Crafting A Cascading Wedding Bouquet: A Step-By-Step Guide

A cascading bouquet is a type of floral arrangement that is designed to flow down from the bride's hands in a long, dramatic cascade of flowers and greenery. This style was particularly popular in the 1980s, with Princess Diana's bridal bouquet being one of the most famous examples. In recent years, it has been making a comeback, with florists and brides embracing a more bohemian take on the style. Creating your own cascading bouquet can be a fun and affordable way to add a unique touch to your wedding. All you need are some flowers, greenery, and a few simple tools.

Choosing your flowers

Number of Stems

Choose about 15-18 stems of a long-stemmed flower for your bouquet. This will create a more elegant and cohesive look than a random assortment of blooms. Ensure that the stems are at least 6 inches (15 cm) long so that they are long enough to reach the bouquet holder. You can always cut them to the desired length later.

Types of Flowers

Roses are a classic choice for wedding bouquets, especially in white or red. Other popular options include stargazer lilies, peonies, anemones, ranunculus, dahlias, and hydrangeas. You can choose a single type of flower or a mix of different varieties. Consider the colour of your wedding dress and the overall style of your wedding when making your selection.

Accent Flowers

In addition to your primary blooms, you'll need smaller accent flowers to fill out the bouquet. Choose 10-12 stems of accent flowers such as calla lilies, lavender, spray roses, hypericum, or orchids. You can choose accent flowers in complementary or contrasting colours to add interest and depth to your bouquet.

Greenery

Select 8-10 long sprays of greenery to shape the cascade effect of your bouquet. Popular options include myrtle, ivy, silver sage, spirea, lemon leaf, and eucalyptus. The greenery will not only add texture and movement to your bouquet but will also help to fill any gaps and create a more natural, flowing look.

Filler

Finally, choose a delicate filler like baby's breath or ferns to fill in any remaining gaps and ensure that the bouquet holder is not visible. These small, delicate sprays will enhance the beauty of your primary blooms without detracting from them.

Creating the cascade shape

Soak the Bouquet Holder:

Start by submerging your bouquet holder in a bowl or pitcher of warm water. This step is important to keep your flowers fresh, as the top of the holder, known as the "oasis," absorbs water to nourish the flowers. Let the holder sit in the water for about a minute, then gently lift it out without pushing it down to avoid air bubbles.

Secure the Bouquet Holder:

Place the soaked bouquet holder in a heavy ceramic vase or a stand to keep it stable while you work on the arrangement. You can also add rocks or marbles to the vase for extra stability. This ensures that the holder stays put and frees up your hands to focus on the flower arrangement.

Start with the Greenery:

Select the two longest greenery stems and insert them into the bottom front of the bouquet holder. Point the tips of the greenery downwards and push the stems firmly into the gaps or foam. The greenery should spill out around your hand but be shorter at the top to avoid interfering with your grip. Continue adding the remaining greenery, cutting the stems as needed to create a gradual length variation.

Shape the Greenery:

Imagine an upside-down teardrop shape as your guide. Fill in more greenery around the top and sides of the holder, creating symmetry. The greenery on the top and sides should be slightly shorter than your flowers, except for a few pieces you want to showcase. This step is crucial to forming the cascading silhouette, so feel free to adjust and cut the stems until you're happy with the overall shape.

Place the Primary Blooms:

Now, it's time to add your main flowers. Place the largest and most eye-catching blooms in the centre of the arrangement to create a focal point. Then, work your way around the bouquet holder, arranging the flowers in different directions. Point the top flowers straight up, position the side flowers horizontally, and let the longest stems cascade downwards. As you work, alternate between the top and sides to create a criss-cross pattern, securing the flowers in place.

Trim the Stems:

As you arrange the flowers, use sharp floral shears to trim the stems to the desired lengths. The shortest stems should go at the top, with medium-length stems in the middle and the longest at the bottom. Cut the flowers at the top and middle slightly longer than the greenery to make them stand out. Don't forget to cut thicker stems at an angle for easier insertion into the holder.

