Create Your Own Wedding Bouquet With Fabric Flowers

Creating a cloth wedding bouquet is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your special day. It can be a fun and creative project, allowing you to customise your bouquet to match your wedding theme and personal style. You can even incorporate sentimental items, like your grandmother's lace fabric, or add unique touches like antique brooches. Making your own bouquet gives you the freedom to choose the exact flowers you want, whether they're in season or not, and it can be a fun activity to do with your bridesmaids or family members. You can also save a significant amount of money by purchasing flowers from a local grocery store or flower market instead of hiring a florist. However, it's important to plan ahead and give yourself enough time, as creating a cloth bouquet can be time-consuming and may not always be cheaper.

Choosing your flowers

If you are going for a classic, tight bouquet, you should use one to three varieties of florals, very little to no greenery, and flowers with a lot of textural interest. For a whimsical, garden-inspired, cascading arrangement, you should use five to seven varieties of florals and greenery, and flowers with a lot of different textural and gestural qualities.

When choosing your flowers, it is also important to keep seasonality in mind. For example, peonies have a sporadic growing season, which is why they are very expensive at certain times of the year and unavailable in the hot summer months. On the other hand, hydrangeas are grown in greenhouses all year round, making them less costly. When seasonal flowers are in season, they are the best quality and most affordable.

If you are on a budget, it is worth noting that if your local grocery store is stocked with quality blooms at a great price, this may be a better option than an online wholesaler.

Preparing the flowers

Firstly, you will need to remove all the leaves from the stems. This can be done by hand, or with a stem stripper, being careful not to damage the stems. You should also remove any damaged or unattractive petals at this stage. Then, cut the stems at an angle, about 2 inches from the bottom. Place the flowers in a bucket of water to allow them to drink for a few seconds, and then put them to one side in a bucket of cool water until you are ready to assemble the bouquet.

If you are using roses and the heads are not yet open, you can force them to bloom by placing the stems in hot water for a couple of minutes. However, be careful not to leave them too long, or you may kill the flowers.

Keep the stems long while you work on the bouquet, and only trim them to the desired length once you have finished constructing it.

Assembling the bouquet

Now that you have your materials, it's time to start assembling your bouquet. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• Create the base: Choose 2-4 flowers to be the "base" of your bouquet. These flowers will form the foundation of your arrangement. You can use a variety of flowers for this step, such as roses, lisianthus, or peonies.
• Build the shape: Start adding flowers around your base flowers to create a bunch. Consider the dimension and shape of your bouquet as you add more stems. Stand in front of a mirror during this process to get a better idea of what your bouquet will look like from the front.
• Add larger flowers: After creating the base, add larger, focal flowers to your bouquet. These flowers will be the center of attention within your arrangement. Hold these flowers with your fingers near the blossom end.
• Continue adding flowers: Keep adding flowers to your bouquet, rotating it rightward a quarter turn each time. This will ensure that your bouquet stays symmetrical. You can use a variety of flowers, such as roses, lisianthus, or peonies, to add colour and texture to your arrangement.
• Include filler flowers: Once you have the bulk of your bouquet ready, insert some filler flowers between the larger blooms. These are usually smaller, green flowers that give a natural look to the bouquet. Make sure to insert all the filler flowers at the same angle to maintain symmetry.
• Secure the stems: When you are happy with your bouquet, it's time to secure the stems. Use floral tape or a rubber band to bind the stems together where they naturally join, leaving about 3 to 4 inches of excess stem below the flower heads. You can also use ribbon to secure the stems and add a decorative touch to your bouquet. Cut a length of ribbon about three times the length of the stems and wrap it in a spiral pattern down the stems, securing it with pins.
• Trim the stems: Cut the stems to the same length, leaving enough space to hold the bouquet comfortably. A good guideline is to measure two hand lengths from the binding, plus an additional 3 to 4 inches.
• Final touches: If you'd like to add a bow, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just below the flower heads. Stand in front of a mirror to ensure that the bouquet looks perfect from all angles.

Your cloth wedding bouquet is now ready! Enjoy creating a beautiful and unique arrangement that will be a memorable part of your special day.

Securing the bouquet

Now that you've gathered your flowers and are happy with your bouquet's design, it's time to secure the stems and finish the handle.

Use a rubber band or floral tape to bind the stems at the spot where they naturally join (about 3 to 4 inches below the flower heads). Repeat the binding toward the end of the stems, leaving about 2 inches of excess stem beneath the bind to trim later. Either place the stems in water and wrap them later or continue to the next step.

Finish the Handle

Cut the stem ends so they are all the same length, about 7 to 8 inches long. Dry off the stems with a paper towel. Cut a length of ribbon about three times as long as the length of the stems. Tuck the end of the ribbon inside the top bind and start wrapping it in a spiral down the length of the stem. When you reach the bottom, wrap it in a spiral back up the stem. At the top, tuck the cut end of the ribbon underneath and secure it with a couple of pins pushed through the ribbon and into the stems. If you'd like to add a bow, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just beneath the flower heads.

Alternative Method

Tie a piece of wire around the stems to secure them, then trim the excess away with wire cutters. Some stems will be longer than others, so use the cutters to trim them so they are all uniform in length. Make sure the stems are long enough to hold comfortably during your wedding, but not too long so they interfere with your dress. After trimming, some wires may be exposed. To protect your hands while walking down the aisle, encase the stems with floral tubing. Take a piece of floral tubing and insert 2-3 stems inside, covering any stray wires and neatening the bouquet. Keep going until all stems are encased. Don't go all the way to the base of the flowers and leaves; instead, cover about 3/4 of the way up. Conceal any remaining exposed stems with green floral tape. Start near where the floral tubing ends, then wrap the stems up to the base of the bouquet, where the flowers and greenery begin to branch out.

Finishing the handle

Now for the finishing touches! Once you're happy with the shape and composition of your bouquet, it's time to finish the handle. Cut the stems so they are all the same length, leaving about 7 to 8 inches from the bottom of the flower heads. Dry the stems with a paper towel. Cut a length of ribbon about three times the length of the stems. You can use a ribbon in a complementary colour, or one that matches your wedding theme.

Tuck the end of the ribbon inside the top bind and start wrapping it in a spiral down the length of the stems. When you reach the bottom, wrap the ribbon back up the stem in a spiral. At the top, tuck the cut end of the ribbon underneath and secure it with a couple of pins pushed through the ribbon and into the stems. If you want to add a bow, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie it just beneath the flower heads.

Frequently asked questions