Creating A Wedding Rehearsal Bouquet: A Step-By-Step Guide

A wedding rehearsal ribbon bouquet is a fun, inexpensive, and easy DIY project for the bridal party. The bouquet is made from ribbons and bows collected from gifts the bride receives at her bridal shower. The bouquet is then used during the wedding rehearsal when the bride practices walking down the aisle.

Choosing the right flowers and ribbons

When choosing flowers for your wedding rehearsal bouquet, it's important to consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. Do you want complementary colours to create a subtle balance, or would you prefer to integrate contrasting colours for added drama?

If you're going for a classic, tight bouquet, a modern and simple design might be best. This could include one to three varieties of florals, very little to no greenery, and flowers with lots of textural interest. On the other hand, if you want something more whimsical, like a garden-inspired, cascading arrangement, you might opt for five to seven varieties of florals and greenery, with lots of different textures and gestures.

When it comes to ribbons, you have a lot of options. You can play with textures and colours, or even order a custom-printed ribbon with a sweet note. If you want a luxurious look, try an extra-wide silky ribbon with a big bow and wide tails. For a flowy detail, ask your florist about extra-long ribbons, especially if you have a long, sleek skirt. You can also use two different widths and colours of ribbon to create contrast and add interest. Velvet ribbon adds texture—rich hues are perfect for autumn and winter, while pastel tones suit spring and summer. For a soft, flowy look, go for a sheer ribbon. You could even use two different materials—the soft texture of velvet ribbon, for example, complements the smoother feel of silk or satin.

If you want to add a personal touch to your bouquet, consider integrating a family heirloom or using blue ribbon or lace to tie it off, honouring the "something old" and "something blue" traditions.

Timing and preparation

Timing:

If your wedding is on a Saturday, it is recommended to source your flowers on Thursday. This gives you enough time to create the bouquet on Friday and add any final touches, like a ribbon, on the day of the wedding. This timing ensures that your flowers are fresh and at their best for the big day.

Preparation:

Before you start constructing your bouquet, there are a few preparation steps to follow:

• Remove all the leaves from the floral stems and the bottom halves of the greenery stems.
• Using a sharp pair of floral snips, cut the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle.
• Keep the stems in a bucket of water as you work on assembling your bouquet.
• If you are using tropical blooms or facing high temperatures, research the best methods to keep your flowers vibrant and healthy.

Bouquet Assembly:

Once your flowers and greenery are prepared, you can move on to assembling your bouquet:

• Start by building the shape and framework of your bouquet, considering the dimension and overall structure.
• Use a mirror to help you assemble, so you can see exactly what the front of the bouquet looks like.
• Begin with a base of greenery and then add larger, focal flowers.
• Continue adding smaller flowers and greenery, balancing the design as you go.
• Once you're happy with your bouquet, secure the stems with a rubber band and then floral tape to hide the rubber band.
• Finally, add a ribbon to give your bouquet a clean, classic look, or allow it to cascade down for a more relaxed, garden-style feel.

Remember, don't stress too much over the small details. Enjoy the process of creating something beautiful and unique for your special day!

Assembly and design

The bridal bow bouquet is a time-honoured tradition and a staple of the wedding rehearsal. It is made using ribbons and bows from the packages received at the wedding shower. The process is inexpensive and easy, especially when using paper plates as a base. Here is a step-by-step guide to assembling and designing a bridal bow bouquet:

Firstly, you will need to gather the necessary supplies: two coated paper plates, a hot glue gun and hot glue, 3" wide burlap ribbon, ribbons and bows from the bridal shower packages, and optionally, faux flowers or faux greenery.

On the front side of one paper plate, draw a circle with an approximate 4" diameter. This circle serves as a guide for where you should not punch holes. Using a knife or sharp scissors, punch holes all over the plate, except for the circle you drew. Separate the ribbons from the bows, and begin threading the ribbons through the holes, leaving some space between the plate and the ribbon. Repeat this process until the plate is covered with ribbons.

Flip the plate over and tie the ends of each ribbon together, then cut off any trailing ends. Warm up your hot glue gun, and fill in any bare spots on the plate with pre-made bows. Curl the ends of the curling ribbon bows along the outer edge of the plate, and hot glue the pre-made bows in the centre. You can also add faux flowers or paper leaves for a more authentic look.

