Deborah Chan
Planning a wedding can be an expensive and stressful endeavour, so why not save some money and have fun by making your own bouquet? Summer brides are lucky as they have a wide range of in-season flowers to choose from, including bold and colourful options as well as more delicate pastel shades. Whether you're looking for something classic and simple or a statement piece, there are plenty of flowers to choose from.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Timing of preparation | Flowers should be bought a few days before the wedding, but flowers that are cut when they’re in a tight bud should be bought up to a week early. |
| Tools | Tissue paper, scissors or secateurs, an old spray top bottle filled with water, decorative ribbon, lace or fabric for the handle, a mirror to work in front of, floral snips, floral tape, wire, wire cutters, green tubing, hot glue, satin ribbon, sheer ribbon |
| Flowers | Dahlias, cosmos, acacia, blue thistle, delphinium, eucalyptus, ferns, sunflowers, chamomile, scabiosa, sweet peas, garden roses, orchids, clematis, zinnias, protea, banksia, passionflower, purple lupines, freesias, poppies, cornflowers, anthurium, carnations, daisies, gerbera daisies, lisianthus, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, ranunculus, sweet peas, hydrangeas, peonies, scabiosa, irises, delphinium, sweetpeas, proteas, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, freesia, tweedia, sweet pea, butterfly ranunculus, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, orchids, clematis, cornflowers, scabiosa, sweet peas, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, orchids, clematis, cornflowers, scabiosa, sweet peas, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, orchids, clematis, cornflowers, scabiosa, sweet peas, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, orchids, clematis, cornflowers, scabiosa, sweet peas, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, orchids, clematis, cornflowers, scabiosa, sweet peas, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, scabiosa, Queen Anne's lace, delphinium, hydrangeas, peonies, roses, clematis, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, peonies, freesias, feverfew, garden roses, chamomile, cosmos, Queen Anne's lace, zinnias, anthurium |
What You'll Learn
Choosing flowers
Think about the season and colour scheme:
Consider the time of year and the colour palette you want for your wedding. Summer is a season of vibrant, colourful flowers, so you can choose from a wide range of options. If you want something classic, go for white roses, dahlias, or peonies. For a bolder look, try sunflowers, delphiniums, or even bright yellow acacia flowers. You could also incorporate seasonal colours like sunny yellows and oranges or bright pinks and blues.
Select flowers that match your style:
Are you aiming for a tight, classic bouquet or something more whimsical and cascading? The style you choose will guide your flower selection. For a modern and simple design, use one to three types of flowers with little to no greenery. If you prefer a garden-inspired look, go for five to seven varieties of flowers and include lots of greenery.
Consider the size and shape:
Think about the size and shape of your bouquet. Do you want something large and dramatic, or small and delicate? If you're having a summer wedding, you might want to choose flowers with longer stems to add dimension and create a beautiful silhouette.
Pick flowers with special meanings:
You can add a unique touch to your bouquet by incorporating flowers with special meanings. For example, you could include your birth month flower or the flower of a loved one you want to honour.
Be mindful of the temperature:
Remember to consider the temperature on your wedding day. Some flowers may not do well in hot weather, so opt for hardy and heat-resistant blooms if your wedding is outdoors. Ask your florist for recommendations on flowers that will stay fresh and lively throughout the day.
Choose flowers that are in season:
Using flowers that are in season during the summer will ensure they are fresh and vibrant. Some great options for summer include peonies, dahlias, roses, clematis, cosmos, zinnias, and cornflowers. These flowers will add a burst of colour and texture to your bouquet.
Don't be afraid to mix and match:
Feel free to mix and match different types of flowers to create a unique and personalised bouquet. You can combine various colours, sizes, and shapes to achieve the look you desire. Play around with different combinations until you find the perfect mix that reflects your style and personality.
Remember to have fun with the process and let your creativity flow! By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to choosing the perfect flowers for your summer wedding bouquet.
Creating a Rustic Wedding Backdrop: Simple DIY Ideas
You may want to see also
Preparing flowers
The first step in making a summer wedding bouquet is to source your flowers. It is best to buy flowers a couple of days before the wedding, but flowers that are cut when they are in a tight bud, such as freesia or lilies, should be bought up to a week early. It is also important to give the flowers a long drink of water before working with them.
When you are ready to start preparing your flowers, lay out your materials on a large table or worktop and place the stems directly onto tissue paper to protect the blooms. Remove any leaves, shoots, and buds that will fall below the point where you will tie the stems together. This will form the handle of the bouquet and make it more comfortable to carry.
If you are right-handed, keep your left hand free as you will be working one-handed while holding the bouquet in your right hand. It is also a good idea to set up a mirror so that you can see the front of the bouquet as you work.
Choosing a Focal Flower
Now it is time to choose a focal flower that will go in the centre of your bouquet. Tie string or raffia to the stem at the point that will become the base of the bouquet and the top of the handle. Add stems of foliage around this central flower and bind them together with string or raffia.
Adding More Flowers
Once you have your focal flower in place, you can start building your bouquet by adding more flowers and foliage sprigs. Place each new stem into the bouquet at a diagonal angle and bind it in place, always adding new stems in the same direction to create a spiral effect. Keep going until you are happy with your bouquet and have used all your materials.
