Creating A Cascading Silk Bridal Bouquet For Your Big Day

A cascading bouquet is a bouquet of flowers that cascade from the bride's hands, creating a natural, trailing effect. This style was popular in the 1980s, with Princess Diana's bridal bouquet being one of the most famous examples. To make a silk flower cascading wedding bouquet, you will need to choose your flowers, prep your flowers, start with focal flowers, add fillers and greenery, and then finish with a ribbon.

Choosing the right flowers

When it comes to specific flower types, orchids are a popular choice for cascading bouquets as they already have a natural cascading look. Wood flowers are another excellent option as they are artificial flowers made from natural materials that can be shaped and dyed to match your individual style. If you're looking for something more affordable, wood flowers are a great choice as they are much cheaper than fresh flowers. Blossom sprigs, such as cherry blossom or lilac, are also a good idea for adding length and texture to your bouquet.

If you want to add a pop of colour, consider using roses, dahlias, or peonies. For a more structural look, go for dahlias and mums, while poppies or peonies will soften the overall appearance. Play around with different combinations to see what works best.

The size of your bouquet is also important. While you want it to be eye-catching, it shouldn't be so large that it obscures your dress and figure. Keep the bouquet within a few inches of your hip and bust size to add beauty to your look without taking away from your special day.

Preparing the flowers

Firstly, take all your materials out of their boxes. If you are using fresh flowers, cut the ends of the stems on a diagonal and keep them in water before adding them to the bouquet. For a cascading bouquet, you'll want to leave the stems as long as possible.

Next, remove some of the leaves so that you have bare stems to work with at the base of the bouquet. This will make the bouquet easier to arrange and gather together, and will also create an easy handhold for your big day.

Now, separate your flowers and greenery into two piles. You will need to identify your focal flowers—those that you want to be the main part of your bouquet. These might be in your wedding colours, or simply a style that you love. The rest of your flowers will be used as filler flowers.

If you are using Lamb's Ear leaves, tie them into a bunch, securing them with a wire. Separate the leaves so that they spread into a natural, open shape. This will form the base of your bouquet.

Now it's time to arrange your focal flowers. Start by placing your focal flowers in a cascading shape, with some shorter at the top, and some with longer stems towards the bottom. Think about where you'd like them to fall as you walk down the aisle or pose for photos.

Once you're happy with the placement of your focal flowers, add in your smaller flowers in complementary colours to fill out the bouquet.

Arranging focal flowers

Arranging the focal flowers is the first step to creating a stunning DIY silk flower cascading bridal bouquet. These are the flowers that you want to be the main focus of your bouquet. They might be in your main wedding colours or simply a style that you love.

When arranging your focal flowers, start by placing them in a cascading shape, with some shorter at the top and some with longer stems towards the bottom. This will create a beautiful waterfall effect as the bouquet flows down from the bride's hands. Add in smaller flowers with complementary colours to fill out the bouquet and create a cohesive look.

If you're using orchids as your focal flowers, place them about halfway down the bouquet to create an eye-catching look with the orchids at the pinnacle of the cascade. You can also use wood flowers, which are artificial flowers made from natural materials that can be shaped and dyed to match your individual style.

Remember, the key to a stunning silk flower cascading bouquet is to choose flowers that reflect your personal style and to have enough materials to work with, as this style of bouquet is rather large and oversized.

Adding fillers and greenery

Once your main flowers are in place, it's time to add in some floral fillers and greenery to give your bouquet more volume. Mix the floral fillers with your flowers to achieve a beautiful, cohesive look. Use your greenery to frame the bouquet and emphasise the cascading shape with the longest pieces of greenery. This will help to create a more dramatic effect.

When it comes to choosing your greenery, consider options that provide visual depth and movement, like eucalyptus, willow or lamb's ear. If you're going for a tropical beach wedding, structural palm leaves could be a great choice. For a romantic spring garden ceremony, try using clematis vine to add a whimsical touch.

If you want to add even more texture to your bouquet, try incorporating baby's breath. This will lend an unusual, airy feel to your arrangement. You could also use a mix of flowers, such as roses and hellebore, dried grasses, leaves and fluffy greenery.

If you're looking for a more organic, wild look, let pieces of greenery hang loose with a few trailing outside the centre of the bouquet. This will give your cascading silk flower bouquet a modern edge.

Finishing touches

Now that you've arranged your flowers, fillers, and greenery, it's time to put the final touches on your silk flower cascading wedding bouquet. Here are some essential steps and tips to ensure your bouquet looks elegant and polished:

Secure the Bouquet

Start by securing your bouquet with floral tape. Wrap the tape around the stems a few times to hold them together. You can also use a sturdy rubber band or two to ensure the bouquet feels stuck in place. This step will provide a good base for the rest of the finishing touches.

Wrap the Stems

After securing the bouquet, you can enhance the look and feel of the stems. Wrap the stems with a pretty silk ribbon, lace, or burlap ribbon. This adds a romantic and elegant touch to your bouquet. If you want to create a cascading effect with your ribbon, leave some long streamers. Silk ribbons with raw edges usually work best for this style.

Make a Handle

Creating a handle will make it easier for you to carry the bouquet down the aisle. Tie a wire around all the stems for added security, then use wire cutters or pliers to snip the ends, leaving them at a uniform length. Ensure the stems are long enough to create a comfortable handle. You can then insert the stems into floral tubing to conceal any wires and protect your hands. Wrap the stems with green floral tape for a professional and sleek finish.

Add a Ribbon

As a final flourish, add a ribbon to polish off the design. Take a chiffon ribbon in a matching or complementary colour and tie a bow around the handle. You can leave the ribbon ends cascading down for a billowy, flowing effect, especially if your bouquet features orchids or other flowers with a similar shape.

And that's it! You now have a gorgeous silk flower cascading wedding bouquet. Remember, you can always add your own creative touches to make the bouquet unique to your style and personality.

Frequently asked questions