Creating A Rustic Wedding Bouquet: A Diy Guide

Creating your own wedding bouquet is a fun and cost-effective way to add a personal touch to your special day. Rustic wedding bouquets are designed to look natural, organic, and slightly wild, incorporating a mix of wildflowers, greenery, and other natural elements like twigs or berries. In this article, we will guide you through the process of making your own rustic wedding bouquet, from choosing your flowers to assembling and securing the bouquet. We will also offer tips on creating the perfect arrangement and provide suggestions for rustic wedding bouquet styles. By following these steps, you will be able to craft a beautiful bouquet that captures the charm and romance of a rustic wedding.

Choosing your flowers

Choosing the right flowers for your rustic wedding bouquet is a crucial step in creating a beautiful arrangement that captures the charm and romance of your special day. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you select the perfect blooms:

Wildflowers

Wildflowers are a quintessential choice for rustic wedding bouquets as they embody the natural, unstructured, and slightly wild aesthetic. Popular options include daisies, sunflowers, and lavender, which can be effortlessly combined to create a vibrant and organic arrangement.

Greenery

Adding greenery is essential to achieving that rustic look. Eucalyptus, ferns, ivy, and other types of foliage help create a natural, organic feel and add volume to your bouquet. They can be used as a base or interspersed with other flowers for a lush, wildflower-inspired arrangement.

Classic Choices

While rustic bouquets often feature wildflowers, classic choices like roses and dahlias can also work beautifully. Opt for roses with a more natural, unstructured shape, and consider pairing them with other blooms for a unique touch. Dahlias, with their large and showy blooms, are another popular option for rustic bouquets due to their natural, organic appearance.

Seasonal Flowers

To ensure the freshest flowers and the best prices, consider choosing blooms that are in season. For spring weddings, daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips are lovely options, while chrysanthemums and dahlias are ideal for fall nuptials.

Color Palette

When selecting your flowers, consider the color palette you want to create. Rustic weddings typically feature natural, earthy tones like brown, green, and beige. Warm colors like orange, yellow, and red can add a cheerful touch, while soft pastels such as pink, lavender, and peach create a romantic, dreamy atmosphere.

Focal Flowers and Fillers

When constructing your bouquet, start with focal flowers, which are usually larger blooms like roses or peonies. Add in smaller filler flowers and greenery to create texture and volume, ensuring a well-rounded and symmetrical bouquet.

Personalization

Don't be afraid to incorporate your personality and style into your bouquet. Include your birth flower or that of a loved one, or add a sentimental color or fabric to make your bouquet even more meaningful.

Remember, the beauty of a DIY rustic wedding bouquet is that you can choose flowers that reflect your taste and the theme of your wedding. By following these tips and trusting your instincts, you'll create a stunning bouquet that will be a cherished part of your wedding memories.

Preparing your flowers

Selecting the Flowers:

Start by choosing a variety of flowers and foliage that reflect the rustic theme. Wildflowers such as daisies, sunflowers, and lavender are excellent choices. You can also include greenery like eucalyptus or ferns to add a natural touch. If you want a more structured look, consider using roses or hydrangeas as your feature flowers.

Gather Your Materials:

You will need fresh or artificial flowers, greenery, floral wire and tape, ribbon or lace, scissors or pruning shears, and a water source if you're using fresh flowers.

Prepare the Flowers:

• Cut the stems at an angle to improve water absorption if you're using fresh flowers.
• Remove any unwanted leaves, thorns, or damaged petals.
• If using fresh flowers, hydrate them by placing them in water for a few hours before assembly.
• If you're working with roses and want them fully bloomed, place the stems in hot water for a couple of minutes before using them.

Creating the Bouquet Shape:

• Start with your focal flowers, adding more until you're happy with the base.
• Intersperse smaller flowers and greenery around the larger blooms to create a balanced and full look.
• Ensure the bouquet looks symmetrical from all angles.
• Stand in front of a mirror while constructing the bouquet to get a better idea of its shape and size.

Securing the Bouquet:

• Wrap floral wire gently around the stems to hold the arrangement together.
• Apply floral tape over the wire to conceal it and provide extra support.

Now that your flowers are prepared, you're ready to move on to the next steps of creating your rustic wedding bouquet!

Assembling your bouquet

Firstly, choose your starting flower. This could be a feature flower such as a rose or hydrangea. You could even add two or three starting flowers if they are not too big, and work outwards from each side.

