Creative Ways To Craft Unique Wedding Bouquets

Wedding bouquets are an integral part of a bride's ensemble, complementing her gown and tying her into the wedding's colour palette and theme. The bouquet shape and style a bride chooses can say a lot about her taste and personality, from classic and traditional to boho-chic or whimsical. There are many different bouquet shapes to choose from, including crescent, cascade, teardrop, round, pageant, and nosegay. Bouquets can be made from a variety of flowers and greenery, and can be customised to fit the bride's unique style and the overall atmosphere of the wedding. Making your own bouquet is a creative way to save money and ensure your bouquet is exactly how you want it.

How to make a classic dome-shaped bouquet

A classic dome-shaped bouquet is a simple and elegant choice for a wedding. This type of bouquet is not difficult to make and complements most wedding gowns. To make a dome-shaped bouquet, you will need:

• 30 to 60 stems of hardy flowers, such as roses
• Ribbon (in a complementary colour), 1 to 2 inches wide
• Rubber bands or green waxed floral tape
• Stem cutter or very sharp knife
• Straight pins or pearl-tipped corsage pins

First, prepare your flowers by removing any excess foliage, thorns, and damaged or unattractive outer petals. Fill a sink or bucket with water and cut the stems at an angle about 2 inches from the bottom while holding them underwater. Allow the flowers to absorb the water for a few seconds, then place the stems in a bucket of cool water until you are ready to assemble the bouquet.

When you are ready to assemble, take one stem at a time and use your other hand to hold the flowers in place. Arrange four flowers at an even height in a square shape—these will be the centre of the dome. Then, add the other flowers one by one around the centre flowers to create the dome shape. Stand in front of a mirror as you construct the bouquet so you can see how the shape is progressing.

Once you are happy with the shape, secure the bouquet by binding the stems with rubber bands or floral tape where they naturally join, about 3 to 4 inches below the flower heads. Repeat the binding towards the end of the stems, leaving about 2 inches of excess stem to trim later. Cut the stems to the same length, about 7 to 8 inches long, and dry them with a paper towel.

Finally, finish the handle by cutting a length of ribbon about three times the length of the stems. Tuck the end of the ribbon inside the top bind and wrap it in a spiral down the length of the stem. When you reach the bottom, wrap it back up the stem and tuck the cut end underneath, securing it with pins. If desired, cut a separate length of ribbon and tie a bow just beneath the flower heads.

How to make a crescent-shaped bouquet

A crescent-shaped bouquet is a beautiful choice for a wedding, echoing the shape of a crescent moon. This shape can be angled either horizontally or vertically and can be manicured or wild in style. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create a stunning crescent-shaped bouquet for your special day.

Step 1: Source Your Flowers and Materials

Firstly, decide on the types of blooms and greenery you want to use. Consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. You can opt for complementary colours for a subtle balance or go for contrasting colours to add drama. For a crescent bouquet, you may want to choose flowers with longer stems that can be manipulated to curve, such as tulips.

Step 2: Prepare Your Flowers

Remove any excess foliage, thorns, and damaged petals. Cut the stems at an angle, and place the flowers in a bucket of water to keep them hydrated. If you are working with roses and want to open the blooms, place the stems in hot water for a couple of minutes, but be careful not to leave them too long, or you may kill the flowers.

Step 3: Create the Crescent Shape

Stand in front of a mirror to help you visualise the final shape as you work. Start by creating the base of the crescent shape with four flowers at an even height in a horizontal or vertical line, depending on your preferred angle. Then, add flowers one by one around this central line, curving them to create the crescent shape. You can use larger flowers towards the centre and smaller accent flowers around the edges to create a focal point.

Step 4: Secure the Bouquet

Use rubber bands or floral tape to bind the stems at two points: firstly, where they naturally join below the flower heads, and secondly, towards the end of the stems, leaving a little excess to trim later.

Step 5: Trim and Finish the Stems

Cut the stems to the same length, leaving them long enough to hold comfortably but not so long that they interfere with your dress. You can then wrap the stems with floral tape or ribbon to create a neat finish and hide the rubber bands. Spiral the ribbon down and back up the stems, securing with pins if needed.

Step 6: Final Touches

Add any final touches, such as a bow or a charm attached to the stems. You can also add small ornamental pieces to finish your bouquet. Keep the stems in water for as long as possible and mist the flower heads to keep them fresh.

Your crescent-shaped bouquet is now ready for your wedding day! Enjoy creating this beautiful arrangement and making your wedding journey even more meaningful.

How to make a cascading bouquet

A cascading bouquet is a beautiful, dramatic arrangement that flows downwards in a long, natural, free-formed style. This style was popularised by Princess Diana's bridal bouquet in the 1980s and has been experiencing a bohemian revival in recent years.

