Lyla Dejesus
Flower arrangement is an art that can add beauty to any occasion, including weddings. It can be a fun creative outlet for beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike. With endless combinations of colours, textures, and styles, flower arrangement can be a great way to express your creativity and add a personal touch to your wedding. In this guide, we will walk you through the basics of creating your own beautiful wedding flower arrangements, including essential tools, selecting flowers, basic techniques, and how to keep your creations fresh and vibrant.
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What You'll Learn
- Choosing flowers: Select seasonal flowers to stay cost-effective
- Essential tools: Gather vases, shears, scissors, pins, tape, etc
- Basic techniques: Start with foliage, add focal flowers, then fillers
- Flower care: Cut stems at an angle, remove leaves, and hydrate
- Creative tips: Play with colours, textures, and styles
Choosing flowers: Select seasonal flowers to stay cost-effective
The type of flowers you choose will have a significant impact on the total cost of your wedding flowers. The more varieties you choose, the higher the overall cost will be. Therefore, opting for simplicity and selecting seasonal flowers can be a cost-effective way to create beautiful arrangements.
Seasonal flowers are those that are currently in bloom and are readily available locally. They are usually more affordable than flowers that need to be sourced from far-away destinations, as you save on transportation costs. For example, peonies are in season in May and June, so if you host your wedding during these months, you can decorate with these big-ticket flowers for less. Plus, flowers that are in season are likely to be fresher and more pristine.
If you have a specific flower in mind, it is worth considering that the price of flowers varies depending on the season. For example, roses can cost anywhere from $3 to $25 per stem, depending on whether they are in season or exotic. If you are set on a certain flower that is out of season, you could mix it with more affordable, seasonal blooms. Fillers like baby's breath, hypericum berries, and greenery can also be used to stretch arrangements for less.
To keep costs down, you could also opt for potted plants, such as succulents, terrariums, or cacti, instead of lavish flower arrangements. These can be used as alternative, budget-friendly centerpieces.
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Essential tools: Gather vases, shears, scissors, pins, tape, etc
The right tools are essential for creating beautiful wedding flower arrangements. Here is a list of tools you will need to arrange wedding flowers as a beginner:
Vases
The first step to arranging flowers is to select an appropriate vase. Choose a vase that complements your wedding theme and has a wide enough opening to accommodate your floral arrangement. A vase with a ""frog" (a lid with holes to keep stems evenly spaced) can be helpful for keeping your flowers organized and in place.
Shears and Scissors
A good pair of floral shears or pruning shears is crucial for cutting flower stems cleanly without crushing them. This allows the stems to absorb water more effectively, keeping your flowers fresh and hydrated. Regular scissors can also be useful for various cutting tasks.
Floral Knife
While optional, a floral knife can be handy for precise cuts and removing excess greenery from stems. It requires a steady hand and practice to use a floral knife safely and effectively.
Pins
Pins are essential for creating personal florals such as boutonnieres, corsages, and flower arrangements. They help secure ribbons or twine around bouquets and ensure that your floral creations stay in place. Angle the pins upwards to avoid piercing the stems.
Tape
Floral tape is used to bind stems together and create a secure base for your arrangements. It also helps in creating corsages and boutonnieres by providing a base for the flowers to be glued onto. Regular tape can be used to create a grid at the top of your vase, guiding the placement of your flowers.
Optional Tools
Other optional tools that can be useful include floral foam, wire, ribbon, and twine. Floral foam provides a stable foundation for your arrangements, while wire adds flexibility and support to delicate blooms. Ribbon and twine can be used to decorate your bouquets and add a finishing touch.
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Basic techniques: Start with foliage, add focal flowers, then fillers
When creating a wedding flower arrangement, it's important to follow a basic formula: start with foliage, then add focal flowers, and finally, add filler flowers. This simple structure will help you create beautiful bouquets that are full of life and movement.
Start with Foliage
The foliage is the foundation of your bouquet. It provides structure, fills space, and gives your arrangement a lush, professional look. When selecting foliage, opt for a mix of varied shapes and textures, such as broad-leaved eucalyptus and fine-leaved ferns. This will create depth and visual interest. Choose foliage that complements the colour scheme of your flowers. For example, you could use a mix of foraged greenery and apple blossom branches.
Add Focal Flowers
The focal flowers are the stars of your bouquet. They are the largest, most statement-making blooms that draw the eye and provide a strong centrepiece. When selecting focal flowers, choose one or two varieties to avoid visual clutter. Popular choices include roses, peonies, and lilies. Consider size and shape by choosing larger blooms that dominate the composition while remaining proportional to the overall bouquet. Opt for contrasting colours that stand out and complement the fillers and foliage. Examples of focal flowers include dahlias, lisianthus, small sunflowers, or ranunculus.
