Creating A Beautiful Homemade Wedding Bouquet

A homemade wedding bouquet is a great way to add a personal touch to your special day. Making your own bouquet can be a fun and creative way to express yourself and feel connected to your design. It can also help you save money, as the cost of a typical bridal bouquet can be quite expensive. With some simple materials and a few steps, you can create a beautiful and custom arrangement that will perfectly complement your wedding gown. This paragraph provides an introduction to the topic of how to make a homemade wedding bouquet, covering the benefits, cost considerations, and creative aspects of crafting your own bridal bouquet.

Choosing flowers and colours

Choosing the right flowers and colours for your homemade wedding bouquet is an important part of the process. It's a chance to express yourself and your theme on your wedding day.

Traditionally, most flowers in a bridal bouquet are white, with some pastel colours like pink. However, you should choose colours and flowers that match your wedding theme and your personal preference. If you have a coloured theme, a bouquet is a great way to tie the theme together.

When choosing flowers, it's important to consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. You can opt for complementary colours to bring subtle balance or integrate contrasting colours for a bolder statement. If you're going for a modern and simple design, it's best to use fewer varieties of flowers and very little greenery. For a more whimsical, garden-inspired look, you can use more varieties of flowers and greenery, creating a natural look.

It's also essential to consider the hardiness of the flowers you choose. Roses, for example, are easier to arrange and can endure a little more handling. If you're making the bouquet the day before the wedding, as some suggest, certain flowers may not last as long.

The size of your bouquet will also dictate the number of flowers you need. For a bridal bouquet, you'll likely need around 30 to 60 stems, depending on the type of flower and the desired size.

Preparing the flowers

Before you start constructing your bouquet, you'll want to make sure the flowers are prepped and ready. The first step in making any bouquet or flower arrangement is to remove all the leaves from the stems. You can do this gently by hand, being careful not to damage the stems.

Next, you'll want to clean and dry the stems. Remove any remaining leaves from the lower three-quarters of the stems. Then, fill a sink or bucket with water and cut the stems at an angle about 2 inches from the bottom, with the stems held underwater. Allow the flowers to drink for a few seconds, then place the stems in a bucket of cool water until you're ready to assemble the bouquet. Keep the stems long while you work with them, and trim them to a shorter length once you've finished constructing the bouquet.

If you're using roses and the heads aren't open yet, you can force the blooms open by placing the stems in a bucket of hot water. However, only do this for a couple of minutes before you plan to use the roses, or you might kill them.

If you're using tropical blooms or arranging your bouquet during a heatwave, research the best way to keep them vibrant until your big day.

Assembling the bouquet

Now that you have your flowers and tools ready, it's time to start assembling your bouquet. This part of the process is creative and fun, so feel free to experiment and find what works best for you. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create a beautiful bouquet:

• Start with a base: Begin by choosing a focal flower, which will be the centrepiece of your bouquet. Hold the flower near the blossom end and add the next flower at an angle, facing towards the left. Make sure the blooms are at the same height.
• Add larger flowers: Continue building the shape and framework of your bouquet by adding larger, focal flowers. Think about the 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.
• Include smaller flowers and greenery: Start adding smaller flowers and greenery to fill in the gaps and balance the design. You can also add filler flowers, which are usually smaller, green flowers that give a natural look to the bouquet. Ensure that you insert these at the same angle to maintain symmetry.
• Secure the bouquet: Once you're happy with the arrangement, snip the stems to trim them back and secure the entire bouquet with a rubber band. Make sure it's tightly wrapped. Then, add floral tape to hide the rubber band.
• Wrap the stems: Cut the stems to a comfortable length, considering the time the bride will be holding the bouquet. Wrap the stems with ribbon, either in a spiral or cascading down the side for a more relaxed look. You can also add a bow with a separate length of ribbon.
• Final touches: If you want, add any final touches like charms or other sentimental items to make your bouquet unique. Enjoy the process of creating something beautiful, and don't stress too much—flowers are resilient!

Securing the bouquet

Now that you've assembled your bouquet, it's time to secure it so it stays in place. Here are the steps to do this:

Binding the Stems

Use a rubber band or floral tape to bind the stems at the spot where they naturally join (about 3 to 4 inches below the flower heads). You can also use green waxed floral tape or green floral tubing to conceal the stems and any exposed wires. This will give your bouquet a natural look and a professional finish.

Repeat Binding

Repeat the binding process toward the end of the stems, leaving about 2 inches of excess stem beneath the bind to trim later. You can place the stems in water and wrap them later, or continue to the next step.

Trimming the Stems

Cut the stems so they are all the same length, leaving enough room for a comfortable grip. A good guideline is to measure two hands' lengths from the binding, and then add an additional 3 centimetres.

Finishing the Handle

Dry off the stems with a paper towel. Cut a length of ribbon about three times the length of the stems. You can use a complementary colour or a classic white or off-white ribbon.

Wrapping the Ribbon

Tuck the end of the ribbon inside the top bind and start wrapping it in a spiral down the length of the stem. When you reach the bottom, wrap it back up the stem in a spiral. At the top, tuck the cut end of the ribbon underneath and secure it with a couple of pins pushed through the ribbon and into the stems.

Adding a Bow

If you'd like to add a bow, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just beneath the flower heads. You can also experiment with multiple loops, different colours, or glue accents onto the middle of the bow.

Your bouquet is now secured and ready for the big day!

Finishing the handle

Now for the finishing touches! Cut the stems so they are all the same length, leaving about 7 to 8 inches from the bottom of the flower heads. Use a paper towel to dry off the stems. Cut a length of ribbon that is about three times the length of the stems. Tuck the end of the ribbon inside the top bind and start wrapping it in a spiral down the length of the stem. When you reach the bottom, wrap it in a spiral back up the stem. At the top, tuck the cut end of the ribbon underneath and secure it with a couple of pins pushed through the ribbon and into the stems. If you want to add a bow, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just beneath the flower heads.

If you want to add a handle to your bouquet, take a satin ribbon in your choice of colour and hot glue it around the base of the bouquet. This will give it a polished look. Use an opaque ribbon to hide the glue better. Sheer ribbons are better for tying bows.

If you want to add a bow, cut a length of ribbon and tie it in a knot to finish it off. You should have about 40cm of ribbon left, which you can use to tie a knot and add a bow.

Congratulations, you've just created a custom bridal bouquet!

Frequently asked questions