Creating A Hand-Tied Wedding Posy: A Step-By-Step Guide

Creating a hand-tied wedding posy is an easy way to make a beautiful bouquet. Hand-tied bouquets are a popular choice for brides, and they can be made with a variety of flowers and foliage. This technique involves arranging flowers in your hand and binding them with string or floral tape. The spiral technique is a popular method, where stems are added in a spiral fashion and criss-crossed. Flowers with long stems, such as roses, irises, and carnations, are ideal for this style of bouquet.

Choosing flowers and foliage

Choose Flowers That Match Your Theme:

Select flowers that complement your wedding theme and colour palette. Consider whether your wedding will be a casual or formal affair. For a casual event, wildflowers like sunflowers or daisies may be suitable, while exotic flowers like orchids or hibiscus could be more appropriate for a formal occasion.

Select Seasonal Flowers:

Choosing seasonal flowers is not only cost-effective but also ensures you have access to the freshest blooms. Spring and summer flowers include cherry blossoms, orchids, peonies, chrysanthemums, dahlias, and gardenias. For autumn and winter weddings, consider Gerbera daisies, roses, sunflowers, alstroemeria, lilies, pansies, or carnations.

Pick Flowers with Long Stems:

Flowers with sturdy, long stems are ideal for hand-tied bouquets. Examples include roses, irises, carnations, alstroemeria, peonies, tulips, and freesia. Other excellent choices are calla lilies, Singapore orchids, ranunculus, sweet peas, gardenias, and lisianthus.

Add Foliage for a Well-Rounded Look:

Greenery adds a natural touch to your bouquet. You can choose one type of foliage or mix several varieties for a more diverse arrangement. Suitable foliage options include camellia leaves, eucalyptus gum, box, ivy, nandina, leather fern, Queen Anne's Lace, cress, wheat, scented geraniums, Bells of Ireland, flax, and basil.

Consider the Size and Variety of Flowers:

A mixed bouquet typically looks best with three to four varieties of flowers, along with your chosen foliage. Include flowers of different sizes, such as statement blooms, filler flowers, linear tall flowers, and delicate blooms that add movement to the arrangement.

Selecting the right tools

Before you start arranging your flowers, it's important to gather the right tools to help you create a beautiful hand-tied wedding posy. Here's a list of the essential tools you'll need:

• Flowers with long stems: Choose flowers with sturdy, long stems such as roses, irises, carnations, alstroemeria, peonies, tulips, and freesia.
• Foliage: Select complementary foliage to add a natural touch to your bouquet. Options include camellia leaves, eucalyptus, ivy, nandina, and leather fern.
• Flower scissors or garden shears: If you're cutting flowers from your garden, you'll need sharp scissors or shears to ensure clean cuts.
• String, floral tape, or zip ties: You'll need something to bind the stems together. String or floral tape can be used, or zip ties for a more secure hold. Cut about a yard of string or floral tape ahead of time.
• Ribbon: A pretty ribbon will cover the binding and add a delicate touch to your bouquet. You can also use twine for a more rustic look.
• Vase or container: Have a vase or container ready to hold your completed bouquet.
• Other optional items: You may also want to have a bucket of water to keep your flowers hydrated, flower preservative, and tissue paper to wrap the bouquet before refrigeration.

With these tools, you'll be well-equipped to create a stunning hand-tied wedding posy. Remember to choose flowers and foliage that complement your wedding theme and colours, and don't be afraid to experiment with different arrangements until you find the perfect combination.

How to arrange the bouquet

Arranging the bouquet is an art in itself, and with a little practice, you can master the spiral technique. The first step is to select the right flowers and foliage. Choose flowers with long stems such as roses, irises, carnations, alstroemeria, and freesia. You can also add statement blooms like peonies, hydrangeas, and garden roses. For a more eclectic style, choose a mixture of flowers and foliage.

The next step is to prepare the flowers. Cut the stems on a slant and remove any thorns or lower foliage. You want the stems to be approximately the same length, around 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) long. Conditioning your flowers is important, so remove any foliage that will sit below the water line and cut the stems at an angle to allow the flowers to absorb more water.

Now you are ready to start building your bouquet. Hold the largest flower or a cluster of three medium-sized flowers in your left hand, with the stems between your thumb and first finger. With your right hand, add 4-6 clusters of foliage or flowers evenly around and just below the flower heads, crisscrossing the stems on an angle. As you add each new stem, turn the bouquet in your hand slightly. The goal is to create a "fulcrum" where all the stems cross each other. Secure the stems with string or floral tape.

Continue adding flowers and foliage, placing each layer slightly below the previous one to create a rounded, natural look. Keep turning the bouquet clockwise and inserting the stems at a 45-degree angle. Secure each layer with string or wire, winding it around the stems a couple of times to keep everything in place.

Finally, cut the stems so they are all the same length, about 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) long. Spray the bouquet with water to keep the flowers fresh, and finish off by tying a ribbon around the stems to cover the string. You can also add a pretty bow or secure it with a pin.

Binding the bouquet

Selecting the Binding Material

The choice of binding material depends on the desired look and the availability of supplies. Some common options include string, floral tape, twine, wire, and ribbon. For a more natural and rustic look, twine or string can be used, while floral tape or wire provide a discreet finish. If you want to add a touch of colour and elegance, a ribbon is a perfect choice.

Preparing the Binding Material

Before you begin arranging the flowers, it is essential to prepare the binding material. Cut a length of string, twine, or wire, approximately a yard long. This will give you enough material to wrap around the stems multiple times. If using floral tape, cut a shorter length, as it will only be used to secure the stems initially. If you plan to finish the bouquet with a ribbon, cut a longer length, allowing for a bow and long tails.

Binding the Stems

Once you have created the desired shape and size of your bouquet by adding flowers and foliage, it's time to bind the stems. Hold the bouquet securely in one hand and use your other hand to wrap the binding material firmly around the stems. Start wrapping from the top, just below the flower heads, and work your way down. For string, twine, or wire, wind it multiple times to ensure a secure hold. If using floral tape, stretch it gently around the stems, as pulling too hard can cause it to rip.

Finishing Touches

After binding the stems with the initial material, cut the ends of the flower and foliage stems to create a neat appearance. Ensure they are all the same length, approximately 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) long. Spray the bouquet with water to keep the flowers fresh. Finally, if you wish to cover the binding material or add a decorative touch, wrap a ribbon around the stems. Tie the ribbon into a bow with long tails, securing it with a pin if needed.

Finishing touches

Once you have your hand-tied wedding posy, there are a few final steps to take to ensure it looks perfect and stays fresh.

First, cut the stems so they are all the same length—about 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) long. This will give your bouquet a neat appearance. Then, lightly spray the bouquet with water to keep the flowers and foliage hydrated and fresh.

Now it's time to add the ribbon. Finish off your bouquet by wrapping a length of wide ribbon around the stems, covering the string or floral tape you used to secure the bouquet. You can tie the ribbon in a shoestring bow with long tails, or secure it with a pin. If you prefer a more rustic look, you could use twine or even a thin wire instead of ribbon.

If you want to add a special touch, you could also include a collar of leaves or lace around the base of the bouquet. This will give your posy a sleek, contemporary look.

Your hand-tied wedding posy is now complete! Be sure to keep it refrigerated until the wedding to ensure the flowers stay fresh.

Frequently asked questions