Royal Wedding Bouquet: Simple Diy Guide For Beginners

A wedding bouquet is a staple piece for brides as they walk down the aisle. It is a way to express yourself on your wedding day and can be customised to fit your wedding theme and personal aesthetic. Making your own bouquet can be a fun and creative process, and it can also save you money. To make a simple royal wedding bouquet, you will need to select your flowers, assemble the bouquet, and finish the handle.

First, pick 1-2 focal flowers that you want to be the centre of attention within your bouquet. Then, choose 1-2 filler flowers to create interest and fill in the spaces between the larger focal flowers. Finally, select a green flower to create a finished look. Some popular choices for royal wedding bouquets include roses, myrtle, orchids, lilies, and lily of the valley.

Next, you will assemble the bouquet. Take your focal flower and hold it with your fingers near the blossom end. Add the next flower at an angle towards the left, making sure the bloom is at the same height as the focal flower. Continue adding flowers, rotating the bouquet a quarter turn to the right each time. Once you have added all the flowers, insert some filler flowers to create a natural look. Stand in front of a mirror as you construct the bouquet to get a better sense of its shape.

Finally, finish the handle by cutting the stems to the same length, drying them off with a paper towel, and wrapping them with ribbon. Cut a length of ribbon about three times the length of the stems and tuck the end inside the top bind. Start wrapping in a spiral down the length of the stem and then back up again. Secure the ribbon with a couple of pins and add a bow if desired.

Picking your flowers

Picking the right flowers for your bouquet is a crucial step in creating a simple royal wedding bouquet. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you choose the perfect blooms:

Flower Choice

When selecting flowers for your bouquet, it's essential to consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. Choose flowers that complement your dress and enhance your overall look. You can opt for complementary colours to create a subtle, balanced effect or go for contrasting colours to add a dramatic touch.

Focal Flowers

Start by choosing 1-2 focal flowers, which will be the centrepiece of your bouquet. These flowers should be the most eye-catching and stand out among the rest. Examples of focal flowers include roses, peonies, and lilies, but you can choose any flower that holds a special meaning for you.

Filler Flowers

Select 1-2 types of filler flowers to create interest and fill the spaces between the larger focal flowers. Filler flowers are usually smaller and add a natural, whimsical touch to the bouquet. Examples include wax flowers, hypericum berries, and baby's breath.

Greenery

Adding greenery to your bouquet provides a finished, polished look. Choose a type of greenery that complements your flower selection, such as eucalyptus, fern leaves, or baby blue eucalyptus. Greenery adds texture and depth to your bouquet, making it appear more full and lush.

Seasonal and Local Flowers

To make your bouquet more cost-effective and ensure the availability of your chosen flowers, consider picking blooms that are in season. For example, daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips are in season during spring, while chrysanthemums and dahlias are perfect for autumn. You can source flowers from local farms, grocery stores, or flower markets to find fresh, seasonal options.

Royal Traditions

If you want to incorporate royal wedding traditions into your bouquet, consider including myrtle. Since the mid-1800s, British royal brides have often carried myrtle in their bouquets. This tradition began with Queen Victoria, who carried myrtle, known as the herb of love, at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. Since then, a sprig of myrtle from the original shrub has been included in the bouquets of subsequent British royal brides.

Personalisation

Feel free to add a personal touch to your bouquet by incorporating your birth flower or that of a loved one. You can also add a sentimental colour or a charm that holds a special meaning. Ultimately, the choice of flowers for your bouquet is a personal decision, and you should choose blooms that resonate with you and fit your wedding theme.

Removing leaves and cutting stems

Before you start constructing your bouquet, it's important to prepare your flowers and greenery. This includes removing all the leaves from the stems of your flowers and the bottom halves of your greenery stems. Removing the leaves will make it easier to arrange the flowers and create a neater, more streamlined bouquet. It will also save you time later and reduce mess.

To remove the leaves, gently pull or cut them off the stems, being careful not to damage the stems. You can do this by hand or use a stem stripper. Once you've removed the leaves, you'll be ready to start building your bouquet.

After you've arranged your flowers and are happy with your bouquet, it's time to trim the stems. Cut the stems at an angle about 2 inches from the bottom, leaving enough stem to hold the bouquet comfortably but not so much that it interferes with the wedding dress. Use sharp floral snips or scissors to make a clean cut. If you're using roses, keep the stems long while you work with them, and trim them to the desired length when you've finished constructing the bouquet.

Once you've trimmed the stems, bind them together with floral tape or a rubber band to secure the bouquet. You can then wrap the stems with ribbon to create a handle and add the finishing touches to your royal wedding bouquet.

Assembling the bouquet

Now that you've gathered your flowers and materials, it's time to start assembling your royal wedding bouquet. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create a simple yet elegant arrangement.

