How to Make Bridesmaid Bouquets With Lillies
Bridesmaids’ bouquets are often a miniature reflection of the bride’s bouquet. If you bridal bouquet consists of a combination of flowers including lilies, one option for your bridesmaids’ bouquets is to create bouquets containing only lilies. Either traditional lilies or calla lilies are substantial enough to make a dramatic statement using only a few flowers.
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Instructions
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Preparing Natural Lilies
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1
Remove any leaves from the stems that you do not want to include in the final bouquet.
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2
Insert the stem of the lily into a sink full of water and cut off 2 inches of stem at a 45-degree angle. Do not cut the stems to the length you think you will want or need for the bouquet. Longer stems are easier to work with and can be trimmed later.
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3
Allow the flowers to drink for a few seconds before transferring them to a bucket of cool water to wait until needed.
Arranging a Domed Bouquet
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4
Hold four lilies in your hand and crisscross the stems so the flowers form a square.
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5
Insert a single lily or greenery into the center of lily square or twist the flowers so the petals hide any obvious gap. If you are using calla lilies this will not be a problem, since the smaller blooms will fit more tightly together.
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6
Add six or more lilies around the perimeter, always crisscrossing the stems to produce a large domed bouquet. This step is optional and depends on how full you want your bridesmaid bouquets to appear. You will end up with a wide base of stems spreading in all directions. This will be corrected during wrapping.
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7
Place additional greenery around the perimeter or in between flowers. This step is optional.
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8
Wrap the stems with floral tape from the top down, starting 3 to 4 inches below the heads of the lilies. As you wrap, compress the stems together. The natural pliability of the stems allows you to bend the stems without breaking. Remain mindful of the flowers positions and make adjustments as needed to maintain your design. Stop when you reach the desired length of stems.
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9
Cut off excess stems to create a flat bottom.
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10
Rewrap the stems with a ribbon chosen to complement the flowers or the bridesmaid dresses. Cut a piece of ribbon three times the length of the stems. Wrap from the top down and then back up.
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11
Tuck the end of the ribbon in and pin in place with a decorative floral pin. Continue pinning down the stems to add a decorative touch.
Arranging a Flat Bouquet
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12
Lay out a fan of greenery on your worktable. This step is optional. Lilies, especially calla lilies, stand out even in a minimalistic arrangement.
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13
Place three lilies on the worktable over the greenery in a triangular arrangement, keeping the stems straight. If you are working with calla lilies, you can add three to seven more flowers to create a more dramatic bouquet. Adding more large lilies will look fussy and awkward, but adding more small lilies will look lacy.
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14
Wrap the stems together 3 to 4 inches below the heads of the lilies with floral tape, making at least 10 loops to hold the stems in place. If you want to leave the stems natural, cut the greenery stems just below the tape and tie a ribbon in a bow to cover the floral tape and add shine to the bouquet. If you want to wrap the stems completely, repeat Steps 5 through 8.
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References
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