Creating A Mixed Flower Bouquet For Your Wedding

Creating a mixed flower wedding bouquet is a fun and rewarding project. It's also a great way to save money on your big day. While it may seem intimidating, making your own bouquet is a simple process that can be achieved in a few steps. You'll need to select your flowers, taking into account the style of your dress and wedding colour palette, and whether you want a classic, tight bouquet or something more whimsical. You'll also need some basic tools, such as floral scissors or shears, ribbon or floral tape, and pins. With these in hand, you can start assembling your bouquet, adding flowers one by one to create the shape and design you desire. Finally, you'll secure the stems with tape or ribbon, and your bouquet is ready!

Picking your flowers

If you're working within a tight budget, it's worth considering which flowers are in season when you're getting married. For example, daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips bloom in the spring, while chrysanthemums and dahlias are best in autumn. Seasonal flowers are more affordable and easier to source.

Once you've decided on a colour scheme and the types of flowers you want to use, it's time to start sourcing your blooms. You can buy flowers from online wholesalers, grocery stores, or even big-box stores like Costco. If you have access to a garden with flowers that are in bloom, you can also pick your own.

When selecting your flowers, it's important to choose a variety of sizes and textures to create a visually interesting bouquet. Pick 1-2 "focal flowers" that will be the centrepiece of your bouquet. Then, choose 1-2 "filler" flowers to create interest and fill in the spaces between the larger blooms. Finally, add some greenery, such as baby blue eucalyptus, to create a finished look.

If you're unsure where to start, consider sticking to the traditional bridal bouquet colours of white and pastel pink. You can use flowers like cream Vendela roses, white spray roses, and light pink peonies.

Preparing the flowers

The first step in preparing your flowers is to remove all the leaves from the stems. Do this gently by hand, being careful not to damage the stems. You can also use a stem stripper to make sure all foliage and thorns are removed, and pull off any damaged or unattractive outer petals.

Next, fill a sink or bucket with water. Holding the stems underwater, cut them at an angle about 2 inches from the bottom with a sharp pair of floral snips or shears. Leave the flowers to drink for a few seconds, then place the stems in a bucket filled halfway with cool water until you are ready to assemble the bouquet.

If you are using roses and want to open the flower heads, place the stems in a bucket of hot water for a couple of minutes. However, be careful not to leave them in for too long, or you might kill the flowers.

Keep the stems long while you work with them, and only trim them to a shorter length once you have finished constructing the bouquet.

Assembling the bouquet

Now that you've gathered your flowers and supplies, 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 centre of attention, so select your favourites or flowers that match your colour scheme. Hold the flowers with your fingers near the blossom end.
• Add flowers: One by one, add the remaining flowers around the central flowers to create the desired shape. If you're going for a dome shape, arrange the flowers evenly around the centre. For a more natural look, insert smaller "filler" flowers between the larger blooms. Remember to rotate the bouquet as you add flowers to create a well-rounded arrangement.
• Consider texture and colour: As you build your bouquet, mix textures and colours to create an interesting and visually appealing composition.
• Secure the bouquet: Once you're happy with the arrangement, use floral tape to secure the stems together. Wrap the tape around the stems a few times, leaving 1 to 1.5 inches of exposed stem at the top and 4-5 inches at the bottom. This will give you enough room to hold the bouquet comfortably.
• Trim the stems: Cut the stems to the same length, leaving them about 7 to 8 inches long. This will make it easier to handle the bouquet and give it a neat appearance.
• Wrap the stems: Cut a length of ribbon, approximately three times the length of the stems. Place one end of the ribbon at the top of the bouquet, near the flowers, and start wrapping it in a spiral down the stems. When you reach the bottom, wrap the ribbon back up the stem. Secure the cut end of the ribbon by tucking it underneath and pinning it in place.
• Add a bow: If you'd like, cut a separate piece of ribbon and tie it into a bow just below the flower heads. This adds a charming touch to your bouquet.

Remember, don't stress too much about perfection. Enjoy the process of creating something beautiful and embrace the uniqueness of your handmade bouquet!

Securing the bouquet

Now that you've assembled your bouquet, it's time to secure it!

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

For the finishing touch, cut the stem ends so they are all the same length, about 7 to 8 inches long. Dry the stems with a paper towel. Cut a length of ribbon about three times as long as the length of the stems. Then, 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 the ribbon 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'd like to add a bow, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just beneath the flower heads.

Floral tape and ribbon aren't the only options for securing your bouquet. You can also use corsage pins, floral adhesive, or a hot glue gun. Corsage pins can be used to create a pearl design on your ribbon wrap. If you use pins, be sure to insert them at a steep diagonal to prevent anything from poking out the other side.

Finishing the handle

Now that you've assembled your bouquet, it's time to finish the handle. Cut the stems so they are all the same length, about 7 to 8 inches long. If you have a coloured theme at your wedding, you could choose a ribbon colour to match. Cut a length of ribbon about three times as long as 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'd like to add a bow, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just beneath the flower heads.

You could also use floral tape to bind the stems. Wrap the tape from the top downwards, being careful not to wrap all the way to the bottom. Wrap just over the size of one hand to keep the bouquet's natural look while ensuring there's plenty of tape to hold everything together.

Frequently asked questions