Now, add your greens and smaller, delicate blooms such as stocks and freesia around the main flower to give texture. Break up the colour of these smaller flowers with your foliage to add interest and more texture. You could use something like Parvi, which will add a rustic feel, and a small amount of eucalyptus for its beautiful silvery-green colour.

Keep twisting and turning your bouquet in the same direction as you add your plants, and ensure that your stems are lying nicely together as you go. Hold your flowers away from you and check that they are looking as you would like from all angles. If you want a natural and wild look, don't worry too much about how neat it is, and at this point, don't worry about the different lengths of your stems, but do pull away any bits of flower or leaves that won't be seen.

Once you have a nice layer around the centre, you can start to introduce some more feature flowers, along with your delicate types and foliage, remembering to use a good mix of colour and textures as you go. At this point, the head of your bouquet should be forming a soft, round shape. You might want to emphasise some pieces by teasing your plants up or down, which will add to the rustic look.

Once you have your bouquet at the desired size, add a small ring of greenery around the outside, which will keep your arrangement looking relaxed.

Now, it's time to tie everything together. Check your flowers from all angles to make sure you are happy, and it is also a good idea to stand in front of a mirror to check the size is right. Hold the stems just under the base of the flowers, take your twine and loop one end around your little finger of the hand you are holding the bouquet with. Then, use your other hand to wrap the rest of your twine tightly around the stem, working upwards until you have about 5-10cm left, and tie a double knot.

Now, lay your bouquet in front of you and cut the stems. Leave at least two hand widths of the stem, but this is your choice. Take your shears and cut two or three stems at a time, keeping your shears vertically upright to give a clean cut.

Finally, take your chosen ribbon or lace and cover the twine that is holding your bouquet together. Pull the fabric tight, take a pin, and push it up through the ribbon at a 20-degree angle into the stems. Two or three pins should be enough, but you can add more if you wish.

And there you have it! Your very own rustic wedding bouquet.

Securing your bouquet

Now that you've chosen your flowers and assembled your bouquet, it's time to secure it. This is an important step as you want your bouquet to last through your whole wedding day.

To secure your bouquet, you will need some type of binding material. Popular options include rubber bands, floral tape, twine, or even wire. You will also need ribbon to wrap around the stems and finish the bouquet.

Start by binding the stems of the bouquet together with your chosen binding material. This will keep the bouquet in place and make it easier to handle. If using twine, be sure to cut a length that is a few inches longer than you think you need. You can also add extra rubber bands for more security before wrapping the base.

Once the stems are bound, wrap the ribbon around them, starting at the top and working your way down. You can wind the ribbon in a spiral pattern, or simply wrap it around the stems. When you reach the bottom, wrap the ribbon back up the stem.

Finally, secure the end of the ribbon by tucking it in or using a pin or a small amount of glue to hold it in place. You can also tie a separate length of ribbon just beneath the flower heads to create a bow.

If you're using fresh flowers, it's a good idea to keep the stems in water as much as possible before the wedding. This will help to keep them hydrated and looking their best. You can also mist the flower heads with water to keep them fresh.

With these steps, your bouquet should be securely fastened and ready to be enjoyed on your special day.

Finishing touches

Now that you've assembled your bouquet, it's time for the finishing touches! These final steps will ensure your bouquet looks perfect and stays fresh for your big day.

Wrap the Stems

Choose a ribbon, lace, or twine that complements the colour and theme of your wedding. Cut the ribbon about three times the length of the stems. Starting at the top of the stems, wind the ribbon down and then back up, covering the floral tape. Secure the ribbon with a pin or a small dab of hot glue. If you'd like a bow, cut a separate piece of ribbon and tie it just below the flower heads.

Trim the Stems

Use shears or a sharp knife to cut the stems to the desired length. Leave at least two hand widths of the stem, or cut them so they are all the same length, about 7 to 8 inches long.

Keep it Fresh

Place the stems in water as much as possible before the ceremony to keep the flowers fresh. Wrap the bouquet in tissue and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to leave for the wedding. Mist the flower heads well and keep them in a cool, dark place to prevent wilting.

Practice Makes Perfect

If you're feeling unsure, make a trial bouquet to perfect your technique. It's also a good idea to assemble your bouquet close to your wedding day to ensure the flowers are fresh.

Add Sentimental Touches

Incorporate unique touches like heirloom jewellery or a piece of fabric from a loved one's clothing. You can also add a charm to your bouquet, such as a vintage trinket or something new and special.

Frequently asked questions