How to Make a Hand Held Flower Bouquet

Handheld bouquets save money and add a personal touch.

Make your own handheld bouquets for a wedding party, Mother’s Day or as table decorations. Small bouquets are a fresh alternative to corsages, which can be difficult to attach to flimsy fabrics. Save money by designing and assembling bouquets yourself. Keep the color of the dresses in mind when making bouquets and select ribbon that matches the color of the flowers. Coordinating flowers harmonizes the overall look of the party.

Things You'll Need

• Greens or lesser flowers
• Floral shears
• Green floral tape
• Ribbon
• Water
• Vase

Instructions

1. Start with five sturdy stems of a single type of flower, like rose, lily, daisy or tulip. Roses and tulips may need to be purchased a day or two in advance to allow time for blooms to open.

2. Cut the end of the stems at a sharp angle using a clean knife or floral shears. Remove excess foliage from the stems. If using roses, strip the stems to remove thorns.

3. Place the flowers in tepid water for no less than four hours. Bouquets should be assembled the day of the event for optimal freshness.

4. Choose lesser flowers and greens to complement the blooms without competing. Baby’s breath and fern are popular choices because they are hardy plants and are readily available. Experiment with color and texture with snowberries and lambs’ ears. Lavender and rosemary add a sweet scent to a bouquet.

5. Hold flowers in one hand and add greens one at a time with the other until the bouquet has the desired look.

6. Bind stems with green floral tape. Tape should bind 2 to 3 inches of the stems to prevent slippage.

7. Even out the bottom of the bouquet by cutting longer stems with floral shears.

8. Tie coordinating ribbon or bows around the stems. Add two or more colors of ribbon for a more vibrant look.

Tips & Warnings

• Flowers and greens need at least 5 inches of stems for a handheld bouquet.