Creating A Floral Centerpiece For Your Wedding Day

Wedding floral centrepiece arrangements can be a fun and therapeutic DIY project for your big day. They can also add a personal touch to your wedding decor. The process is quite simple and mainly involves gathering the right tools and materials, and then arranging the flowers in a way that is pleasing to you. The type of vessel you use, the types of flowers you choose, and the way you arrange them can all be customised to fit your preferences and vision.

How to Make a Wedding Floral Centerpiece Arrangement

Choosing your flowers

Firstly, you will need to select your structural flowers and greenery. These will create the shape or skeleton of your arrangement. Longer-stemmed florals or greenery work well here. Greenery options include eucalyptus, foraged branches and leaves, berry branches, salal, evergreen, grapevines, basil, and mint. Structural flower examples include cherry blossom branches, dogwood branches, lilacs, delphiniums, snapdragons, and larkspur.

Next, choose your focal flowers. These are the blooms you most want to show off to your guests. They can be any flower you love and want to highlight. Popular choices include peonies, dahlias, lilies, anthurium, orchids, and roses.

Then, select some supporting flowers to fill in your arrangement and set up space for your focal flower to shine. These can be smaller flowers that complement the focal blooms.

Finally, add some textural flowers, foliage, and grasses to bring movement and whimsy to your centerpiece. Delicate florals, foliage, and grasses work well here. Examples include Queen Anne's Lace, Chive Flower, Oregano, Bachelor's Button, and Baby's Breath.

Remember to choose flowers that will fit the size and style of your vase or container, and don't be afraid to mix and match different types of flowers and greenery to create a unique and beautiful arrangement.

Setting up your vessel

The vessel is the foundation of your floral arrangement, so it's important to choose something that fits the overall aesthetic of your wedding and can accommodate the size and style of your flowers. Here are the steps to set up your vessel for a wedding floral centerpiece arrangement:

• Select an appropriate vessel: Choose a vessel that is proportional to the size of your arrangement. For a tall, dramatic look, consider a large vase or compote bowl. If you're using a low vessel, a simple salad bowl, a low pedestal vase, or a planter can work well. You can find these items in stores or online, including vintage options on sites like Etsy.
• Prepare your vessel: Ensure that your vessel is thoroughly cleaned and completely dry before starting your arrangement. If you're using a flower frog (a reusable tool that helps secure flower stems), stick floral putty to the bottom of the frog and twist it firmly into the centre of your vessel.
• Add chicken wire: Chicken wire provides support for your stems and can be found at hardware stores or online. Cut the chicken wire to about twice the size of the vessel's opening and bend it into a pillow shape before placing it inside the vessel. This will help keep your flowers in place and add stability to your arrangement.
• Secure with tape: Use waterproof tape, preferably in a colour that blends with your vessel and chicken wire, to secure the chicken wire in place. Create a '+' sign with two pieces of tape across the top of your vessel, taping over the chicken wire to keep it securely in place.
• Fill with water: Fill your vessel with water nearly to the top, keeping in mind that the addition of flower stems will cause the water level to rise. This step ensures your flowers stay hydrated, especially if you're arranging them the day before the event.

By following these steps, you'll have a sturdy and secure vessel ready for your wedding floral centerpiece arrangement. Now you can move on to choosing and arranging your flowers to create a beautiful display.

Preparing your flowers

Firstly, decide on the types of flowers and greenery you want to use. You can choose from a variety of options, including roses, lilies, orchids, eucalyptus, berry branches, and basil. It is recommended to have a mix of colours and textures to complement each other and add interest to your arrangement. You can use real, faux, or preserved flowers, or a combination of them.

Once you have your flowers, start by preparing the individual stems. Give each stem a fresh cut at an angle, as this will help it hydrate and stay perky. You can use sharp floral snips or pruners for this step. Remove any leaves or unwanted bits from the stems that would be touching the water, as dead foliage can contaminate your arrangement.

If you are using a vase or container, consider using chicken wire or floral foam to help hold the stems in place. Cut the chicken wire to fit the opening of your vase and shape it into a ball or pillow shape. You can also use floral tape to secure the chicken wire in place. Alternatively, soak the floral foam in water and place it in your container.