To create a cascading bouquet, you will need:

• 15-18 stems of a long-stemmed flower (roses, peonies, hydrangeas, etc.)
• 10-12 stems of smaller accent flowers (calla lilies, lavender, spray roses, etc.)
• 8-10 long sprays of greenery (myrtle, ivy, silver sage, etc.)
• A delicate filler like baby's breath or ferns
• A bouquet holder
• Floral wire and tape
• Ribbon

First, submerge the bouquet holder in warm water to keep the flowers fresh, and place it in a heavy vase. Then, insert the two longest greenery stems into the bottom of the holder, pointing downwards. Add the rest of your greenery, making it shorter at the top and longer at the bottom, to create a teardrop shape.

Next, arrange your primary blooms. Place the largest flowers in the centre, then work outwards, arranging the stems so that the top flowers point upwards, the side flowers are horizontal, and the longest stems cascade downwards. Trim the stems so that the shortest are on top and the longest are at the bottom.

Add your accent flowers around the primary blooms, filling in the body of the bouquet. Finally, fill in any remaining gaps with baby's breath or greenery. Secure the bouquet with floral tape and a rubber band, then wrap the stems with ribbon.

How to make a round bouquet

A round bouquet is a classic choice for a bridal bouquet, and it's easier to make than you might think! Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a beautiful round wedding bouquet:

Step 1: Choose Your Flowers and Prepare Them

Select hardy flowers such as roses, which are easy to arrange and can withstand some handling. You'll need about 30-60 stems for a bridal bouquet. Remove any leaves, thorns, or damaged petals from the stems. Cut the stems at an angle, and place the flowers in a bucket of water to hydrate while you work.

Step 2: Create the Dome Shape

Take four flowers and arrange them at an even height in a square shape—this will be the center of your dome. Then, one by one, add more flowers around this center to build a dome shape. Rotate the bouquet as you work to ensure a symmetrical shape with no gaps. You can stand in front of a mirror to get a better view of the shape as you go.

Step 3: Secure the Bouquet

Use rubber bands or floral tape to bind the stems together where they naturally join, about 3-4 inches below the flower heads. Repeat this binding process towards the end of the stems, leaving about 2 inches of excess stem to trim later.

Step 4: Finish the Handle and Wrap with Ribbon

Cut the stems to the desired length (about 7-8 inches long). Dry the stems, then cut a length of ribbon (about three times the length of the stems). Tuck the end of the ribbon inside the top bind and wrap it in a spiral down and then back up the stems. Secure the cut end with a couple of pins. You can also tie a separate ribbon just below the flower heads to create a bow.

Step 5: Final Touches and Preservation

Mist the flower heads and keep the bare stems in water as long as possible to ensure freshness. Wrap the bouquet in tissue and store it in the refrigerator until it's time to walk down the aisle!

With these steps, you can create a beautiful, classic round bouquet for your wedding. Enjoy crafting and congratulations on your special day!

How to make a hoop bouquet

A hoop bouquet is a refreshing alternative to a classic bridal bouquet. It is lightweight, delicate, and asymmetrical. You can also use hoop bouquets as a ceremony backdrop or repurpose them as wall decorations. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a hoop bouquet:

Step 1:

Start by laying out your greenery around the hoop. You can use Silver Dollar Eucalyptus for this step. Secure the greenery to the hoop with floral wire, twisting it tightly. Trim the stems after securing them to the hoop.

Step 2:

Cut and tape a couple of stems of Dusty Miller greenery together. Secure them to the hoop with floral wire, twisting the wire tightly. Add the Dusty Miller to both ends of the Silver Dollar Eucalyptus.

Step 3:

Add 2-3 stems of thistle, overlapping the Silver Dollar Eucalyptus. Use floral tape before wiring the stems to the hoop.

Step 4:

Cut the rose stem about 1 inch from the bloom. Cut a piece of floral wire about 4-5 inches long and insert it through the base of the stem. Wiring the rose adds stability when attaching it to the hoop.

Step 5:

Add white lisianthus on top of the Silver Dollar Eucalyptus and thistle at each end of the hoop with greenery.

Step 6:

Add delphinium dark blue to the centre of the greenery. Wire the Vendela cream roses together in the centre of the greenery, facing upward.

Step 7:

Attach the flowers to the hoop, creating an asymmetrical look. Wire the Vendela cream rose facing upright on the metal hoop.

And there you have it—a gorgeous hoop bouquet! This type of bouquet is simple to make, fits into any wedding budget, and will add a romantic touch to your venue.

Frequently asked questions