To create a handle for the bouquet, take the second paper plate and roll it into a cone shape. Secure it with packing tape. Place some hot glue at the bottom of the handle and press the end of the burlap ribbon into it. Wrap the ribbon around the handle, adding dabs of hot glue as you go. Repeat this process with another ribbon, wrapping both up and down the handle.

Finally, hot glue the top of the handle (the exposed paper plate) onto the centre of the first paper plate, ensuring you glue it onto the empty part of the plate without ribbons. And there you have it—a gorgeous bridal bow bouquet for the wedding rehearsal!

If you are looking to create a floral bouquet instead, here are some general guidelines. Firstly, decide on the type of blooms and colours you want to incorporate, considering the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. Go for complementary colours for a subtle, balanced look, or integrate contrasting colours for added drama.

Next, determine the style of your bouquet. Are you opting for a classic, tight bouquet or something more whimsical, like a cascading arrangement? If you're leaning towards a modern and simple design, use fewer varieties of florals and minimal greenery. For a garden-style bouquet, mix several varieties of florals and greenery, focusing on different textures and gestural qualities.

Once you've decided on the flowers and style, it's time to start assembling the bouquet. Begin by building the shape and framework, thinking about dimension as you go. Stand in front of a mirror to get a better idea of what the bouquet will look like from the front. Start with a base and then add larger, focal flowers. Continue adding smaller flowers and greenery, balancing the design as you build.

Once you're happy with the bouquet, snip the stems to trim them back and secure the bouquet with a rubber band. Add floral tape to hide the rubber band, and loop a ribbon around the stems for a classic look or let it cascade down for a more relaxed, garden-style feel.

Trimming and securing

Trimming:

• Before you begin constructing your bouquet, ensure that the flower stems and greenery are prepared. Remove any leaves from the floral stems and the bottom halves of the greenery stems.
• When you are happy with the arrangement of your bouquet, use sharp floral snips to trim the stems. Cut the stems at an angle, preferably at a 45-degree angle. This will help to create a clean, uniform look and promote water absorption.
• Consider the length of the stems. They should be long enough for you to hold the bouquet comfortably during your wedding, but not so long that they interfere with your wedding dress. Use the shortest stems in your bouquet as a guideline, and remember that you can always trim them shorter if needed.

Securing:

• Once you have trimmed the stems to the desired length, it is time to secure them in place. Use a piece of wire to tie around the stems just below the flowers and greenery. This will help to keep the bouquet intact and make it easier to handle.
• After trimming, you may notice some exposed wires. To protect your hands and create a neat finish, use floral tubing to encase the stems. Insert 2-3 stems at a time into the tubing, working your way up the bouquet. This will cover any stray wires and keep your bouquet organised.
• Leave some of the stems exposed near the base of the bouquet, where the flowers and greenery begin to branch out. Wrap these exposed stems with green floral tape to conceal any remaining wires and to add extra security.
• Finally, add a ribbon to create a handle and give your bouquet a polished look. Use hot glue to attach a satin ribbon in your chosen colour around the base of the bouquet.

Your DIY wedding bouquet is now ready to be displayed and admired! This process may take some time and creativity, but the result will be a beautiful, custom arrangement that holds a special meaning for your big day.

Finishing touches

Now that you've assembled your bouquet, it's time to add some final flourishes. Here are some ideas for the finishing touches:

Fluff and Cut

Once you've attached all the ribbons and bows, fluff the bows and ribbons to give them some volume. Cut any pieces that are too long, and trim any trailing ends of the ribbons. This will help create a neat and uniform look.

Authenticity

To add a touch of authenticity, you can include some greenery or flowers. Remove the leaves from dollar store flowers and hot glue them into the bow bouquet. You can also use paper leaves from the bridal shower decorations. This will make your bouquet look more like a traditional flower bouquet.

Handle

Create a beautiful handle for your bouquet by using a second paper plate. Roll the paper plate into a cone shape and secure it with packing tape. You can then glue this handle to the centre of the first paper plate, which should be empty and free of ribbons.

Ribbon Wrapping

To make the handle even prettier, wrap it with ribbon. Use hot glue to attach the ribbon to the handle, and then wrap it up and down, adding more glue as you go. You can use a burlap ribbon or any other type of ribbon that complements your colour scheme.

Final Touches

Now is the time to add any other finishing touches that you'd like. You can experiment with ribbons of different colours or hot glue accents onto the middle of the bows. Get creative and make your bouquet truly unique!

Frequently asked questions