Crafting Your Own Wedding Bouquet: A Step-By-Step Guide

A wedding bouquet is a significant part of a bridal ensemble, adding a personal touch to the special day. Making your own bouquet can be a meaningful experience, allowing you to express your creativity and design something unique. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a stunning bridal bouquet with step-by-step instructions, from choosing the right flowers and preparing them to assembling and decorating the bouquet. You'll also discover ways to make your bouquet special, such as adding your birth flower or a sentimental colour. So, get ready to unleash your creativity and design a bouquet that will be the perfect accessory for walking down the aisle!

Choosing flowers and colours

When choosing flowers and colours for your wedding bouquet, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, think about the style of your wedding dress and the colour palette of your wedding. You want your bouquet to complement the silhouette and details of your dress, not attract attention away from it. If you have a coloured dress, you can't go wrong with white flowers, or a monochromatic colour scheme using shades of the colour of your dress. Alternatively, you could use a complementary colour—for example, if your dress is red, opt for a green bouquet.

Next, consider the season in which your wedding will take place. Using in-season flowers is a great way to complement the time period of your wedding. For example, bright, pastel-coloured flowers are perfect for spring, while dark greenery, red roses, and white flowers suit a winter wedding. If you have a favourite flower, you may want to consider this when picking your wedding date.

Finally, decide on the shape of your bouquet. If you have a mermaid or form-fitting dress, a narrow bouquet may complement your form and highlight the shape of your dress. On the other hand, a ball gown or Cinderella-style dress would suit a fuller, more dramatic bouquet.

Sourcing flowers

The first step to making your own wedding bouquet is to decide on the type of blooms you want to incorporate into your bouquet. Consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. Do you want complementary colours to bring subtle balance or would you prefer to integrate contrasting colours to add drama?

Once you have decided on the style and colour of your bouquet, you can start sourcing your flowers. If you have access to someone's garden, look at what's blooming there. If not, don't worry! You can still create a beautiful bouquet by looking at local farms, grocery stores, or flower markets to source the floral varieties you need. You can also check online to order flowers in bulk.

If you are on a tight budget, consider buying your flowers from a local grocery store or flower market. You can also save money by picking flowers that are in season. For example, daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips bloom in the spring, while chrysanthemums and dahlias are best in fall.

Remember, the style of bouquet you choose will dictate how you approach your flowers. If you're going for a more modern and simple design, use fewer varieties of florals and very little to no greenery. For a garden-style bouquet, use more floral and greenery varieties with different textures and gestural qualities.

Preparing flowers

Timing and Flower Care:

The timing of preparing your flowers is essential. Ideally, source your flowers two days before the wedding and create the bouquet a day before. This ensures the blooms are at their best on the wedding day. When you receive your wholesale flowers, cut the stems at a diagonal angle, and place them in a clean bucket with cool water and flower food. Recut the stems and refresh the water and flower food as they hydrate. This process will help keep your flowers fresh and hydrated.

Stem and Leaf Preparation:

Before arranging your flowers, prepare the stems and leaves. Remove any excess greenery and leaves from the stems to achieve the desired look and feel for your bouquet. This step ensures that the bouquet is not too bulky and that the flowers are the focal point. Wholesale roses, in particular, may have guard petals, so remove any brown or discolored petals carefully.

Flower Inspection:

It is important to inspect the flowers before using them in your bouquet. Check the stems for any signs of weakness, slime, or unpleasant odors, as these could indicate old or damaged flowers. The leaves should be crisp and clean, with a rich, even green color. Any spots or bleaching may indicate disease, which can shorten the life of your bouquet.

Stem Cutting and Angle:

Cut the stems of your flowers evenly, ensuring they are all approximately the same length. Cut the stems at an angle, as this allows the flowers to absorb water more effectively, prolonging their life. Start with longer stems and then trim them to suit your bouquet.

Removing Thorns and Unwanted Leaves:

Thorns on stems can be a nuisance, so use a knife or scissors to remove them carefully. Slide the knife away from your body to avoid accidental cuts. Also, remove any unwanted or excess leaves with your knife or scissors. However, avoid removing all the leaves, as a few leaves help create a sense of fullness in the bouquet.

Final Flower Layout:

After preparing the flowers, lay them out along with the greenery. This step allows you to visualize your bouquet and ensure you have all the necessary elements before beginning the arrangement process.

Assembling the bouquet

Now that you've gathered your flowers and materials, it's time to assemble your bouquet.

Start by building the shape and framework of your arrangement, keeping dimension in mind. It's a good idea to stand in front of a mirror while you work, so you can see exactly what the bouquet will look like from the front.

Choose 2-4 flowers to be the "base" of your bouquet. You can choose a focal flower that you want to be the centre of attention within your bouquet, and then add the next flower at an angle facing towards the left, keeping the bloom at the same height as the focal flower. Continue to add flowers, rotating the bouquet a quarter-turn to the right each time you add a new flower, positioning it ready for the next flower to be added diagonally and angled to the left.

Once you've added the bulk of your bouquet, you can insert some filler flowers between the larger flowers. These are usually smaller, green flowers that give a natural look to the bouquet. Ensure that you put all the filler flowers in at the same angle to keep your bouquet symmetrical.

When you're happy with the body of your bouquet, add depth and dimension by pulling certain flowers forward, particularly your focal flowers, to emphasise them and create a more natural, full look.

Finally, you can secure your bouquet with a rubber band, snipping the stems first to trim them back. Be sure the bouquet is tightly wrapped before adding floral tape to hide the rubber band. You can then add a ribbon, looping it around the stems for a classic look, or allowing it to cascade down the side of the bouquet for a more relaxed, garden-style feel.

Finishing touches

Now that your bouquet is almost complete, it's time to add the finishing touches to make it truly special. Here are some ideas to elevate your bouquet and give it that extra wow factor:

Ribbon

Adding a ribbon to your bouquet is a great way to elevate its design and add a touch of elegance. Choose a ribbon that complements the colours of your flowers and wraps neatly around the stems. You can tie it in a bow or leave it flowing for a more relaxed look. If you want to create a handle, use hot glue to secure the ribbon around the base of the bouquet. This will also give it a polished look.

Floral Tape

Floral tape is a great way to secure your bouquet and give it a professional finish. Wrap the tape around the stems, covering any exposed wire or floral foam. This will also help to protect your hands while holding the bouquet. Start wrapping from the top of the stems and work your way down, leaving a few inches of the stem exposed.

Pins

Pearl floral pins can add a touch of sophistication to your bouquet. Insert them down the front of the bouquet at a downward angle to prevent them from poking through. This will also help to secure any ribbons or lace in place.

Charms

Adding a small charm to your bouquet can make it even more unique and special. It can be a vintage or new trinket, perhaps something borrowed, or a way to honour a loved one.

Filler Flowers

If you feel your bouquet needs a little extra something, consider adding some filler flowers. These are usually small, green flowers that give a natural look to the bouquet. Insert them at the same angle to maintain symmetry.

Ornamental Pieces

Using ornamental pieces from a floral box set can take your bouquet to the next level. Place them near your focal flowers to create a stunning visual effect.

With these finishing touches, your DIY wedding bouquet will be truly stunning and unique. Enjoy creating something beautiful and don't stress—flowers are very resilient!

Frequently asked questions