How to Make a Bridal Bouquet With 18 Roses

Brides can select roses that aren't fully bloomed yet; sticking the stem in hot water forces the bud to open.

A bride's bouquet is meant to make a statement, yet, it doesn't have to be expensive. A classic dome bouquet of 18 roses can even be constructed by the bride herself. Forget about breaking the bank and start picking flowers.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh or fabric roses
• Ribbon
• Push Pins
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Select a color pallet and style; figure out whether you’ll use artificial flowers or fresh roses. Order the flowers or pick them fresh. Purchase ribbon in a coordinating color to finish the bouquet.

2. Leave stems at their original lengths until the bouquet is complete. Stems can be trimmed at the very end.

3. Hold four flowers so the roses form a square. One by one, add roses to the bouquet around this square to create an evenly spaced classic dome bouquet.

4. Use standard rubber bands to hold the flowers in place. It will take between three and five rubber bands to keep the bouquet strong; space them evenly.

5. Cut the stems straight across to make them all even in length.

6. Take 3 feet of ribbon and begin wrapping it around the stems to create an aesthetically pleasing finish. Overlap the ribbon and make sure it remains tight as it covers the entire length of the bouquet stems, leaving just 1/2-inch to 12 inch of stem peeking through at the bottom.

7. For added sturdiness, wrap the stems from the bottom up, re-covering the first layer of ribbon.

8. Secure the ribbon to the stems with elegant push pins that either match the selected color scheme or are standard pushpins that can easily blend into the ribbon. Use excess ribbon to create a bow, if desired.

References

• J R Roses: DIY Bouquets

Resources

• The Knot: Homemade Wedding Bouquet Basics;