Finish with Filler Flowers
Filler flowers add texture and volume to the bouquet without overwhelming the focal flowers. They fill in any gaps and empty spaces, enhancing the overall arrangement. When choosing filler flowers, select smaller, delicate blooms such as baby's breath, limonium, or solidago. Use fillers to soften the transitions between focal flowers, ensuring they don't overshadow but enhance the overall look.
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Flower care: Cut stems at an angle, remove leaves, and hydrate
To make wedding flower arrangements, you'll need buckets, vases, shears, scissors, twine or ribbon, centerpiece tape, floral tape, pins, and a flower stripper. You'll also need flowers, of course!
To keep your flowers fresh and beautiful for your wedding, follow these steps:
Cut stems at an angle
Cut the stems of your flowers at a 45-degree angle, about every three days. Cut about 0.75 to 1 inch off the bottom of each stem. This will help the flowers absorb water more easily and prevent air pockets from forming. If you notice any discolouration on the stem, cut it away. You can also cut off any excess leaves that fall below the waterline to reduce rotting and clouding.
Remove leaves
Gently remove any thorns or leaves from the flowers. This will help your arrangement look neat and elegant. It is important to be gentle and use the appropriate tools when removing leaves and thorns to avoid damaging the flowers.
Hydrate
Flowers need water to survive, so it is important to keep them well-hydrated. Place the flowers in a vase or bucket of water as soon as possible after cutting the stems. The water should be changed regularly, and the vase or bucket should be cleaned to prevent bacteria build-up. Keep the flowers in a cool environment, away from direct sunlight and heat sources, to prevent dehydration.
You can also add flower food to the water to provide additional nutrients and help the flowers stay fresh for longer. Be sure to follow the instructions on the flower food packaging to ensure proper dosing.
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Creative tips: Play with colours, textures, and styles
Flowers are an essential part of any wedding, and choosing the right blooms can bring your vision to life. Here are some creative tips to help you play with colours, textures, and styles when arranging wedding flowers as a beginner:
Colours
The colour scheme of your wedding flowers can transform your special day into an enchanting and unforgettable experience. Soft pastel hues create a romantic and timeless look, while bold, vibrant shades add excitement and fun. Consider the overall aesthetic you want to achieve and choose colours that complement it. For instance, if you're aiming for a dramatic and opulent celebration, jewel tones like rich ruby reds, emerald greens, and sapphire blues will create a luxurious setting. On the other hand, earthy tones such as warm browns, rustic oranges, and deep burgundies are perfect for a cozy, rustic, or outdoor wedding.
If you're a fan of simplicity and sophistication, an all-white flower arrangement is a classic choice, symbolizing unity and new beginnings. You can also add a unique touch by incorporating bleached dried flowers, which are perfect for a Boho-themed wedding. For a whimsical, outdoor celebration, opt for colourful blooms like peonies, garden roses, or the freshest flowers of the season.
Textures
Texture is an important component in floral design. It can create a modern or soft and delicate look. For example, a bouquet of sleek, sculptural orchids gives a modern aesthetic, while soft, fluffy, open peonies provide a more delicate feel. Mixing multiple blooms together adds texture and creates visual interest. Don't forget to play with the textures of your finishing details, such as the ribbon around the stems. You can choose between a shiny satin ribbon or a soft chiffon ribbon with an unfinished edge.
Styles
The style of your flower arrangements can vary depending on the wedding theme and your personal preferences. For a whimsical, bohemian celebration, consider incorporating cascading elements in your floral design. Tall brides wearing sleek column dresses or bias-cut gowns often look wonderful with long, cascading bouquets. If you want to keep it simple and elegant, opt for a monochromatic colour scheme and elegant centrepieces for the reception tables. You can also add candles or votives to create a warm and inviting ambiance.
For a unique style, use a vase with a "frog," which is a lid with holes or slots to keep stems evenly spaced and help anchor them, even at different angles. This allows for creative freedom in arranging your flowers.
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Frequently asked questions
Choose flowers that are in season, as they will be the most cost-effective. You can also opt for fake flowers, which can be bought on clearance.
Roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, baby's breath, and leather leaf ferns are known as "industry standards" because they are super-tough and long-lasting.
You will need buckets, vases, shears, scissors, twine or ribbon, floral tape, pins, and a flower stripper.
Remove extra leaves and damaged petals from stems. Cut off any unwanted buds on the same stem as a full flower. Then, make a fresh diagonal cut to the bottom of the stems and put them in a vase or bucket of water with flower food.
Decide on a color scheme before shopping for flowers. Select flowers based on what's currently blooming in your garden or what you can find at the local market.