Creating Beautiful Flower Decor for Indian Weddings
You may want to see also
Constructing the bouquet
Prepare your flowers and greenery:
Remove the flowers from their packaging and straighten their stems. Take your greenery spray and separate the branches outwards for a natural, radiating effect. Having prepared flowers and greenery, you are now ready to create your bouquet.
Insert flowers into your greenery:
Take each flower and insert them one by one into the greenery spray. Create a globe-like shape by inserting the flowers in a circular direction, with larger flowers towards the centre and smaller accent flowers around the edges. Experiment with the placement of each flower until you are happy with the overall look.
Add depth and dimension:
Now, it's time to perfect your bouquet design. Pull certain flowers forward, especially the focal point flowers, to create depth and make the bouquet look fuller and more natural. Add any ornamental pieces from your floral box set near the focal flowers to enhance the design.
Tie and trim the stems:
Secure the stems of your bouquet by tying a piece of wire around them, then use wire cutters to trim any excess. Ensure the stems are uniform in length, leaving enough space to hold the bouquet comfortably during your wedding, without interfering with your dress.
Bundle the stems with green tubing:
Encasing the stems with floral tubing will protect your hands and create a professional finish. Insert 2-3 stems inside the tubing to cover any exposed wires and keep the bouquet neat. Continue until all stems are encased, going about 3/4 of the way up the stems.
Secure the stems with floral tape:
Use green floral tape to wrap around any remaining exposed stems near the base of the bouquet. This will help keep the bouquet in place and protect your hands throughout the wedding day.
Hot glue the ribbon to create a handle:
Create a "handle" by hot-gluing a satin ribbon of your chosen colour around the base of the bouquet. This will give it a polished look. Use an opaque ribbon to better hide the glue, and reserve sheer ribbons for the next step.
Tie a ribbon around your bouquet:
Finally, take two ribbons and tie them in a bow near the handle of the bouquet, leaving excess ribbon for a flowing, elegant effect. This symbolises happiness, satisfaction, and the bond between you and your partner. Feel free to experiment with different colours, multiple loops, or add accents to the middle of the bow.
Congratulations! You have now created a custom summer wedding bouquet. Enjoy this special creation and the memories it will hold for you.
Creating Colorful Mexican Wedding Banners: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Storing the bouquet
- Timing is crucial. It is recommended that you make your bouquet the day before the wedding. This will ensure that the flowers are at their freshest and most vibrant.
- When sourcing flowers, consider the season and choose flowers that are in bloom during the summer. This will not only ensure they are at their best, but will also be more budget-friendly.
- Prepare a deep vase or container with water and place the bouquet in it overnight so that the stems can drink.
- Store the flowers in a cool place, such as a shed or garage, and avoid drafts. Do not place them in direct sunlight as they will wilt.
- Keep them away from ripening fruit, especially bananas.
- Do not store them in a household fridge as it will be too cold. If your wedding is in winter, ensure the flowers are kept in a frost-free place.
- If using tender flowers, avoid placing them in the frost as they will turn black.
- On the morning of your wedding, dry the stems with a clean cloth and decorate the handle with ribbon, lace, or fabric.
- Finish the bouquet by giving it a light spritz of water and then place a sheet of damp tissue paper over the blooms to keep them fresh until you are ready to walk down the aisle.
By following these steps, your DIY wedding bouquet will stay fresh and beautiful, adding the perfect touch to your special day.
Custom Wedding Rings: Make Your Own at These Places
You may want to see also
Decorating the handle
You've sourced your flowers, prepared them, and assembled your bouquet. Now it's time to decorate the handle.
First, dry the stems that will form the handle with a clean tea cloth. You can then attach and wind ribbon, lace, or spare dress fabric around the stems to form an attractive and comfortable handle and to cover any string you used to bind the bouquet. Secure the ribbon or fabric with pretty pearl or diamante pins, which you can buy from craft stores.
Finally, give the bouquet a light spritz with fresh water and then place a sheet of damp tissue paper over the flowers to keep them fresh.
Creating a Scrapbook Wedding Guest Book: Tips and Tricks
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
It's best to buy your flowers a couple of days before the wedding. However, if you're using flowers that are cut when they're in a tight bud, such as freesia or lilies, you should buy them up to a week early, as they need longer to open.
First, lay out your materials on a large table or worktop. Place all stems directly onto tissue paper to protect the blooms from bruising. Prepare the flower and foliage stems by removing any leaves, shoots, and buds that will be below the point where you'll tie the stems together. This will make the bouquet more comfortable to carry.
In summer, you'll have access to a wide range of in-season flowers, from vibrant, large blooms to dainty florals. Some popular options include dahlias, zinnias, delphiniums, cosmos, sunflowers, and roses. You can also add greenery, such as eucalyptus, or wildflowers like chamomile and blue thistle, for a more subtle look.
Start by choosing a focal flower for the centre of your bouquet and secure it with string or raffia. Then, add stems of foliage and other flowers around it, working in a circular direction to create a globe-like shape. Insert larger flowers towards the centre and smaller accent flowers around the edges. Secure the stems with ribbon, floral tape, or wire, and trim them to a comfortable length.