Add Accent Flowers:

Once you're happy with the placement of your primary blooms, introduce the accent flowers to fill in the body of the bouquet. Continue the criss-cross pattern by alternating between the top and sides as you add these smaller flowers. Evenly space out the accent flowers throughout the arrangement, creating a balanced and harmonious look.

Fill in the Gaps:

Examine your bouquet from different angles—top, front, and sides. Use baby's breath, ferns, or additional greenery to fill in any remaining gaps and ensure a cohesive and full appearance. This step adds the finishing touches to your cascading shape, ensuring that the bouquet holder is completely concealed by the lush arrangement.

Adding the flowers

Now that you have your greenery and primary blooms arranged, it's time to add the flowers to your cascading bridal bouquet. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Arranging the Primary Blooms:

Start by placing your largest and most beautiful flowers in the centre of your arrangement as the focal point. Then, work the remaining primary blooms around the bouquet holder, creating a symmetrical design. Position the top flowers upright, the blooms around the circumference of the holder horizontally, and the longest, cascading stems pointing downward.

As you arrange the flowers, alternate between adding a few to the top and then a few to the sides. This criss-crossing of stems will help secure the flowers in place. Ensure each type of flower is evenly spaced throughout the bouquet to achieve a symmetrical, cascading effect.

Trimming the Stems:

Use sharp floral shears to trim each stem to the desired length. The stems at the bottom of your bouquet should be the longest, with medium-length stems in the middle, and the shortest blooms at the top. Trim the flowers one at a time as you place them in the arrangement for a customised look. Cut the thicker stems at an angle to facilitate easy insertion into the bouquet holder.

Adding the Accent Flowers:

With your greenery and primary blooms in place, fill in the body of the bouquet with your chosen accent flowers. Continue to alternate between adding flowers to the top and sides, interlocking the stems to secure them. Evenly space the accent flowers throughout the bouquet, ensuring a balanced distribution.

Filling Gaps:

Finally, use baby's breath or additional greenery to fill any remaining gaps. Examine the bouquet from different angles (top, front, and sides) and tuck in small sprays to achieve a full and cohesive look. Baby's breath is an excellent, inexpensive option for filling gaps without detracting from the primary blooms.

Your cascading bridal bouquet is now complete! Remember to keep your bouquet in a cool place, away from direct sunlight, until your wedding day. Enjoy your handmade creation and congratulations on your special day!

Finishing touches

Once you have arranged your bouquet, it's time for the finishing touches. These are the final steps to secure your bouquet and add some extra flourishes.

Firstly, you will need to secure your bouquet with some floral tape and a sturdy rubber band or two until it feels stuck in place. This will ensure that your bouquet doesn't fall apart. Then, you can wrap the stems with some decorative material, such as silk ribbon, lace, or burlap ribbon. If you want to add a romantic touch, consider leaving some long streamers of your chosen ribbon. Silk ribbons with raw edges usually work best for this style.

Finally, you can add a ribbon to polish off the design. Take a chiffon ribbon in a matching colour and tie a bow around the handle. Leaving the ribbon ends cascading will add to the billowy, flowing effect.

Choosing the right size

Firstly, it is recommended that the bouquet size should be within a few inches of your hip and bust size. This ensures that the flowers add beauty to your look without overwhelming your figure or dress. You want the bouquet to enhance your overall appearance, not distract from it.

Secondly, consider the length of the bouquet in relation to your height and the length of your dress. A good rule of thumb is to have the bouquet end somewhere between your waist and hip. This will create a flattering silhouette and ensure the bouquet is comfortable to hold.

Thirdly, think about the size of the bouquet in relation to the size of the flowers you have chosen. For example, if you are using large, voluminous flowers, you may need a larger bouquet to accommodate them and create a balanced look. On the other hand, if you are using smaller, more delicate flowers, a smaller bouquet may be more appropriate.

Additionally, you can adjust the size of your bouquet by trimming the stems. Trimming the stems at varying lengths will help create the desired shape and overall size of the bouquet. Remember to cut thicker stems at an angle for ease of insertion into the bouquet holder.

Finally, don't be afraid to experiment and make adjustments as you create your bouquet. You can always add or remove flowers and greenery to achieve the perfect size and look for your cascading wedding bouquet.

Frequently asked questions