How to Make a Cascading Calla Lily Bridal Bouquet

A cascading calla lily bridal bouquet made from silk stems is one that preserves and displays your merriment long after your special day. Even if you use fresh flowers, making the bouquet yourself will probably save you money, ensure you have the bouquet you want and give you a sense of pride in what you have accomplished. Add embellishments such as small, colorful blooms to fill in empty spaces or silk ribbon to wrap around the stems or bouquet holder to coordinate with your wedding colors.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Foam bouquet holder
• Weighted vase or bottle
• Greenery and filler flowers
• 12 to 18 Calla Lily stems
• Wire cutters or scissors
• Hot glue gun (optional)
• Ribbon or other embellishments (optional)

1. Weigh down a vase or bottle with a wide enough neck to hold your bouquet holder steady, using sand or heavy stones. Place the bouquet holder in the vase to allow you to keep both hands free to build your bouquet.

2. Lay out all of your materials on the table or counter around the vase. Cut the greenery, filler or other groupings into single stems using scissors or wire cutters. The length of the stems will depend on how large and how long you want your bouquet to be. The longer stems will hang down in the front, so leave at least two stems 12 to 14 inches long, or the length you desire. Cut the bulk of the stems to 5 to 7 inches to fill out the main part of the bouquet.

3. Prepare your hot glue gun. Use a dot of hot glue at the end of each stem before placing it in the foam, for added security if you desire.

4. Insert stems of filler, such as myrtle, ivy or leather leaf fern, along the outer edges of the foam to create a basic outline of your bouquet. Your calla lilies will extend past the greenery by a couple of inches, so avoid making your greenery too long. Add greenery, pointing outward in all directions with the longest piece falling in the bottom center, until you see the shape of the bouquet form.

5. Choose one or two calla lilies for the center of the bouquet and cut the stems short, leaving about 3 to 4 inches of the actual stem. Insert them off-center near the middle of the bouquet.

6. Insert the rest of your calla lilies one flower at a time, framing your bouquet. Place the longest calla lily--14 inches--in the bottom, hanging in the center; then two slightly shorter ones--12 inches--on each side, then a single shorter one--10 inches--followed by two more stems--8 inches--on either side. Continue adding your calla lilies until you have used them all or have achieved the look you want.

7. Add any smaller flowers such as small roses or miniature calla lilies. Add any embellishments such as wrapping the bouquet holder with satin ribbon or incorporate small splashes of color that coordinate with your wedding colors.

Tips & Warnings

• View your bouquet from all angles to ensure it looks the way you want it all the way around. Avoid filling every spot of the foam. Poking too many flowers into the foam will cause the foam to become unstable, which can cause the flowers to fall out. Spray a sealant on the flowers if you opt for fresh flowers.
• Soak the foam in water and flower food if you are using fresh flowers. The flowers need to be spritzed with cool water and kept in a refrigerator to keep them fresh.

References

• Wedding Flowers and Reception Ideas
• Affloral
• Save On Crafts