Creating A Fresh Rose Wedding Bouquet: A Step-By-Step Guide

Roses are a classic choice for wedding bouquets, and with good reason. They symbolise love, purity, innocence, and new beginnings, making them the perfect floral accessory for a bride on her special day. Creating your own wedding bouquet using fresh roses can be a fun and rewarding project that adds a unique, personal touch to your wedding. In this guide, we will take you through the steps to make a beautiful fresh rose wedding bouquet, from choosing the right flowers to assembling and wrapping your bouquet.

Choosing the right flowers

Colour

The colour of your flowers can be chosen to match or complement your wedding colour palette, including the bridesmaids' dresses. You can opt for a classic all-white bouquet, which symbolises purity and elegance, or add a pop of colour with vibrant shades. Consider the emotions you want your bouquet to convey, the time of day of your wedding (morning or evening), and the location.

Flower type

Roses are a popular choice for wedding bouquets due to their timeless and romantic appeal. They come in various colours and sizes, making it easy to find the perfect match for your theme. Other popular options include peonies, lilies, hydrangeas, orchids, calla lilies, dahlias, magnolias, and many more. When choosing your primary flowers, select 1-3 types with strong and long stems to support the overall bouquet.

Seasonality

It is important to consider the season when selecting your flowers. Choosing flowers that are in season for your wedding date will ensure they are fresh and vibrant, as well as more cost-effective. For example, tulips, peonies, or lilacs are great for spring, while roses, sunflowers, or daisies are perfect for summer.

Size and shape

The size and shape of your bouquet should complement your wedding dress and body type. If you have a delicate and modest dress, a small bouquet may be best, while a grand gown can accommodate a more extravagant arrangement. Consider the overall theme of your wedding—a casual beach wedding might call for a loose bouquet, while an indoor formal wedding could suit a more structured bouquet.

Sentiment

Adding flowers with special meaning can make your bouquet even more meaningful. You could include your favourite flower, your birth flower, or a flower that holds significance for you and your partner.

Remember, the choice of flowers ultimately depends on your personal preferences, wedding theme, and colour palette. By taking these factors into account, you can create a stunning bouquet that reflects your unique style and adds a beautiful touch to your special day.

Selecting the shape and size

Dress and Body Type:

Firstly, think about your wedding dress. If you have a simpler dress, you may want to opt for a more elaborate bouquet. Conversely, if your dress is heavily beaded or has a lot of detail, a simpler, more delicate bouquet may be a better choice. Consider your body type as well—if you're petite, a large cascading bouquet might overwhelm you, while a taller bride can carry a more dramatic, oversized bouquet.

Wedding Theme and Venue:

The overall theme and style of your wedding should also influence your bouquet's shape and size. For example, a traditional or classic wedding might call for a round, compact bouquet, while a bohemian or rustic wedding could suit a looser, wildflower-inspired arrangement. Additionally, consider your venue—a beach wedding might call for a tropical-inspired bouquet, and a winter wedding could feature seasonal blooms like holly or pinecones.

Proportionality:

You want your bouquet to be proportional to your body type and not too large or tiring to hold. A good rule of thumb is to keep the diameter of your bouquet between 8 and 13 inches, ensuring it's not wider than your waist. This will make it comfortable to carry and ensure your dress remains the focal point.

Florist Consultation:

If you're unsure, don't hesitate to consult a florist. They are experts in creating beautiful bouquets and can guide you in choosing the perfect shape and size based on your preferences, dress, and wedding style.

DIY vs florist

Creating a bridal bouquet is an inevitable part of every wedding. It is probably the most important accessory for every bride and bridesmaid, and that is why it is one of the elements that people pay significant attention to. While it may seem like a tough task, it is an exciting and fun thing to do. Plus, the personal effort put into it will add a sweet and unique touch to your wedding.

DIY Wedding Flowers

Creating your own wedding bouquet can be fun, easy, and save you money. It is a great option if you are on a tight budget. The priciest aspect of a professionally crafted bouquet is the amount of time a florist spends crafting your masterpiece, as well as the complexity of the chosen design. If you are able to do the labour yourself, you will definitely be able to save quite a bit on your floral budget.

The cost of a typical bridal bouquet is around $250, but a DIY version will be much cheaper. The cost of your arrangement will depend on factors such as whether your preferred flowers are in season, the size of your bouquet, and the type of flowers you select. To make your money stretch further, pick your flowers based on the timing of your wedding. For example, daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips bloom in the spring, while chrysanthemums and dahlias are best in fall.

