Creating A Wedding Shower Bouquet: A Step-By-Step Guide

A bridal shower bouquet is a fun and creative addition to any bridal shower. It is a long-standing tradition for the bride to have a rehearsal bouquet made from ribbons and bows from her gifts. This can be used at the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Making a bridal shower bouquet is an easy and inexpensive process, and it can be made by anyone, but it is usually the host of the bridal shower or a relative of the bride. This guide will take you through the steps to make a beautiful bridal shower bouquet.

Selecting your flowers

The bridal shower bouquet is a creative and lively addition to the bridal shower. It is a handmade flower arrangement made from ribbons. The bouquet is traditionally used by the bride during the wedding rehearsal.

Picking the right flowers

When selecting flowers for your bridal shower bouquet, it is important to consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. Do you want complementary colours to bring subtle balance to your décor, or would you prefer to integrate contrasting colours for added drama?

The style you opt for will dictate how you approach your flowers. If you're going for a modern and simple design, use fewer varieties of flowers, very little to no greenery, and flowers with a lot of textural interest. For a more whimsical, garden-inspired, cascading arrangement, use more varieties of flowers and greenery, and choose flowers with different textural and gestural qualities.

Sourcing your flowers

If you have access to someone's garden, look at what's blooming there. If not, consider local farms, grocery stores, or flower markets to source the floral varieties you need. You can also check online to order flowers in bulk.

Timing

Timing is crucial when making your own bridal shower bouquet. Ideally, source your flowers two days before the wedding, create the bouquet the day before, and add the ribbon on the day of the nuptials. This ensures that the blooms are at their best for the wedding.

Sourcing flowers

The bridal shower bouquet is a handmade flower arrangement made from ribbons. It is a traditional piece for brides to showcase at their bridal shower. The bouquet can be made by anyone, but it is usually the host of the bridal shower or a relative of the bride, such as the mother or sister, who takes on the task.

The first step is to decide on the type of blooms you want to incorporate into your bouquet. Consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. Do you want complementary colours for a subtle balance, or would you prefer to integrate contrasting colours for added drama?

Next, determine the style of your bouquet. Are you going for a classic, tight bouquet or something more whimsical, like a cascading arrangement? The style you choose will dictate your approach to the flowers. For a modern and simple design, use one to three varieties of florals, very little to no greenery, and florals with textural interest. For a garden-style bouquet, choose five to seven varieties of florals and greenery, and flowers with different textural and gestural qualities.

Once you have decided on the style and type of blooms, you can start sourcing your flowers. If you have access to a garden, take a look at what's blooming there. If not, you can source flowers from local farms, grocery stores, or flower markets. You can also order flowers in bulk online.

To save money, pick flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding. For example, daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips bloom in the spring, while chrysanthemums and dahlias are best in the fall.

Preparing your flowers

To make your own bridal shower bouquet, you'll need to gather some supplies and follow a few simple steps. The first step is to decide on the type of flowers and colours you want to use. Consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. Do you want complementary colours for a subtle look, or do you want to integrate contrasting colours for a bolder statement?

Once you've decided on your colour scheme and flower types, you'll need to source your flowers. If you have access to a garden with blooming flowers, that's a great place to start. Otherwise, you can check local farms, grocery stores, or order flowers in bulk online.

When selecting your flowers, keep in mind the timing of your wedding. If you're getting married in the spring, go for flowers like daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips. For a fall wedding, chrysanthemums and dahlias are excellent choices.

After you've sourced your flowers, it's time to start preparing them for the bouquet. Using a sharp pair of floral snips, remove all the leaves from the floral stems and the bottom halves of any greenery stems. Cut the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle to help them absorb water more easily. Keep the stems in a bucket of water as you work, especially if you are working with tropical blooms or in a hot climate.

Assembling your bouquet

Now that you have your supplies, it's time to assemble your bridal shower bouquet! This is your chance to get creative and have fun with it. Here's a step-by-step guide to putting it all together:

Start by preparing your base. Take your paper plate and use scissors or a knife to poke two holes on opposite sides of the plate. This will be the base for your bouquet, so you might want to use two plates for added strength if you have a lot of ribbons.

Gently insert a ribbon through one of the holes and tie a knot on the backside of the plate. Repeat this process by creating another hole across from the first one and threading a second ribbon through to make an "X" shape. This will create a steady and large base for your ribbons and bows.

Tie a knot with the second ribbon, and then tie all the ribbons together in one large knot. This is where the bride will hold the bouquet, so make sure it's secure.

Now, you can start adding your ribbons and bows! You can do this part at the shower or at home. Just work with what you have and keep building and tying. Remember to think about form and spacing as you go along.

Don't be afraid to add some extra flair! You can include gift extras, package tie-ons, or even feathers by taping them onto your bouquet.

As you continue adding ribbons and bows, you might need to tape some of them down, as the adhesive on the bows may not always stick well to the plate. Keep packing them in and fluffing them out to create a full and vibrant bouquet.

Finally, cut any extra pieces of ribbon that are too long. And there you have it—a beautiful bridal shower bouquet or "bow-quet"! Feel free to add your personal touches and get creative with the design. Enjoy the process of crafting something special for the bride!

Adding the finishing touches

Now for the finishing touches! Once you have added all your ribbons and bows, you can cut any pieces that are too long and fluff your bows and ribbons. You can also add any extra special touches, like a cute feather, by taping them on.

If you are making a handle for the bouquet, take your second paper plate and roll it into a cone shape. Secure it with packing tape. Place some hot glue at the bottom of the paper plate handle and press the end of a piece of 3" burlap ribbon into the glue. Wrap the ribbon up and around the handle, adding more glue as you go. Repeat this process with another ribbon, wrapping both up and down the handle.

Finally, glue the top part of the handle (the exposed paper plate that is folded outward) onto the bottom of the plate filled with ribbons and bows. Make sure to glue the handle onto the centre of the plate, where there are no ribbons. And there you have it—a gorgeous bridal shower bow bouquet!

Frequently asked questions