Creating A Bridal Bouquet: Live Flowers For Your Wedding Day

Creating your own wedding bouquet is a fun and creative way to express yourself on your big day. It can also be a significant money-saver, as the cost of a professional bouquet often includes the price of labour. Making your own bouquet gives you the freedom to customise it to your liking and connect with your design on a personal level. It can be as simple or as intricate as you like, with classic dome shapes or cascading garden-inspired arrangements. You can use hardy flowers like roses, or more delicate blooms like peonies and tulips. The process is straightforward, and with the right tools and a bit of creativity, you can create a stunning bouquet that will be the perfect accessory as you walk down the aisle.

Choosing flowers and fillers

Focal flowers are the stars of your bouquet and usually have one large bloom per stem. Examples include roses, peonies, proteas, anemones, sunflowers, ranunculus, and mums. Filler flowers are smaller blooms that complete the overall look of the bouquet. Examples include baby's breath, poms, spray roses, and mini carnations. Greenery, such as eucalyptus, leather leaf, and ruscus, helps set the flow and shape of the bouquet.

When choosing flowers, it is important to consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. You may want to choose complementary colours for a subtle balance or go for contrasting colours to add drama. The number of flowers you choose will also depend on the size and style of your bouquet. If you want a classic, tight bouquet, you may only need 1-3 varieties of florals and very little greenery. However, if you prefer a more whimsical, garden-inspired look, you may want to choose 5-7 varieties of florals and include more greenery.

It is also a good idea to consider the seasonality of the flowers. Some flowers, like peonies, have sporadic growing seasons, which makes them expensive at certain times of the year and unavailable during the hot summer months. On the other hand, flowers like hydrangeas are grown in greenhouses all year round, making them more affordable and readily available. If you choose flowers that are in season, you will get the best quality at a more affordable price.

Lastly, don't be afraid to mix and match suppliers. There is no flower-buying etiquette, so you can get your flowers from multiple places to stay within your budget.

Timing and preparation

Timing:

Ideally, you should aim to make your wedding bouquet the day before the wedding. This will ensure that the flowers are fresh and at their best on your big day. Source your flowers two days before the wedding, and then start the bouquet-making process the following day. This timing will give you some flexibility if any unexpected delays or issues arise.

Preparation:

Before you begin assembling your bouquet, there are several preparation steps to follow:

• Select your flowers: Choose flowers that are in season to get the best quality and price. Consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette when making your selection. Decide on 1-2 focal flowers, 1-2 filler flowers, and some greenery to create a beautiful, well-rounded bouquet.
• Gather your tools: Ensure you have all the necessary tools and materials, including floral snips/scissors, ribbon or floral tape, stem cutter or sharp knife, pins, and buckets of water.
• Prepare the flowers: Remove any excess foliage, thorns, and damaged petals from the stems. Cut the stems at an angle, and allow the flowers to hydrate in buckets of water. Keep the stems long for now, as you can always trim them to the desired length later.
• Set up your workspace: Choose a spacious area, such as a kitchen or outdoor space, for easy clean-up. Have your flowers in buckets of water nearby, and lay out all your tools and materials before you begin.

By following these timing and preparation steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a gorgeous DIY wedding bouquet that will be a memorable part of your special day.

