How to Design Wedding Bouquets

Brides bouquet

Flowers play an important role in weddings. They often tie the color scheme and wedding theme together while giving the bride a splash of color. There are many ways to put together wedding bouquets, some elaborate and some beautiful in their simplicity.

Things You'll Need

• 30 to 60 sturdy flowers (like roses) for the bride's bouquet 20 to 40 sturdy flowers for the bridal party Stem stripper Rubber bands or string Scissors or stem cutters Paper towels Ribbon Corsage pins

Instructions

How to Design Wedding Bouquets

1. Strip all thorns and leaves from the stems of the flowers, if you are using fresh flowers. Keep them in fresh water in a bucket until you begin working with them.

2. Hold four flowers in one hand, all even in height. (If you are right handed, hold the flowers in your left hand.)

3. Turning the flowers in a counter-clockwise fashion, add six flowers at a time slightly lower than the original group. Space them evenly around the first four.

4. 

   Continue adding groups of flowers, evenly spaced around the bouquet until it resembles a dome of flowers. You can use all the same colors, or mix them. You also can use different flowers if they complement each other.

5. Add any baby's breath or other foliage, if desired (this is not necessary, as a "ball" of red roses looks elegant without anything added, for example). Tie string, twist wire or use a rubber band to bind the stems at the top where all the stems come together (about three or four inches down from the buds), and at the bottom of the stems about two to three inches above the ends.

6. Cut the bottom of the stems (at a slant if you are using fresh flowers) so they are even. Dry the stems using paper towels (if they are fresh). Wrap ribbon around the stems starting at the top, so you can tuck one end under the string or rubber band. Wrap the ribbon in a slanted downward motion.

7. When you get to the bottom, wrap back up the stems again, creating a double layer of ribbon over the stem. Cut the ribbon and tuck the end into the band of ribbon under the stems. Secure the ribbon with corsage pins. You also can add a bow if you desire.

Tips & Warnings

• Use ribbon that coordinates and complements the wedding color scheme. Use silk flowers if you need to assemble the bouquets far in advance. If the bride's bouquet is one solid color, make the bridal party's bouquets with a second color, or use another color altogether (as long as it all goes together).

• Keep fresh flowers in the refrigerator until they are needed.

References

• The Knott Book of Wedding Flowers; Carley Roney, Chronicle Books, Knot (Firm); 2002
• Cheap Wedding Solutions
• Favor Ideas