Creating Your Dream Wedding Posy: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding flowers can be a huge expense, but you can save money by making your own posy. A posy bouquet is a small, round arrangement of flowers usually held in one hand. They are a common option for bridesmaids, but brides can also carry them. Making your own wedding posy is easy and needn't be daunting, especially if you want a whimsical and rustic bouquet.

Choose a colour palette

Choosing a colour palette is an important step in crafting a memorable wedding day. The colour palette you choose for your wedding posy should complement the overall aesthetic of your wedding.

If you're planning a traditional wedding, consider a posy of classic flowers such as lily of the valley, myrtle, or peonies. These flowers are often associated with elegance and sophistication, making them a timeless choice for your wedding bouquet.

For a rustic-style celebration, wildflowers or blooms in white and green hues will create a natural, organic look. You can also incorporate greenery such as eucalyptus for its beautiful silvery-green colour, adding a rustic touch to your bouquet.

If you're looking for a vibrant and lively aesthetic, consider a fall-inspired colour palette with rich, warm tones like burgundy, deep purple, and blush. These colours can be incorporated into either the bridal or bridesmaid bouquets, or both, for a cohesive look.

For a seaside soiree, a small bouquet with minimal additional flowers, such as a hyacinth, will make a bold statement. Adding a few stems of bird nest ferns or plumosa can create a chic and unexpected design element to your wedding posy.

Remember, the colour palette you choose for your wedding posy should ultimately reflect your personal style and the overall theme of your wedding celebration.

Pick flowers and foliage

Picking flowers and foliage for your wedding posy is a fun yet challenging task. Here are some tips to help you get started:

First, select a variety of your favourite flowers and foliage, aiming for twice the volume of your intended bouquet size. This will give you plenty to work with and ensure a lush, full arrangement. Choose flowers that are in season and consider their suitability for a hand-tied bouquet, as not all flowers will be able to hold up without additional support. For example, hydrangeas are a beautiful choice but will need to be kept in water to avoid wilting.

For a rustic bouquet, opt for wildflowers or blooms that give off a natural, wild vibe. You can also use twine, burlap, hessian, lace, or any other shabby chic material to add to the rustic charm. Play with different textures and colours to create interest and dimension. For instance, try pairing delicate blooms like stocks and freesia with greens such as Parvi and eucalyptus for its silvery-green hue.

If you want a more classic and elegant look, consider traditional flowers like roses, lilies of the valley, myrtle, or peonies. These timeless choices are always a safe bet and can be tailored to various wedding styles. For a modern twist, include long ribbons in your bouquet, coordinating the colour with the flowers for an elegant and sophisticated finish.

Remember to have fun with the process and be creative! Pick flowers that speak to you and reflect your unique style. By mixing and matching different flowers and foliage, you'll be able to create a stunning wedding posy that ties your entire look together.

Prepare your flowers

Select your favourite flowers and foliage for the bouquet—a good rule of thumb is to choose flowers that are twice the size of the bouquet you plan to create. If you're creating a rustic bouquet, choose flowers and foliage that give off a wildflower vibe, such as wildflowers or blooms in white and green. For a classic look, consider lily of the valley, myrtle, or peonies. If you want to make a statement, hyacinth is a bold and fragrant choice.

Before you begin assembling your bouquet, prepare your flowers by removing all the lower leaves and thorns. Then, organise them into piles of the same species. If you're working outside, you can save the mess by having a green waste bag handy.

Now, choose your starting flower. This could be a feature flower such as a garden rose or hydrangea. If your chosen flower is not too big, you might want to add two or three to work around from each side.

Create your bouquet shape

A posy bouquet is a small, round arrangement of flowers usually held in one hand. To create your bouquet shape, start by choosing a feature flower such as a garden rose or hydrangea. You can add two or three of these starting flowers if they are not too big, and you can work around them from each side. Next, 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 texture. You could use Parvi to add a rustic feel to your bouquet and a small amount of eucalyptus for a beautiful silvery-green colour.

Keep twisting and turning your bouquet in the same direction as you add your plants, ensuring that your stems are lying nicely together. Hold your flowers away from you and check that they look good from all angles. If you want a natural and wild-looking bouquet, don't worry too much about how neat it is, and at this point, you don't need to worry about the different lengths of your stems. However, do pull away any bits of flower or leaves that won't be seen. Once you have a nice layer around your centre, you can start to introduce more feature flowers, along with your delicate types and foliage, remembering to use a good mix of colours and textures. At this point, the head of your bouquet should be forming a soft round shape. You might want to emphasise certain pieces by teasing your plants up or down, which will add to a rustic look.

Once you have your bouquet to the desired size, add a small ring of greenery around the outside to keep your arrangement looking relaxed. Now it's time to tie everything up! Check your flowers from all angles to make sure you're happy, and it's 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, about two inches from the top, and use twine to secure them tightly.

Finish with ribbon

Finishing Touches: Ribbon

The final step to making your own wedding posy is to finish with a ribbon. This will give the illusion of a larger bouquet while still keeping the petite design of a posy. It will also add an elegant and modern touch to your arrangement.

Firstly, select a ribbon that coordinates with the colour of your flowers. Opt for a silk or satin ribbon for an elegant finish. Position the ribbon on your tying point and hold it in place with your thumb. Begin to wrap the ribbon around the tying point, pulling tightly and making sure you catch the loose end. Continue binding the ribbon around the handle until you are happy with the look—this will take approximately 3 to 4 times.

Once you have finished, cut the end of the ribbon, leaving a trail. To finish, fold the ribbon left back on itself to disguise any rough edges and secure with pins. Push the pins into the bouquet and angle them upwards to ensure the end of the pin is not at risk of hurting the person holding the bouquet.

Frequently asked questions