Assembling the bouquet

Now that you've selected your flowers and prepared them by removing excess foliage and thorns, it's time to assemble your bouquet. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Create a base: Choose 2-4 flowers to be the "base" or "focal point" of your bouquet. These flowers will be the stars of your arrangement and will be surrounded by other flowers and greenery. Secure the stems of these flowers together with floral tape, leaving 1 to 1.5 inches of exposed stem.
• Build the shape: Start adding flowers around your base flowers to create a dome, round, or globe shape. Consider the dimension and balance of your bouquet as you add more stems. You can stand in front of a mirror to get a better idea of what the bouquet will look like in your hand.
• Add depth and dimension: Pull certain flowers forward, especially your focal point flowers, to create depth and dimension. This will make your bouquet look more natural and full.
• Secure the bouquet: Use a rubber band or floral tape to bind the stems together where they naturally join, about 3 to 4 inches below the flower heads. Repeat this binding towards the end of the stems, leaving a bit of excess stem to trim later.
• Trim the stems: Cut the stems to the same length, usually about 7 to 8 inches long. You want them long enough to hold comfortably but not too long that they interfere with your wedding dress.
• Encase the stems: Use floral tubing to cover any exposed wires and create a neat, professional finish. Insert 2-3 stems at a time into the tubing, covering about 3/4 of the way up.
• Conceal exposed stems: Wrap any remaining exposed stems with green floral tape, starting from where the floral tubing ends and moving up to the base of the bouquet. This will help keep your bouquet secure and protect your hands.
• Create a handle: Use a satin ribbon and hot glue it around the base of the bouquet to create a handle. An opaque ribbon will hide the glue better, while a sheer ribbon can be used for the next step.
• Tie a ribbon: Take 2 ribbons and tie them in a bow around the bouquet, near the handle. Leave some excess ribbon to create a flowing, elegant effect. This symbolises the fellowship between you and your partner. You can experiment with different colours and accents.
• Final touches: Add any other finishing touches to make your bouquet truly yours. This is your chance to get creative and experiment!

Remember, don't stress too much about making it perfect. Enjoy the process of creating something beautiful with your hands, and remember that flowers are very resilient.

Securing the bouquet

Now that you've assembled your bouquet, it's time to secure it. Using a rubber band or floral tape, bind the stems at the spot where they naturally join (about 3 to 4 inches below the flower heads). 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 then place the stems in water and wrap them later, or continue to the next step.

To finish the handle, cut the stem ends so they are all the same length—about 7 to 8 inches long. Dry the stems with a paper towel, then cut a length of ribbon about three times as long as 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 back up 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. If you prefer a bow, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just beneath the flower heads.

To protect your hands while you walk down the aisle, you can encase the stems in floral tubing. Take a piece of floral tubing and insert 2-3 stems inside, covering any stray wires and keeping your bouquet neat and organised. Continue until all stems are encased. Don't go all the way up to the base of the flowers and leaves—about 3/4 of the way up is ideal. Use green floral tape to conceal any remaining exposed stems near the base of your bouquet.

Finally, take a satin ribbon in your chosen colour and hot glue it around the base of your bouquet to create a handle. You can use an opaque ribbon to better hide the glue, or a sheer ribbon if you prefer.

Finishing touches

Now that your bouquet is almost complete, it's time to add those final flourishes that will make it truly special. Here are some ideas for the finishing touches to your DIY wedding bouquet:

Ribbon

Adding a ribbon to your bouquet is a great way to elevate the design and give it a polished look. Cut a length of ribbon—around three times the length of your stems—and tuck one end inside the top bind, then spiral it down the stems. Spiral back up the stems to the top and tuck the cut end underneath. You can secure it with a couple of pins. If you want a bow, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just below the flower heads. You can also experiment with different colours and accents, such as gluing on trinkets.

Ornamental Pieces

If you've been provided with small ornamental pieces in your box set, now is the time to use them. Place them near your focal-point flowers to draw attention and engage the eye.

Trim the Stems

Use wire cutters to trim the stems so that they are uniform in length. Make sure they are comfortable to hold during your wedding, but not so long that they interfere with your dress. You can use the shortest stems in your bouquet as a guideline.

Floral Tubing

To protect your hands while carrying the bouquet and to create a professional finish, you can use floral tubing to encase the stems. This will cover any stray wires and keep the bouquet neat and organised. Insert 2-3 stems at a time, covering about 3/4 of the way up.

Floral Tape

To conceal any remaining exposed stems and to help keep the bouquet in place, wrap the bottom half of the stems with green floral tape. This will also protect your hands.

Mist the Heads

If you have time, misting the flower heads well and keeping the bare stems in water for as long as possible will ensure ultimate freshness.

Your bouquet is now complete! These finishing touches will ensure your DIY wedding bouquet looks beautiful, unique, and professional.

Frequently asked questions