Creating A Wedding Bouquet With Multiple Brooches

Brooch bouquets are a unique and personal alternative to traditional flower bouquets for brides and bridesmaids. The number of brooches required for a wedding bouquet varies depending on the size of the bouquet and the type of brooches used. A large bouquet can require up to 50-60 brooches, while a smaller bouquet with carefully selected pieces can be more elegant and impactful. The type of brooches used also matters, with small to medium-sized brooches being easier to arrange together than large ones. Ultimately, the number of brooches needed depends on the desired look and feel of the bouquet, and it is important to select brooches that are meaningful and fit the colour scheme and style of the wedding.

Brooch bouquet supplies

To make a brooch bouquet, you will need a collection of brooches, jewellery, and other accessories. The number of brooches you will need depends on the size of the bouquet you want to make, but it is estimated that you will need around 50-60 pieces. These can be collected from friends and family or bought from wholesale suppliers, vintage shops, and boot sales.

You can also add other types of jewellery to the bouquet, such as earrings, rings, watches, and chains. These can be wrapped with wire to create a "stem" and arranged like flowers. You can also add personal touches, such as scrabble tiles with the initials of the bride and groom, or a charm with a photo.

To create the bouquet, you will need some essential tools and materials. These include:

• Pliers in different sizes
• Florists' stub wires
• A bouquet holder (filled with foam or a whisk)
• Tape (to cover the wire)
• Ribbon (to wrap the handle and create a "filled" look)
• Rubber bands (to secure the ribbon to your work surface)

With these supplies, you can create a beautiful and personalised brooch bouquet for your wedding.

Selecting brooches

Selecting the right brooches is a crucial step in creating a beautiful and meaningful wedding bouquet. Here are some detailed tips and suggestions for choosing the perfect brooches:

Variety and Quality:

The variety of brooches you choose will depend on the style and size of your desired bouquet. If you opt for a modern and simple design, consider using only one to three types of brooches with minimal or no greenery. In contrast, a garden-style bouquet calls for more variety, with five to seven types of brooches and an abundance of greenery. When selecting your brooches, choose quality over quantity. Look for unique, vintage brooches with a history behind them, as these will add magic and elegance to your bouquet. You can find such treasures in charity shops and car boot sales.

Colour Scheme:

Consider the colour palette of your wedding and dress when choosing brooches. Decide if you want complementary colours for a subtle, balanced look or contrasting colours for a bolder, more dramatic effect. Remember, silver brooches can often look harsher than gold, so consider opting for brooches with an antique finish or a slight tarnish to enhance that vintage aesthetic.

Size and Shape:

Small to medium-sized brooches are easier to work with and can create a cohesive look. Large brooches might seem like a good idea to fill space, but they can be challenging to arrange together. Consider the overall shape of your bouquet, whether you want a classic, tight bouquet or a whimsical, cascading arrangement. Choose brooches that complement this shape. For example, leaf and feather brooches offer variety while maintaining a cohesive style.

Personalisation:

To make your bouquet even more special, add some personal touches. You can incorporate your birth flower or that of a loved one to make it unique. Include some family heirloom brooches or source old jewellery from both the bride's and groom's families to create a very personal bouquet. You can also add other sentimental items like watches, earrings, or even Scrabble tiles with meaningful words or initials.

Practical Considerations:

When selecting brooches, ensure they are not too delicate, as you will need to wrap wires around them. Choose brooches with sturdy pins that can withstand the wrapping process without damaging the brooches. Additionally, consider the overall colour scheme and theme of your wedding to ensure the brooches complement the other design elements.

Remember, creating a brooch bouquet is a creative process, so trust your instincts and choose brooches that speak to you. By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to crafting a stunning and meaningful wedding bouquet.

Preparing the bouquet holder

There are several ways to prepare the bouquet holder for a wedding bouquet made of brooches. One way is to use a bouquet holder or foam block to make a wider base for your bouquet. You can buy a bouquet holder, or you can use a foam noodle bath toy and cut it to the length of your vase. The open center of the foam noodle will allow you to place the brooch stems inside. Another option is to use a bouquet armature, which is a metal frame that will give your bouquet a nice, rounded shape.

If you want to add some extra fullness to your bouquet, you can use a large silk flower, such as a hydrangea, and insert your brooch stems into the spaces between the petals. You can also add other silk flowers among the brooch stems if desired.

Once you have your bouquet holder and any additional flowers in place, you'll need to start arranging your brooches. Choose a central brooch in the shape that you want for your bouquet and build around it. This will give you a focal point to guide the rest of your arrangement.

When arranging your brooches, make sure to alternate the color and size of the brooches that are next to each other. This will create a more visually appealing bouquet. You can also add in some silk flowers or other embellishments, such as pearls or beads, to fill in any gaps and give your bouquet a softer look.

Finally, once you're happy with your arrangement, use several layers of masking tape to secure the stems in place. If the wire stems are too long, you can clip them with wire cutters before taping them together.

Arranging the bouquet

If you are using a bouquet holder, you can use a foam-filled one or stuff a whisk. You will need to wrap some wire around a wide ribbon in loose loops all over the bouquet holder to achieve a nice, round shape. The bottom of the brooches should lightly touch the top of the ribbon loops. Be careful not to rearrange the brooches too often, as the foam will get crumbly and won't hold the brooches.

If you are using a bouquet armature, this is a metal frame that will give your bouquet a rounded shape. You can also wire up your brooches individually so that they have stems. You can then arrange them as you would flowers. If you are doing this, it is a good idea to choose a central brooch in the shape you want for your bouquet and then build around that.

When it comes to the brooches themselves, you will need around 50-60 pieces, depending on the size of the bouquet. You can use only brooches, or add other types of jewellery such as earrings, chains, and rings. You can also add personal touches such as scrabble tiles with the bride and groom's initials. The pieces should fit roughly in colour and should not be too delicate, as you will have trouble wrapping them in wire.

Finishing the bouquet

To add a smooth transition between the handle and the upper brooches, you can add some extra ribbon petals. To do this, wrap wire around a piece of ribbon to form a loop and add some of these loops just below the brooches, either sticking them into the foam or gluing them in place.

If you are struggling with wrapping the handle, you could try using bouquet wraps that fit around the handle, or use decoupage paper and a few coats of varnish. If you want to use ribbon, start at the top and criss-cross the ribbon down, then back up. Secure it with pearl pins, a hot glue gun, or stitches. You could also add some little crystal beads or pearls down the handle to finish it off.

Finally, remember that it is normal to need to start over, so don't be afraid to take a deep breath and enjoy the process of creating something beautiful.

Frequently asked questions