Creating Artificial Wedding Bouquets: A Step-By-Step Guide

Artificial wedding bouquets are a great way to save money and create a long-lasting keepsake. High-quality synthetic flowers are available in various types and can be arranged beautifully. This DIY guide will teach you how to make a stunning artificial bouquet for your wedding. You will need a combination of large and small flowers, greenery, floral tape, wire, and any desired embellishments like ribbon or fabric. By following these simple steps and adding your personal touches, you can create a gorgeous and unique bouquet for your special day.

Selecting the right flowers

Variety and Quality:

When selecting artificial flowers, look for a mix of larger blooms and smaller, hanging flowers to create visual interest and texture. Go for varieties such as roses, peonies, calla lilies, baby's breath, and jasmine. The quality of the flowers is also important; opt for high-end artificial flowers as they will look more realistic than cheaper alternatives. Look for flowers with a matte finish and individual stems with wire running through them.

Colour and Realism:

Choose flowers that fit the colour scheme of your wedding. You can opt for a uniform look with flowers of the same type and colour or create a distinctive look by using different colours and blooms in each layer of your bouquet. When evaluating flowers, pay attention to details such as visible seams and exposed wire, as these can detract from the overall realism. If ordering online, consider ordering a sample first to ensure the flowers meet your expectations.

Size and Proportion:

The size of your bouquet will depend on the style you choose. For a round bouquet, select 1-2 large blooms and 4-6 smaller flowers. A hand-tied cascade bouquet, on the other hand, calls for 1-3 large blooms and 4-6 smaller flowers, along with trailing greenery for a dramatic effect. Ensure the stems are long enough for a comfortable grip but not too long that they become visible. The ideal stem length for most brides is around 7-8 inches (18-20 cm).

Personalisation and Creativity:

Feel free to get creative and add unique touches to your bouquet. You can incorporate non-floral elements such as ribbons, fabric, berries, feathers, or even non-traditional items like LEGO or coloured pencils. These additions can make your bouquet more personalised and reflective of your style.

Reviews and Comparison:

Take the time to read online reviews to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of different artificial flower designers. Compare different options and consider factors such as price, quality, and the level of realism before making your final selection.

Arranging the bouquet

Select your flowers: Choose 1-3 large blooms, such as roses, peonies, or calla lilies, and 4-6 smaller flowers, like baby's breath or jasmine. You can also include 4-6 pieces of greenery, such as eucalyptus or ivy, to add texture and interest.

Build the bouquet: Start by layering the stems in your hand, beginning with the focal point blooms that you want at the centre. Gradually build outwards in circular layers, rotating the bouquet as you go. Insert greenery and additional elements, like berries, between the blooms to create a full and varied arrangement.

Create a cascade effect (optional): If you're creating a hand-tied cascade bouquet, add long blooms and trailing greenery to the bottom front of the bouquet. Bend the flowers outwards if necessary to achieve a loose, natural look.

Secure the stems: Cut 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) of floral wire and wrap it around the stems just below the blooms. Twist the ends of the wire together, trim them to 1 inch (2.5 cm), and tuck them into the stems. This will keep the bouquet securely in place.

Cut the stems to an even length: Use wire cutters to trim the stems to your desired length, ensuring they are comfortable to grip and not too visible. Aim for a length of around 7-8 inches (18-20 cm). It's better to leave them slightly longer and trim more later if needed.

Wrap the stems: Use floral tape to wrap the stems together, starting at the base of the flowers and working your way down. This will stabilise the bouquet, hide the stems, and create a neat handle. Continue wrapping until you reach the desired length, then tear or cut the tape and tuck the end into itself.

Add embellishments: Finish your bouquet by adding any desired embellishments, such as ribbons, fabric, or additional greenery. You can also add non-floral elements like beads, feathers, or even unique items that represent your personality, such as coloured pencils or small gears.

Creating an artificial wedding bouquet allows you to add your personal touch and ensure the arrangement will last far beyond the wedding day. By carefully selecting your flowers and following these steps, you can design a beautiful and memorable bouquet.

Securing the bouquet with wire

To secure your bouquet with wire, start by cutting 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) of floral wire with your wire cutters. Then, wrap the wire several times around the stems, just below the blooms, before twisting the ends together. Next, trim the twisted ends of the wire to 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length and tuck them into the stems. Pull the wire tightly enough to keep the stems fixed in place.

Securing your bouquet with wire provides a solid base for your arrangement and ensures that the stems stay in place. It is important to pull the wire tight enough so that the bouquet is securely held together. This step also helps to create a neat and tidy base for your bouquet, which will be further enhanced by wrapping the stems with floral tape.

The wire also provides a convenient way to attach any additional embellishments you may wish to include, such as ribbons, fabric, or other decorative elements. You can simply wrap the wire around these embellishments and secure them to the stems of your bouquet. This adds a personalised touch to your artificial wedding bouquet and allows you to incorporate your wedding colours or theme.

Overall, using wire to secure your artificial wedding bouquet is a crucial step that ensures the durability and stability of your arrangement. It provides a solid foundation for the rest of the bouquet and allows you to add any desired embellishments.

Wrapping the stems

Selecting the Right Materials

Choose a floral tape that matches the colour of your stems as closely as possible. This will help to create a seamless look. You will also need a pair of wire cutters and, optionally, some ribbon, lace, pins, or other decorative elements to add a personalised touch to your bouquet.

Preparing the Stems

Use the wire cutters to trim the stems to your desired length. The ideal length for most brides is around 7–8 inches (18–20 cm). It is better to err on the side of leaving them a little too long, as you can always go back and cut them shorter later if needed. Ensure that the stems are even and that you are comfortable gripping the bouquet.

Taping the Stems

Take one end of your floral tape and begin wrapping it around the stems at the base of the flowers. Work your way down the stems, overlapping the tape as you go, until you have covered at least 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) of the length. You can continue wrapping further down the stems if you prefer, or if your bouquet requires it. Tuck the loose end of the tape into itself to secure it.

Adding Embellishments

If you wish, you can add decorative elements to your wrapped stems. This could include wrapping the stems with a ribbon or fabric strip, secured with a dab of hot glue or a decorative pin. You could also add lace, pins, beading, or other embellishments that reflect your personal style.

Finalising the Bouquet

Once you are happy with the length and appearance of your stems, give them a final check to ensure they are even and securely wrapped. Your artificial wedding bouquet is now ready to be displayed and admired!

Adding embellishments

Wrapping the stems

Wrap the stems of your bouquet with ribbon, fabric, or twine. This will give a polished look to your bouquet and hide any unrealistic-looking stems. Secure the ribbon or fabric with a dab of hot glue at the bottom of the stems, then wind it upwards, ensuring no gaps are left uncovered. Finish by cutting the ribbon and securing it with another small amount of glue or a decorative pin.

Adding extra details

Add some extra details to the wrapped stems, such as decorative lace, pins, or beading. You could also add non-floral elements to the bouquet itself, such as feathers, beads, or twigs.

Filling in gaps

If there are any gaps in your bouquet, you can fill these with extra flowers, sprigs of dried or artificial berries, or greenery.

Adding scent and sparkle

Finish your bouquet with a floral glitter spray to add some sparkle. You could also add a floral scent, such as lavender mist or your favourite perfume.

Frequently asked questions