding gowns.

Firstly, you will need to prepare your flowers. Remove any excess foliage, thorns, and damaged petals. Cut the stems at an angle, about 2 inches from the bottom, and place them in water. You can use a bucket of hot water to force blooms like roses to open, but only do this for a few minutes, or you may kill the flowers.

Now, you can begin assembling the bouquet. Take four flowers and arrange them at an even height in a square shape. These will form the centre of your dome. Then, take the remaining flowers and arrange them one by one around the centre flowers to create the dome shape. Stand in front of a mirror as you do this to better see the shape of the bouquet.

To finish, secure the bouquet with a rubber band or floral tape, binding the stems where they naturally join, and again towards the end of the stems, leaving about 2 inches of excess stem to trim later. Cut the stems to be 7-8 inches long, and wrap a ribbon around them to conceal the binding. You can finish with a bow if you like.

And there you have it—a beautiful, classic dome-shaped bouquet.

Frequently asked questions