Creating Beautiful Wedding Floral Arrangements: A Step-By-Step Guide

Creating your own wedding floral arrangements can be a fun and cost-effective way to add a personal touch to your big day. While it may sound intimidating, making your own wedding bouquet is a rewarding project that can save you money. The first step is to decide on the types of blooms and greenery you want to use, taking into account your wedding style, colour palette, and dress design. You can source flowers from a local garden, farm, grocery store, or order them online. Before arranging your bouquet, strip the flowers of any leaves and thorns below the waterline and cut the stems at a 45-degree angle to keep them fresh. You can then begin constructing your bouquet, adding in greenery and larger flowers first, followed by smaller blooms, and finishing with focal flowers to fill any gaps. Secure your bouquet with a rubber band and floral tape, and add a ribbon for a classic or relaxed look.

Choosing flowers

Determine Your Style

The style of your bouquet will dictate how you approach your flowers. If you're going for a modern and simple design, consider using one to three varieties of flowers with minimal greenery. For a garden-style bouquet, you can use more varieties of flowers and greenery, creating a more whimsical and textured look.

Source Your Flowers

When sourcing your flowers, consider the season of your wedding and opt for flowers that are in bloom. For example, daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips are best in spring, while chrysanthemums and dahlias are perfect for fall. You can buy flowers online, from local farms, grocery stores, or even a friend's garden.

Prepare the Flowers

Before you start assembling your bouquet, prepare the flowers by removing any leaves from the stems and snipping the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle. Keep the flowers in a bucket of water to keep them fresh. If you're using tropical blooms or facing high temperatures, research the best way to care for them.

Assemble the Bouquet

When assembling the bouquet, stand in front of a mirror to get a clear idea of the front view. Start with a base of greenery and add larger, focal flowers first, followed by smaller flowers and greenery. Rotate your bouquet as you add stems to create a balanced design. Once you're happy with the arrangement, snip the stems and secure them with a rubber band and floral tape.

Make It Special

Add a unique touch to your bouquet by incorporating your birth flower or a charm that holds sentimental value. You can also use a sentimental colour or add your birth flower to make the bouquet more personal.

Sourcing flowers

Where to Source Flowers

If you have access to a garden, take a look at what's blooming there. You can also check out local farms, grocery stores, or flower markets, or order flowers in bulk online.

When to Source Flowers

If your wedding is on a Saturday, source your flowers on the Thursday before, and create the bouquet on Friday. This will ensure your blooms are at their best for the big day.

Types of Flowers

The style of bouquet you want will dictate the types of flowers you choose. For a modern and simple design, opt for one to three varieties of florals, minimal greenery, and blooms with textural interest. A garden-style bouquet calls for five to seven varieties of florals and greenery, and flowers with different textural and gestural qualities.

Costs

A typical bridal bouquet costs around $250, but you can save money by making your own. The cost of a DIY bouquet will depend on factors such as the season, the size of your bouquet, and the type of flowers you choose. Picking flowers that are in season is a great way to save money. Daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips are in season during spring, while chrysanthemums and dahlias are best in fall.

Timing and prep

Timing:

• Source your flowers: Decide on the type of blooms you want and check if they are in season. If you have access to a garden with blooming flowers, great! Otherwise, local farms, grocery stores, or online retailers are good options. Place your order with enough time to receive the flowers at least a day before the wedding.
• Prepare the flowers: When your flowers arrive, cut the stems at a 45-degree angle and put them in water. This will help keep them fresh. Store the flowers at a temperature below 60 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent wilting.
• Make the bouquet: It is recommended to make the bouquet the day before the wedding. This will ensure the flowers are at their best on your big day.

Prep:

• Tools and materials: Gather the necessary tools, including a sharp pair of floral snips, floral tape or ribbon, and vases or containers for the arrangements.
• Condition the flowers: Before you start arranging, remove any leaves from the lower halves of the stems. This will make the flowers easier to manage. Also, snip the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle and keep them in a bucket of water as you work.
• Know your climate: Research the best ways to keep your flowers vibrant, especially if you're using tropical blooms during a dry spell or in hot temperatures.
• Practice: If you're nervous about arranging, consider practising with other flowers first. This will help you get comfortable with the process and make any necessary adjustments to your technique.

By following these timing and prep tips, you'll be well on your way to creating beautiful DIY wedding floral arrangements.

Assembly

The assembly of your wedding floral arrangements will depend on the style of bouquet you want. If you're going for a more modern and simple design, use one to three varieties of florals, very little to no greenery, and flowers with lots of textural interest. For a garden-style bouquet, use five to seven varieties of florals and greenery, and flowers with a lot of different textural and gestural qualities.

Before you start constructing your bouquet, make sure the flower stems and greenery are prepped and ready. Remove all of the leaves from your floral stems and the bottom halves of your greenery stems. Snip the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle and keep them in a bucket of water as you assemble your bouquet.

When you're ready to assemble the bouquet, start by building the shape and framework of your arrangement, thinking about dimension along the way. Stand in front of a mirror while you work, so you know what the bouquet looks like from the front. Start with a base of greenery before adding in larger, focal flowers. Continue to add in smaller flowers and greenery, balancing the design as you build. Once you’ve constructed a bouquet you love, snip the stems to trim them back and secure the entire bouquet with a rubber band. Be sure it’s tightly wrapped before adding floral tape to hide the rubber band. Loop a ribbon around the stems for a clean, classic look or allow it to cascade down the side of the bouquet for a more relaxed, garden-style aesthetic.

If you're making a boutonnière, use a hearty-stemmed flower as the base so that it doesn't get crushed when you're hugging people. Thistle and a scabiosa pod can be used to anchor the boutonnière, with peppergrass as the additional greenery. Secure with twine.

For a flower crown, use a spool of lace, green floral wire, green floral tape, a vine, sheers, wax flower, and bobby pins.

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Finishing touches

So, you've gathered your flowers and greenery, prepped your stems, and assembled your bouquet. Now, it's time for the finishing touches! Here are some tips to ensure your DIY wedding bouquet looks professional and stays fresh:

• Fill in any gaps: After you've created your bouquet, take a step back and assess if there are any holes or sparse areas. Fill in these gaps with additional greenery or focal flowers to create a full and lush arrangement.
• Secure the bouquet: Use floral tape or a rubber band to secure the stems together. You can also use clear hair elastics for added security, especially if you want to ensure the bouquet stays intact as you walk down the aisle.
• Add a ribbon: Choose a beautiful ribbon that complements your wedding colour palette. Wrap it around the stems for a classic look, or let it cascade down the side for a more relaxed, whimsical feel.
• Keep it fresh: Store your bouquet in a cool place and mist it with water to keep the flowers hydrated and fresh. Place the stems in water whenever possible, especially if you're assembling the bouquet a day or two before the wedding.
• Transport with care: Use boxes with holes or vases to transport your bouquet to the wedding venue. This will help prevent any mess or damage during transit.
• Delegate: Assign someone to transport the bouquet to the venue and ensure it's placed in water upon arrival. This will take the stress off you and your wedding party on the big day.
• Enjoy the process: Remember, creating your own wedding bouquet should be a fun and enjoyable experience! Don't stress over perfection; embrace the unique beauty of your handmade creation.

Frequently asked questions