When you are ready to start arranging, begin with your greenery. Cut the greenery stems to varying lengths and place them in the vase at different heights to create a natural, balanced look. You can use different types of greenery to add texture and interest.

Now, you can start adding your flowers. Start with your largest flowers and place them near the centre of the arrangement, facing different directions and at slightly different heights. Then, add your smaller flowers, continuing to work from largest to smallest. Remember to turn the arrangement as you work to ensure it looks balanced from all sides.

Finally, fill in any gaps with additional greenery or smaller accent flowers. Take a step back and edit the arrangement as needed to ensure it looks full and natural from all angles.

Arranging your flowers

The order in which you arrange your flowers is up to you. There are different processes that work for different people, but generally, you should start with the base layer of greenery, then add your coloured stems, followed by your largest flowers, and then your smaller flowers.

First, cut 4-5 pieces of your longest and fullest greenery and arrange them somewhat evenly around the bottom of your bowl or vase. You want it to look balanced, but not perfectly spaced apart. Set aside a few smaller clippings to add in at the end. Then, if you have another type of greenery, layer it in the same way, placing a few towards the centre to start adding height, and again setting aside a few smaller branches for later.

Next, add your coloured stems. These will make up the last of your 'base layer' before moving on to the flowers.

Now, begin arranging your large flowers near the centre of the bowl, facing different directions and at slightly different heights. Turn the bowl as you go to make sure the placement looks random but balanced. For an arrangement of this size, five large flowers is perfect—design tip: odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye!

Finally, add your smaller flowers, again, using the same random but balanced approach.

Take some of the greenery you set aside at the beginning, and fill in any gaps in the centre. Edit and arrange any pieces as needed, turning the bowl as you go until all sides look natural and balanced.

Some other important tips to keep in mind when arranging your flowers:

• Pull the leaves and unwanted bits off the stems that would be touching the water. Dead foliage can contaminate your water and cause your arrangement to wilt and suffer.
• Always give each stem a fresh cut – at an angle – before placing it into the arrangement. This will help it to hydrate and stay perky. Woody stems can be split into more pieces or hammered at the end to give them more surface area to drink.
• Don't worry about 'covering your mechanics' (hiding the chicken wire and tape) until later. Focus first on creating a shape, colour scheme and arrangement that you love. As you add flowers, your mechanics will begin to hide, and you can always tuck in pieces at the end to make sure everything is covered.
• Daffodils (and some other flowers) release sap that is damaging to other flowers when cut. Place them in their own bucket when purchasing and arranging. When possible, cut them to the approximate size ahead of time and let them sit alone for a few hours.
• Don't be afraid to manipulate your stems. Reflexing roses, tulips and other flowers can turn an ordinary bloom into something spectacular.
• Let the wonky shapes and bends inspire you. Rather than fighting against a wild stem, show off its swirly, curly shape by letting it fly above or in its own highlighted space within the arrangement.

Final touches and filling gaps

Once you've assembled your floral arrangement, it's time to add the final touches and fill in any gaps. Take a step back and assess your creation from all angles, turning the bowl or vase as you go. Look out for any holes or visible mechanics, such as chicken wire or tape, and use smaller clippings of greenery or leftover flowers to fill these in. You can also use this opportunity to edit and rearrange any pieces as needed to ensure that the overall look is balanced and natural.

If you're working with a tall vase arrangement, you can use any remaining salal or greenery to complete the piece and disguise the mechanics. It's important to visualise your design and plan ahead to ensure you achieve the desired look. Whether you're going for a tighter, greener arrangement or a looser, more open style, the key is to be confident and creative.

If you're using a compote bowl or wide vase, you might want to add some fabric or dishes to complement your floral arrangement and create a complete tablescape. You can also experiment with different types of flowers and colours to suit the season or your personal preference. For example, burgundy and bronze for a winter wedding or holiday celebration, or muted and tonal colours for a romantic, whimsical effect.

Don't be afraid to play around with different combinations of flowers and greenery. You can create a statement piece that will impress your guests and add a personal touch to your wedding decor. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to create your floral centrepiece, so enjoy the process and let your creativity flow!

Frequently asked questions