How to Make a Bridal Bouquet

 

 

Green and white is a classic combination for a wedding bouquet. This one has ivory roses, white mini carnations, and green viburnum.

Throughout the long wedding day, from the ceremony to wedding photos, you want your bouquets to stay fresh. A bouquet holder is a good idea. We think that using a holder is a good idea for a bridal bouquet. Yes, the holder can be kind of ugly at first, but they can be dressed up and still offer the advantage of keeping your fragile flowers from wilting. Making hand-tied bouquets can be tricky, but a holder lets you place the flowers where you want them, and — they stay put!

Designing your Bouquet

A bouquet characterized by irregular lengths produces a more informal effect. Some stems are cut an inch or two longer to create texture and depth. Material can also be cut a bit shorter and recessed into the arrangement.

For a more formal effect, the opposite is true. Cutting your flowers to the same length and tightly packing them into the holder will result in a very formal shape.

The volume of the bouquet will be determined by the size of the holder (large for a bride and medium or small for the attendants) and also how long the stems are cut. A formal bouquet (such as with all roses) is created by cutting the stems about the same length (about the height of your fist). For a more natural style or when using a variety of materials, cut some the filler material 1 inch to 2 inches longer or shorter to add depth.

Making a Round Bouquet in a Holder

Favorite flowers for a round bouquet include roses, daisies, alstroemeria, mums, carnations, waxflowers, lavender, sweet peas, and freesia.

To make this bouquet you will need:

1 medium-size bouquet holder, soaked in water for 15 minutes

4 – 5 stems leather leaf fern

1 – 2 stems coffee foliage or other greenery, cut into 4- to 5-inch pieces

6 ivory sweetheart roses, thorns removed, stems cut to about 2 1/2 inches

1 – 2 stems ivory spray roses (should yield 4 -6 small roses), stems cut to about 2 1/2 inches

2 stems white miniature carnations, stems cut to about 2 1/2 inches

6 stems green viburnum or 2 stems variegated pittosporum

floral picks with wired ends

3 feet of wire-edge ribbon

Cut ferns into smaller pieces (about 4 inches) with bottom 1 inch of stems stripped of foliage. To make a bow, attach a wooden floral pick to the center of the ribbon by twisting the wire around the ribbon and adding a dab of hot glue to secure it to the pick. Just before using the bouquet, stick the pick into the lower edge of the bouquet holder.

We like to use a glass jar filled with gravel or small stones to anchor the holder as we work.

Wet the holder by floating it in water for 15 minutes. Don’t push it under the water or an air bubble may form.

 

1. Arrange the ferns or whatever greenery you have around the holder. Then place the roses as shown. Fill in around the roses with other flowers such as carnations, freesia, daisies, or whatever you like.

 

 

 

2. Wind the wire pick onto the center of your ribbon and create a bow. Push the pick into the base of the bouquet holder when you are ready to use the bouquet. Keep the bouquet moist by misting the holder.

 

To dress up a bouquet holder handle, use a glue gun and some wide (one inch at least) ribbon. Apply glue to the sides of the holder. Starting at the bottom, begin to wrap a long strip of ribbon around the handle, covering the starting point, then winding up the handle to the top. Apply a spot of glue between the ribbon in a couple of places so it adheres to itself as well as the handle.  Glue securely at the top, then tie the ribbon wrap in a knot. Tie on a ribbon bow or streamers.

Remember that bouquet holders also come in a variety of shapes and designs. Some have straight, round handles and when the handle is wrapped with ribbon, it looks about the same as a hand-tied bouquet where the stems have been wrapped, yet it is a far better choice if you want your bouquet to stay fresh throughout the day.