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

A cascading bouquet is a timeless and elegant choice for brides who want to make a statement on their wedding day. This style of bouquet features a waterfall of flowers and greenery that gracefully spills from the bride's hand, creating a romantic and dramatic look. In this guide, you will learn how to create your own cascading bridal bouquet, from choosing the right flowers and materials to assembling and preserving your bouquet. With careful planning, attention to detail, and a touch of creativity, you can craft a breathtaking bouquet that will be the talk of your wedding.

Choosing flowers: Select 15-18 long-stemmed flowers, such as roses, peonies, or hydrangeas, to be the focal point of your bouquet

Choosing the right flowers for your cascading bouquet is essential. You'll want to select 15-18 long-stemmed flowers that will act as the focal point of your arrangement. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you choose the perfect blooms:

Number of Stems

Firstly, it's important to select a sufficient number of stems to create a full and elegant bouquet. Aim for 15-18 long-stemmed flowers as your primary blooms. This will ensure your bouquet has a cohesive and elegant look, rather than appearing random or sparse.

Flower Types

When it comes to flower types, you have a lot of options! Popular choices for cascading bouquets include roses, peonies, and hydrangeas. These flowers typically have long enough stems and create a classic, romantic look. Other options include stargazer lilies, anemones, ranunculus, dahlias, and more. You can choose a single type of flower or mix and match a few different varieties.

Colour Scheme

Consider the colour scheme of your wedding and your dress when selecting flowers. If you have a simple gown, you may want to choose a more ornate flower like a hydrangea to provide contrast. Alternatively, you can select flowers in your wedding colours or go with a classic all-white bouquet. For a bold statement, try combining bright colours like pink, coral, and yellow.

Flower Significance

You can also choose flowers that hold a special significance for you. For example, you might want to incorporate the first flower your fiancé ever gave you or a bloom that reminds you of a loved one. This will make your bouquet even more meaningful and unique.

Stem Length

When selecting your flowers, pay close attention to the stem length. Ensure the stems are at least 6 inches (15 cm) long so that they are easy to arrange and reach the bouquet holder. If you're purchasing flowers from a florist or sourcing them yourself, always check the stem length to make sure they will work for your bouquet.

Prepping flowers: Cut stems diagonally and remove leaves to create bare stems for a comfortable handhold

To make a cascading wedding bouquet, you'll need to prep your flowers by cutting the stems diagonally and removing the leaves to create bare stems for a comfortable handhold. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you with this process:

• Cut the Stems Diagonally: Use sharp pruning shears or scissors to cut the stems of your flowers at a slight angle, about 45 degrees. This increases the surface area of the stems, helping them absorb more water and stay fresh for longer. Cut about 2-3 inches (5.1-7.6 cm) from the bottom of each stem.
• Remove Leaves: Pluck or cut off any leaves from the bottom two-thirds of the stems. This prevents the leaves from decaying and tainting the water, and it also helps the flowers cluster together more easily in the bouquet.
• Timing: It's best to cut the stems and prepare your flowers about a day before you plan to arrange your bouquet. This gives the flowers time to adjust and stay hydrated.
• Watering: After cutting, place the flowers in a vase of fresh, room-temperature water right away. Flowers need plenty of water, so be sure to top off the water level regularly. You can also add a pinch of plant food or floral preservative to the water to help nourish the flowers and extend their lifespan.
• Storage: Keep your flowers in a cool place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. A temperature range of 65-72 degrees Fahrenheit (18-22 degrees Celsius) is ideal. Storing them in a cool, shaded area will help maintain their freshness.
• Re-cutting: To keep your flowers healthy and hydrated, re-cut the stems every 2-3 days. Each time, trim about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) from the bottom of the stems. This helps the flowers absorb water more effectively and prevents the ends from drying out.
• Flower Type: Different types of flowers have specific needs. For example, orchids and roses prefer a warmer environment, while carnations are sensitive to ethylene gas. Research the care requirements for each type of flower in your bouquet to provide them with the best conditions.
• Leafy Stems: If you're working with flowers that have leafy stems, such as lilies, you may need to "condition" them. Place these flowers in hot water immediately after cutting or briefly boil the ends of the stems to prevent the sap from sealing the stems and impeding water absorption.
• Flower Food: Using flower food or a homemade mixture of sugar, lemon juice, and bleach in the vase water can provide essential nutrients and slow the growth of bacteria, helping your flowers stay fresh for longer.
• Bouquet Holder: If you're creating a cascading bouquet, consider using a bouquet holder, also known as an "oasis." Soak the top of the holder in warm water to hydrate the foam inside, then place the holder in a heavy vase or stand to keep it secure while you arrange the flowers.

By following these steps, you'll be able to prep your flowers effectively, ensuring they stay fresh and beautiful for your cascading wedding bouquet.

Adding focal flowers: Arrange the largest, most eye-catching blooms first, with shorter stems at the top and longer stems at the bottom

When adding the focal flowers to your cascading bouquet, you'll want to start with the largest, most eye-catching blooms. These will serve as the focal point of your arrangement, so it's important to choose flowers that stand out and reflect your personal style. You may want to use flowers that feature your main wedding colours or simply a style that you love.

Begin by placing these focal flowers in the centre of your bouquet, with some shorter stems at the top and longer stems at the bottom to create a cascading effect. You can then add in smaller flowers with complementary colours to fill in the bouquet and create a line of florals that will cascade down the front of your wedding dress. This will draw attention to you as the bride in a dramatic and eye-catching way.

As you add these focal flowers, it's important to space them evenly throughout the bouquet. If the arrangement isn't symmetrical, it won't create the desired cascading effect. You can always trim the stems as you go to get the right length for each flower, ensuring the shortest are at the top and the longest at the bottom.

Adding fillers and greenery: Mix in floral fillers and greenery to add volume and emphasise the cascading shape

Once you have your main flowers in place, it's time to add in some floral fillers and greenery to create a gorgeous, full bouquet.

First, select your greenery. You could use ivy, silver sage, spirea, lemon leaf, eucalyptus, or any other type of greenery that's in season. Take the longest pieces of greenery and place them around the edges of your bouquet, letting them fall a little longer than your main flowers for an elegant, natural look. You can also use the greenery to frame the bouquet and emphasise its shape.

Next, add in your chosen floral fillers. Baby's breath is a popular choice, as it's delicate and won't detract from your main flowers. Other options include snapdragons, silver ragwort, poms, delphinium, and Queen Anne's lace. Mix the fillers in with your flowers to create a beautiful, full bouquet.

Finally, check your bouquet from all angles to ensure it looks harmonious and balanced.

Finishing touches: Secure the bouquet with floral tape and a rubber band, then wrap the stems with ribbon, lace, or burlap

Finishing Touches

The final steps to making a cascading wedding bouquet are all about securing your flowers and adding a stylish touch.

Secure the Bouquet

First, take some floral tape and wrap it around the stems of the bouquet, ensuring all stems are held in place. Then, use a sturdy rubber band or two to further secure the bouquet until it feels stuck in place.

Wrap the Stems

Now it's time to add a decorative touch. Wrap the stems with ribbon, lace, or burlap. You can also use silk ribbon with raw edges for a romantic look. Leave long streamers of your chosen material to add to the dramatic, flowing effect of the bouquet.

Add Embellishments

You can also add some final accents and embellishments, such as pearls, rhinestones, or charms, to elevate the overall appearance of your bouquet and make it unique to you.

Frequently asked questions