Crafting An Asymmetrical Wedding Bouquet: A Creative Guide

Wedding bouquets are a significant part of the bridal ensemble, with many brides choosing to make their own to save money and add a personal touch. Asymmetrical bouquets are a popular choice, embracing the natural beauty of flowers rather than styling them into a specific shape. This contemporary style creates an unusual shape that steers away from symmetry, using the flowers' natural colour, form and movement. This type of bouquet can be made using a variety of flowers and greenery, with the option to add decorative elements such as ribbons or lace.

Choosing flowers and colours

Choosing the right flowers and colours for your asymmetrical wedding bouquet is a very important step in creating a stunning masterpiece. Asymmetrical bouquets are unique in that they embrace the natural beauty of flowers rather than styling them into a specific shape or pattern. This contemporary style creates an unusual shape that steers away from symmetry, so it's important to carefully select blooms that will define its outline.

When choosing flowers, consider their colours, sizes, and what they symbolise. Each bloom can add a layer of personal meaning to your special day. For instance, you could add in your birth flower or a flower that represents a loved one. You could also use a sentimental colour, such as your favourite colour or that of your partner's.

The right combination of primary and accent flowers can turn a simple arrangement into a show-stopping bouquet. Primary flowers are usually larger and more striking, setting the arrangement's theme and tone. Accent flowers, on the other hand, enrich and complement the primary flowers by introducing texture, colour variation, and depth.

If you're unsure of which flowers to choose, 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? It's also important to keep in mind the current climate and the flowers' natural habitats. If temperatures are high or you're experiencing a dry spell, research how to keep your flowers vibrant until your wedding day.

Lastly, consider the size of your bouquet. A good rule of thumb is to ensure the bouquet is no wider than the bride's hips. You don't want the stems to be too long so that they interfere with the wedding dress, but they should be long enough to be held comfortably.

Selecting the shape

Overall Vision and Style

It is important to consider your wedding dress style and the overall aesthetic of your wedding. The bouquet shape you choose should complement your dress and wedding style, whether it's a classic, rustic, modern, or bohemian theme.

Natural Beauty of Flowers

Asymmetrical bouquets embrace the natural beauty and movement of the flowers. Carefully select blooms that will define the outline and overall shape of your bouquet. This approach creates an organic, contemporary style that deviates from traditional symmetry.

Size and Proportion

Consider the size of your bouquet in relation to your body and dress. A good guideline is to ensure the bouquet is not wider than your hips, allowing it to complement your silhouette without overwhelming your frame.

Creativity and Experimentation

Don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different shapes. Asymmetrical bouquets offer more freedom in design, allowing you to break away from traditional rules. Play around with the placement of flowers and greenery to find a composition that speaks to you.

Personalisation

Add a unique touch to your bouquet by incorporating sentimental elements. This could include your birth flower, a sentimental colour, or a charm with personal significance. These additions will make your bouquet truly yours and transform it into a cherished keepsake.

Remember, selecting the shape of your asymmetrical bouquet is a creative process that should reflect your personal style and vision. Enjoy the journey of crafting something truly unique for your special day!

Preparing materials

Asymmetrical wedding bouquets are a popular choice for brides who want to embrace the natural beauty of flowers. By using the flowers' natural colours, forms, and movement, and carefully selecting blooms to define the bouquet's outline, you can create an organic, contemporary style with a unique shape.

Select Your Flowers

The first step in preparing your materials is to choose the right flowers for your bouquet. Consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. Decide if you want complementary colours for a subtle balance or contrasting colours for added drama. Select flowers that are in season to save costs. For example, if your wedding is in spring, choose from daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips.

Determine Your Style

Next, decide on the style of your bouquet. Do you want a classic, tight bouquet or something more whimsical, like a cascading arrangement? If you opt for a modern and simple design, use fewer varieties of florals and minimal greenery. For a garden-style look, choose more floral and greenery varieties with different textures and gestures.

Source Your Flowers

Once you've decided on the style and chosen your flowers, it's time to source them. You can look for a friend's garden with blooming flowers, or check local farms, grocery stores, or online to find the floral varieties you need.

Timing

The timing of making your bouquet is crucial. Ideally, you should source your flowers two days before the wedding, create the bouquet a day before, and add the final touches, like ribbons, on the wedding day. This ensures the blooms are at their freshest for your special day.