When creating your own wedding bouquet, you will need to decide on the colour palette you will be using. Traditionally, most wedding bouquets consist of white and cream flowers, but you can choose whatever colour you like. You can also find inspiration in lots of things, such as the overall floral design or the aesthetic of your wedding, any emotions you wish your bouquet to convey, the location, and even your wedding dress.

Florist-Made Wedding Flowers

Having a florist create your wedding bouquet is the more convenient option, but it can be expensive. The cost of a bridal bouquet from a florist can range from $120 to $300, depending on the type of flowers chosen and whether the flowers are in season. If you have a large wedding party, the cost of boutonnieres and corsages from a florist can also add up quickly, with individual pieces ranging from $10 to $20 on average.

Flowers are expensive, and there are several reasons why. Florists charge a premium because they need to make a profit after covering high costs such as maintenance, perishable blooms, peak seasons, and the time and labour involved in creating the arrangements.

Both options have their pros and cons. DIY wedding bouquets allow for more creativity and can be a fun project, especially if you have help from your bridesmaids. They are also a great way to save money, which can be allocated to other aspects of the wedding. On the other hand, florist-made bouquets are more convenient and may result in a more professional-looking arrangement. Ultimately, the decision comes down to your personal preferences, budget, and the amount of time and effort you are willing to put into creating your own bouquet.

Preparing the flowers

Before you start assembling your bouquet, you'll need to prepare your flowers. Using flower shears or a stem stripper, remove any foliage, thorns, and damaged or discoloured outer petals from the stems. If you want to keep some greenery on your bouquet, you can leave some of the top leaves of the flowers. Then, trim the stems to an even length of around 10 inches. If you're working with roses and the heads aren't open yet, you can force the blooms open by placing the stems in a bucket of hot water for a couple of minutes. However, be careful not to leave them in too long, or you might kill the flowers.

If you're using roses, it's best to choose ones that are four or five days old. If they're too fresh, they may crack and break, and won't reflex well. Remove the leaves and reflex each petal before you start designing. Check that the roses reflex well by starting with your longest, straightest stem and adding more roses just below the stem to extend downward.

Choosing the Flowers

For a rose bouquet, it's best to stick to hardy varieties like Patience and Juliet roses, which have lots of petals. Hydrangea and lily-of-the-valley also work well with roses because they have big heads that fill space and provide textural contrast. Choose flowers with colours that go well together and complement the container you plan to use.

Number of Flowers

The number of flowers you need will depend on the size of your bouquet. For a bridal bouquet about 8 inches in diameter, you'll need around 30 to 60 stems. For each bridesmaid bouquet, you'll need 20 to 40 stems.

Trimming the Stems

When you're ready to start assembling your bouquet, cut the stems at an angle about 2 inches from the bottom. Allow the flowers to drink for a few seconds with the stem ends underwater, then place them in a bucket of cool water until you're ready to use them. Keep the stems long while you work, and trim them to a shorter length once you've finished constructing the bouquet.

Assembling the bouquet

Now that you've chosen your flowers and have all the supplies, it's time to start assembling your bouquet. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Create the centre of the bouquet: Take 3 or 4 of your primary flowers with the largest blossoms and hold them together just below the blossom head. These will form the centre of your bouquet. Place the stems together, crossing them at a point a few inches below the blossoms. For a dome-shaped bouquet, assemble four flowers at an even height in a square shape.
• Add the remaining primary flowers: Start building the bouquet by adding your other primary flowers one at a time. Rotate your hand as you add each flower to create a spiral shape with the stems. This will help to ensure that all the stems cross together.
• Include the secondary flowers: Once you've added all your primary flowers, follow the same process with your secondary flowers, placing 2-3 at a time. Use these to fill any gaps or empty spaces between the main flowers. Adjust the flowers as you go to ensure they seem to radiate out from the centre and create a balanced, rounded shape.
• Trim the stems: When you're happy with the arrangement of your flowers, trim the stems to your desired length. A good length for a bouquet is usually around 6 to 8 inches.
• Secure the stems: Use floral tape to bind the stems together, starting about 1 to 1.5 inches below the blossoms. Wrap the tape around several times and then continue in a spiral pattern down the stems for another 3 to 4 inches.
• Wrap the ribbon: Cut a length of ribbon that matches your colour palette—around 180 inches should be enough. Start wrapping the ribbon from the same point as the floral tape, spiralling down the stems and then back up again until all the tape is covered. Secure the ribbon with a knot, a bow, or some pearl-headed pins for a glamorous touch.

Your fresh rose wedding bouquet is now ready! Remember to keep the bouquet in water and store it in a cool place or the refrigerator until your wedding day.

Frequently asked questions