Creating A Wedding Bouquet With Fresh Flowers

Creating a fresh flower wedding bouquet is a fun and exciting task that adds a unique touch to your special day. It may seem challenging, but with simple materials and a few steps, you can craft a stunning bouquet. This guide will cover everything from choosing the right flowers to assembling and preserving your bouquet. Whether you're aiming for a classic dome shape or a whimsical garden-inspired arrangement, the key to success is careful planning and attention to detail. So, get ready to dive into the world of floral design and create a beautiful accessory for your wedding day!

Choosing your flowers: Select 1-3 strong primary flowers with long stems, and consider seasonality and colour

Choosing the right flowers for your wedding bouquet is a crucial step in the process of making your own bouquet. You'll want to select 1-3 strong primary flowers with long stems, and also consider the seasonality and colour of your flowers.

For primary flowers, some excellent options are roses, orchids, calla lilies, hydrangeas, peonies, dahlias, magnolias, and many others. Choose 1-3 types of flowers that you like, but make sure they have strong and long enough stems to support the overall bouquet. If you want out-of-season flowers, they may be harder to find and more expensive.

When selecting your flowers, consider the colour palette of your wedding. Traditionally, most wedding bouquets consist of white and cream flowers, but you can choose whatever colours you like. You can draw inspiration from the overall floral design or aesthetic of your wedding, the emotions you wish your bouquet to convey, the time of day of your wedding, the location, and even your wedding dress. You can choose sentimental, contrasting, or matching colours, soft or vibrant tones, and light or dark shades. However, it is recommended to stick to shades of either a single colour or a small range of colours.

Seasonality is an important factor to keep in mind when choosing your flowers. If you want flowers that are in season, they will be easier to find and more affordable. For example, daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips bloom in the spring, while chrysanthemums and dahlias are best in the fall.

Gather supplies: You'll need fresh flowers, shears/scissors, ribbon, and floral tape

Making a fresh flower wedding bouquet requires some preparation and the right supplies. Here is a detailed list of the tools and materials you will need to create a beautiful and professional-looking bouquet:

Fresh Flowers

The most important component of your bouquet is, of course, the flowers themselves. When choosing your flowers, consider the colour scheme, the season, and the overall aesthetic of your wedding. Opt for flowers with strong and long stems to support the bouquet structure. Primary flowers like roses, orchids, calla lilies, and peonies are excellent choices. Secondary flowers can include spray roses, freesias, or filler flowers like baby's breath. Don't forget to select flowers that are in season to ensure they are readily available and cost-effective.

Shears/Scissors

A sharp pair of floral snips or scissors is essential for trimming and shaping your bouquet. Use them to remove any unwanted foliage, thorns, or damaged petals from the stems. They will also come in handy when you need to cut the stems to the desired length.

Ribbon

Ribbon adds a stylish and elegant touch to your bouquet. Choose a ribbon that complements the colour palette of your bouquet. You will need approximately 180 inches of ribbon to wrap around the stems. Select a ribbon with a width of 1 to 2 inches for the best visual impact.

Floral Tape

Floral tape is used to secure the stems of your bouquet together. It helps to bind the stems tightly while also providing a discreet finish. Start wrapping the tape from a point below the blossoms, working your way down the stems in a spiral motion. This will ensure the stems are firmly held together, providing a sturdy base for your bouquet.

Prepare flowers: Remove foliage/thorns, trim stems, and place in water

Preparing your flowers is a crucial step in making your own wedding bouquet. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Remove Foliage and Thorns

Use your hands or a stem stripper to gently and carefully remove any foliage, thorns, and unwanted leaves from the stems. Be cautious not to damage the stems during this process. It is also essential to remove any damaged or discoloured outer petals. If you desire some greenery in your bouquet, you can choose to keep some of the top leaves of the flowers.

Trim Stems

Using a stem cutter, sharp knife, or floral snips, cut the stems at an angle, leaving them around 10 inches long. This length will make it easier to work with the flowers. You can always trim them shorter later. Remember to keep the stems long while you are constructing the bouquet.

Place in Water

Fill a bucket or sink with cool water. Hold the stems underwater and cut them again at an angle, this time about 2 inches from the bottom. Allow the flowers to absorb water for a few seconds, then place them in the bucket of cool water. If you are working with roses and want to force the blooms open, place the stems in hot water for a couple of minutes, but be cautious not to leave them too long, or you might damage the flowers.

Assemble bouquet: Use a mirror to help you arrange flowers into a spiral shape

To assemble a bouquet, you will need to gather your chosen flowers, some floral tape, a ribbon, a pair of scissors, and a mirror.

Stand in front of the mirror and start building the shape and framework of your bouquet. Begin by choosing a focal flower that will be the centre of your bouquet. Place 3 or 4 of your primary flowers with the largest blossoms together, crossing the stems. Hold them right beneath the blossoms, just at the point where the stems cross with each other. Then, start building the bouquet by adding more of your primary flowers, one at a time. To make sure all stems cross together, rotate your hand while you’re adding the flowers, to create a spiral shape.

Once you’re done with the primary flowers, keep doing the same process with your secondary flowers, placing 2-3 at a time. Use them to fill any gaps or empty spaces between your main flowers. Make sure to adjust the flowers as you add more so that they seem to come out from the centre and none of them are extending too far or too near from the others. You want your bouquet to be balanced and rounded, with an even volume and shape.

Secure and finish: Bind stems with tape/ribbon, trim to desired length, and hydrate

Now it's time to secure and finish your bouquet!

First, bind the stems together with floral tape or ribbon. Start wrapping about 1-1.5 inches below the blossoms, keeping the tape as close as possible to the stems to hold them tightly together. Spiral the tape down the stems for about 3-4 inches. Then, take your ribbon and start wrapping it from the same point, covering the floral tape. Wrap the ribbon all the way down the stems, then back up again, until all the floral tape is covered. Secure the ribbon with a knot, a bow, or some pearl-headed pins.

Next, trim the stems to your desired length. A good rule of thumb for the size of a bouquet is to keep the diameter between 8-13 inches, no wider than the bride's waist. Typically, 6-7 inches is a good length for a bouquet. However, you can trim the stems to whatever length works best for your arrangement.

Finally, hydrate your bouquet. Place the flowers in a bucket or sink full of cold water and let them sit for a minimum of 2-4 hours, or even overnight. This will help the flowers absorb water and stay fresh. Remember to change the water and trim the stems every 2-3 days to keep your bouquet looking its best.

Frequently asked questions