Gather Tools

In addition to your flowers, you'll need a few tools to create your bouquet:

• Sharp floral snips for trimming
• Ribbon or floral tape
• Wire and wire cutters
• Floral tubing

Prepare the Flowers

Before you start constructing your bouquet, prepare the flower stems and greenery. Remove all the leaves from the floral stems and the bottom halves of the greenery stems. Cut the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle to increase water absorption and keep your flowers fresh. Keep the stems in a bucket of water as you work to assemble your bouquet.

Consider the Climate

If the temperature is high or you're using tropical blooms during a dry spell, research how to keep them vibrant until and throughout your wedding day.

Now that your materials are prepared, you are ready to start assembling your asymmetrical wedding bouquet!

Creating the bouquet

Asymmetrical wedding bouquets are defined by their natural beauty, embracing the form and movement of the flowers themselves. This style steers away from symmetry, creating a unique shape that is contemporary and organic.

Choose your flowers and greenery:

Select blooms that complement the natural colour, form, and movement of your bouquet. Consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. You can opt for complementary colours for a subtle balance or integrate contrasting colours for a dramatic effect. If you're after a modern and simple design, choose one to three varieties of florals with very little greenery. For a more whimsical, garden-inspired look, choose five to seven varieties of florals and greenery, with different textures and gestural qualities.

Prepare your flowers:

Remove all the leaves from the floral stems and the bottom halves of the greenery stems. Using a sharp pair of floral snips, cut the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle. This will increase the surface area for water absorption, keeping your flowers fresh for longer. Keep the stems in a bucket of water as you work to prevent them from drying out.

Build the shape:

Stand in front of a mirror to help guide you as you build the bouquet. Start by creating a base with the greenery, then add in the larger focal flowers. Continue to add in smaller flowers and more greenery, balancing the design as you build. Play around with the placement of the flowers until you're happy with the overall look. Remember, this is meant to be a natural, unstructured design, so don't be afraid to experiment!

Add depth and dimension:

Once you've created the basic shape, pull certain flowers forward to create depth and dimension. This will make your bouquet look even more natural and full. Emphasise your focal point flowers by bringing them to the front.

Secure the bouquet:

When you're satisfied with the design, use a rubber band to tightly secure the stems together. Then, add floral tape to hide the rubber band and give the bouquet a neat finish.

Trim the stems:

Trim the stems to uniform lengths, ensuring they are comfortable to hold during the wedding and do not interfere with the wedding dress. Leave the stems long enough to be held easily, but not so long that they become cumbersome.

Finish with ribbon:

Add a satin ribbon in your chosen colour, hot-gluing it around the base of the bouquet to create a handle and a polished look. Then, take two sheer ribbons and tie them in a bow around the bouquet, near the handle, leaving a fair amount of excess for a flowing, elegant effect. You can experiment with different colours and accents, such as hot-gluing on embellishments.

Congratulations! You've created a unique and beautiful asymmetrical wedding bouquet.

Adding finishing touches

Adding the final touches to your asymmetrical wedding bouquet is an important step in making it truly your own. Here are some ideas to elevate your bouquet and give it a polished look:

Wrap stems with floral tape

Floral tape is essential to secure and protect your bouquet. Wrap the stems with the tape, starting from where the floral tubing ends and moving upwards towards the base of the bouquet, where the flowers and greenery begin to branch out. This will help to conceal any exposed wires and give your bouquet a neat and professional finish.

Create a handle with ribbon

Take a satin ribbon in your chosen colour and hot glue it around the base of your bouquet. This creates a handle and adds a polished finishing touch. If you want to hide the glue, opt for an opaque ribbon. You can also experiment with different colours or add accents to the middle of the bow.

Tie a ribbon around the bouquet

Choose two ribbons and tie them in a bow around the bouquet, near the handle. Leave a generous amount of length on the ribbons to create a flowing, elegant effect. You can create a single loop or experiment with multiple loops for a more elaborate design. The ribbon symbolises the bond between you and your partner, so this step adds a meaningful touch to your bouquet.

Incorporate personal touches

Consider including something deeply personal, such as a small photo of a loved one or a sentimental charm. These additions will transform your bouquet into a cherished keepsake. You can also add your birth flower or a charm to make your bouquet even more unique and special.

Experiment with different flowers and greenery

Feel free to experiment with different types of flowers and greenery to create a bouquet that truly reflects your style and personality. You can use a combination of primary and accent flowers to create depth and texture. Play around with different colours, sizes, and symbolic meanings to add layers of personal significance to your bouquet.

Frequently asked questions