Stargazers, Roses, And Weddings: A Bouquet Tutorial

Stargazer lilies are large flowers with star-shaped petals and bold raspberry and cream-coloured petals. They are often used in tropical bouquets and pair well with many other flowers, including roses. A bouquet of roses and stargazer lilies can be a beautiful choice for a wedding, especially if you are looking for a tropical theme. Making your own wedding bouquet is not difficult, but it does require some time and the right materials. This introduction will cover the steps to make a classic dome-shaped wedding bouquet with stargazer lilies and roses.

Choosing flowers: Select roses and stargazer lilies for a tropical theme

Roses and stargazer lilies are both hardy flowers that can be easily arranged into a bouquet. The large, star-shaped petals of the stargazer lily are quite dramatic, and its raspberry and cream coloured petals make it a bold choice for a bouquet. Alternatively, there is a white version of the flower called a Casablanca lily. Roses, on the other hand, come in a variety of colours and can be used to create a simple single-flower wedding bouquet.

Stargazer lilies are often used in tropical bouquets and pair well with many other flowers. For a tropical theme, you could consider adding calla lilies, palm leaves, hibiscus, and plumeria. These flowers can be sourced from Etsy or Amazon.

When choosing flowers, it is important to consider the colour scheme and the overall look you are aiming for. If you are making the bouquet yourself, you will also need to consider the hardiness of the flowers and how easy they are to arrange.

To make a bridal bouquet, you will need between 30 and 60 stems of flowers, ribbon, rubber bands or floral tape, a stem cutter or sharp knife, and pins. The first step is to prepare the flowers by removing any excess foliage and thorns and cutting the stems at an angle. Then, assemble the flowers into the desired shape, using a mirror to help you see what the bouquet looks like. Secure the bouquet with rubber bands or floral tape, trim the stems to the desired length, and wrap them with ribbon. Finally, preserve the bouquet by wrapping it in tissue and storing it in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.

Preparing flowers: Remove thorns and foliage, trim stems

Preparing the flowers is a crucial step in creating a beautiful and safe bouquet. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide to removing thorns and foliage and trimming the stems of your stargazer lilies and roses:

Removing Thorns:

Thorns can be sharp and cause discomfort and injury, so it is essential to remove them carefully. You will need a pair of needle-nose pliers, tweezers, or a thorn remover tool, as well as gloves to protect your hands.

Using your chosen tool, gently grasp the thorn and carefully pull it out, being mindful not to damage the stem. If you are unable to remove a thorn with the pliers, you may need to use a sharp knife to cut it off carefully. Always pull or cut the thorn in the direction of its growth to minimise damage to the stem.

Removing Foliage:

Start by selecting the flowers you will use in your bouquet. Look for any dead or dried leaves on the stems and remove them. You can do this by carefully pulling the leaves off with your hands, especially if the rest of the plant is healthy. If needed, use a pair of scissors or garden shears to cut back the leaves to the base of the plant. Be careful not to remove any stems, as this should be done during normal pruning procedures.

Trimming Stems:

After removing the thorns and foliage, you may be left with excess pieces of stem. To maintain the beauty of your flowers, carefully trim away these excess pieces with sharp scissors or pruning shears. Be gentle and ensure you only cut away the necessary parts of the stem, as cutting too much can damage the flower's structure.

By following these steps, you will have a collection of beautiful, thorn-free, and neatly prepared flowers ready for your wedding bouquet.

Assembling flowers: Create a dome shape with four flowers at the centre

To assemble a dome-shaped wedding bouquet with stargazer lilies and roses, you'll need to start by preparing the flowers. Remove any foliage, thorns, and damaged petals, and cut the stems at an angle about 2 inches from the bottom. Allow the flowers to hydrate in a bucket of water, and if you're using roses, you can force the blooms open by placing the stems in hot water for a couple of minutes.

Now, for the assembly:

Take one stem at a time and use your other hand to hold the flowers in place. Select four flowers of similar height—stargazer lilies or roses, or a combination of both—and arrange them in a square shape. These four flowers will form the centre of your dome.

Once you have your centrepieces arranged, it's time to build the dome. One by one, add more flowers around the centre flowers. Keep adding blooms in a circular pattern, working outward from the centre, until you've created a full, rounded dome shape.

A tip to keep in mind: Stand in front of a mirror as you work to better visualise the bouquet's shape and progress. This will help you ensure that you're on the right track and make any necessary adjustments as you go.

Once you're happy with the shape of your bouquet, it's time to secure it. 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. Then, repeat the binding process towards the end of the stems, leaving a couple of inches of excess stem that you can trim later.

Now that the flowers are assembled and secured, you can move on to finishing the handle and wrapping the stems with ribbon for a beautiful, polished look.

Securing bouquet: Bind stems with rubber bands or floral tape

To secure your Stargazer and rose wedding bouquet, you can use either rubber bands or floral tape.

Using Rubber Bands

Before placing your bouquet in a vase, wrap a rubber band around the stems to keep the flowers together. Opt for a sturdy rubber band with good tensile strength, which refers to how well the band stretches and reverts to its normal form/size. This will ensure that the rubber band holds the flowers securely without damaging them.

Using Floral Tape

Floral tape is an adhesive tape used to bind and secure flowers and foliage in arrangements. It is made of a stretchy, flexible material that is ideal for shaping and holding your bouquet together.

To use floral tape, start by cutting a piece of tape, usually 2-3 inches long. Next, wrap the tape around the stems, starting at the bottom and working your way up. As you wrap, hold the tape in place and stretch it slightly to activate the adhesive. Make sure to cover the entire stem, then tear or cut the tape and press the end down to secure it.

Floral tape is perfect for creating a structured shape for cascading bouquets and providing extra support for delicate or fragile flowers. It is also useful for making rose garlands.

Finishing the handle: Cut stems to 7-8 inches, wrap in ribbon

To finish the handle of your wedding bouquet, start by cutting the stems to a length of about 7 to 8 inches. This will ensure that the bouquet is easy to hold and manoeuvre. Use a stem cutter or a very sharp knife to make a clean cut. If you're working with roses and want to force the blooms open, place the stems in a bucket of hot water for a couple of minutes before cutting. However, be careful not to leave them in the hot water for too long, or you might damage the flowers.

Once the stems are cut to the desired length, dry them off with a paper towel to remove any excess water. This will help keep the handle neat and tidy. After that, cut a length of ribbon that is about three times the length of the stems. You can choose a ribbon colour that complements your wedding theme or the colour of the flowers.

To start wrapping the ribbon, tuck the end of the ribbon inside the top bind, where the stems are secured with a rubber band or floral tape. Begin wrapping the ribbon in a spiral pattern down the length of the stems. When you reach the bottom, continue wrapping the ribbon in a spiral pattern back up the stems. This will ensure that the handle is fully covered and secure.

Finally, at the top of the bouquet, tuck the cut end of the ribbon underneath and secure it with a couple of straight pins or pearl-tipped corsage pins. Push the pins through the ribbon and into the stems to hold it in place. If you prefer a bow, you can cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just beneath the flower heads.

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