• Prepare your flowers: Remove any leaves, thorns, or damaged petals from the stems. Cut the stems at an angle, about 2 inches from the bottom, and place them in a bucket of water to hydrate. If you're using roses and want to open the blooms, place the stems in hot water for a few minutes. Just be careful not to leave them too long, or you might damage the flowers.
• Choose your focal flower: Select a flower that you want to be the centrepiece of your bouquet. This could be a rose, a peony, or any flower that stands out to you. Hold this flower in one hand, just below the blossom end.
• Add additional flowers: Choose a second type of flower to complement your focal flower. Add this at an angle, facing towards the left, ensuring that the blooms are at the same height. Continue adding flowers, rotating the bouquet a quarter turn to the right each time you add a new flower. You can also add some filler flowers or greenery at this stage to add colour and texture.
• Create the dome shape: Take four flowers and arrange them at an even height in a square shape. These will form the centre of your dome-shaped bouquet. Then, one by one, add the remaining flowers around the centre flowers to create a dome. Stand in front of a mirror as you work, so you can see the shape of the bouquet from the front.
• Secure the bouquet: Use a rubber band or floral tape to bind the stems together where they naturally join, about 3-4 inches below the flower heads. Repeat the binding towards the end of the stems, leaving a couple of inches of excess stem. You can place the stems in water at this point if you need to take a break, or continue to the next step.
• Finish the handle: Cut the stems to the desired length, making sure to leave enough room for a comfortable grip. Dry the stems with a paper towel, then cut a length of ribbon about three times the length of the stems. Tuck one end of the ribbon inside the top bind and start wrapping it in a spiral down the stems. When you reach the bottom, wrap it back up to the top, then tuck the cut end underneath and secure it with a couple of pins. If you want to add a bow, cut a separate piece of ribbon and tie it just below the flower heads.

Your simple royal wedding bouquet is now complete! Enjoy this creative process and don't be afraid to experiment and add your personal touch.

Securing the bouquet

Now that you've assembled your bouquet, it's time to secure it so it stays in place and looks perfect for your walk down the aisle. Here are the steps to secure your royal wedding bouquet:

Step 1: Binding the Stems

Use a rubber band or floral tape to bind the stems together at the spot where they naturally join, which is usually about 3 to 4 inches below the flower heads. This will hold your flowers in place and give you a good base to work with. Repeat the binding process towards the end of the stems, leaving about 2 inches of excess stem that you can trim later.

Step 2: Trimming the Stems

Before wrapping the stems, cut them to your desired length. The ideal length is something that is comfortable to hold and doesn't interfere with your wedding dress. A good guideline is to keep the stems about 7 to 8 inches long. You can also use your shortest stems as a guide and trim the others to match.

Step 3: Wrapping the Stems

After trimming the stems, cover them with floral tubing to create a professional finish and protect your hands from any exposed wires. Insert 2-3 stems inside the tubing and continue until all the stems are covered. Stop about 3/4 of the way up the stems, as you'll use floral tape to cover the remaining exposed area near the base of the bouquet.

Step 4: Securing with Floral Tape

Wrap the remaining exposed stems with green floral tape, starting from where the floral tubing ends and working your way up to the base of the bouquet. This will ensure your bouquet stays securely in place and provides an extra layer of protection for your hands.

Step 5: Creating a Handle

To finish off your bouquet, add a handle by gluing a satin ribbon of your chosen colour around the base. This will give your bouquet a polished look and feel. If you want to hide the glue, opt for an opaque ribbon.

Step 6: Tying a Ribbon

Finally, take two ribbons and tie them in a bow around your bouquet, near the handle. Leave plenty of excess ribbon to create a flowing, elegant effect. You can experiment with different colours and accents, such as hot glue decorations in the centre of the bow. Your bouquet is now ready for your royal wedding!

Finishing the handle

Now that you have assembled your bouquet, it's time to finish the handle. This involves trimming the stems, wrapping them with ribbon, and adding any final touches. Here are the steps to follow:

Trim the Stems

First, cut the stems so that they are all the same length. The ideal length is usually around 7 to 8 inches. This ensures that the bouquet is comfortable to hold and doesn't interfere with the wedding dress.

Dry the Stems

Use a paper towel to dry off the stems after cutting them. This will remove any excess moisture and prevent water stains on the ribbon or dress.

Wrap the Stems with Ribbon

Cut a length of ribbon that is about three times the length of the stems. You can use a complementary colour or stick to traditional white or pastel shades. 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, and tuck the cut end underneath. Secure the ribbon with a couple of pins pushed through it and into the stems.

Add 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 different colours or add accents to the middle of the bow.

Final Touches

Your bouquet is now complete! You can add any other final touches that you'd like to make it truly unique. This could include a charm, a special colour, or even a sprig of myrtle, following the British royal tradition.

Frequently asked questions