How to Make a Corsage for a Baptismal

In Christian religions, baptism is an immersion in water for the remission of sins, designed to metaphorically join the new Christian to Christ through his death. It is a time of rebirth and cleansing. The purity of the new Christian's life after baptism is symbolized by white. Often the mother of the child being baptized wears a white corsage in honor of the occasion. Making a corsage is a basic floral arrangement project and can be accomplished by even a novice florist.

Things You'll Need

• Large and Small Flowers
• Greenery
• Floral Wire
• Floral Tape
• Floral Ribbon
• Corsage Pins

Instructions

1. Select two sizes of white flowers.

   If you are using orchids or stephanotis (sometimes called Hawaiian bridal wreath), pair them with baby's breath or lily of the valley. If you are using white roses or carnations, use unopened buds for the smaller flower.

2. Wire the flowers.

   Cut the stem of the flower off to a length of about ½ to ¾ of an inch. Run a four to six inch long piece of floral wire down through the center of the flower and through the stem.

3. Assemble three to five clusters.

   Pair a small flower with a large flower and wrap the two wire stems in floral tape to create a cluster. Add greenery around the cluster, gather the stems together and wrap in floral tape for a second time.

4. Arrange the corsage.

   Select a cluster to form the center of the corsage. Arrange other clusters around the center, alternating from right to left. Corsages made from an odd number of clusters typically have a more attractive final shape than those made from an even number of clusters.

5. Wrap all of the stems with floral tape to secure their position when you have all the clusters in their final arrangement.

6. Trim the end of the taped stem to the desired length and curl the end of the stem for a finished look, and to blunt the end for safety.

7. Add a white and silver floral ribbon to the corsage if desired.

   The ribbon can be built around floral wire and added to the corsage with floral tape, or hot glued to the existing stem.

8. Push two corsage pins into the back of the corsage.

   Push them in from the bottom up, into the widest portion of the stem.

References

• Elegance in Bloom: Corsage Instructions
• Save On Crafts: How to Make A Corsage
• United Church of Christ: Liturgical Colors and Seasons of the Church Year
• "The American Florist"; September Floral Fashions -- Baptismal Corsage; John Thorpe; 1928
• "Floriculture Designing and Merchandising"; Charles P. Griner; 2000