How to Make Bridal Bouquets

Co-authored by Poppie Rodriguez

Make your own wedding party and bridal bouquets to add a unique sense of creativity and style to your ceremony. You get to choose every flower and ornament. Invite some of your bridesmaids along so they can build their bouquets at the same time.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Planning Your Bouquet

1
Decide on the overall color. White or cream flowers are traditional, but it's best to choose colors that complement the bridal dress. An elaborate gown should be the centerpiece, so restrain the bouquet to a single color or a small range of colors. A dress with a simple cut appreciates a more elaborate bouquet, with a variety of color and ornamentation.
- For a more subtle bouquet, choose colors similar to your wedding gown's. Avoid identical shades and consider including accent colors. Too much similarity can make the scene flat and hard to photograph.
- A bouquet of similar colors and shades is the easiest to put together. A classic bouquet uses white, cream, peach, and light pink flowers.
- Complementary colors make a pleasing bouquet. Try yellow and violet, blue and orange, or red and green. If you don't want a bold bouquet, use soft tones and light shades.
2
Choose a strong primary flower. These flowers need long, strong stems to support the bouquet without breaking. If possible, choose flowers that will be in-season during your wedding. Out-of-season flowers are much more expensive, may require advance ordering, and are difficult to replace in an emergency. Choose one to three of your favorite flowers that fit the bill, or browse through these options:
- Single roses (not spray roses^{[1]
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- Peonies (ask a florist to recommend a variety, as many double-flower peonies have weak stems^{[2]
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- Hydrangeas
- Magnolia
- Double dahlias (single dahlias tend to drop petals^{[3]
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- Lisianthus
- Cymbidium orchids
- Calla lilies (or colorful mini callas)
- Stargazer lilies
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3
Select secondary flowers (optional). A single-variety bouquet can look wonderful, and puts less stress on the novice flower arranger. But to engage your artistic side, pick any number of smaller flowers to add variety. You can use practically any flowers for these. If you're not sure what to pick, browse florist shops or online bouquet arrangements.
- Popular secondary flowers include small single roses, spray roses, and freesia.
- "Filler flowers" are sprays of tiny flowers, buds, or berries. Try waxflower, baby's breath, or seeded eucalyptus.
4
Decide on a size. The bouquet size should match your own size and the grandeur of the venue. Large bouquets suit large church weddings and beaches, while smaller ones fit well into intimate spaces. As a good rule of thumb, the bouquet should be no wider than the bride's waist. Keep comfort in mind as well: large bouquets can be tiring to hold.
- Most bridal bouquet diameters range from 8 inch (20cm) to 13 inches (33cm).
- Get more flowers than you need. The number of flowers depends on the variety. Fifteen to thirty flowers is typical, but order spares as well. You may change your mind or come up with a new idea as you are building the bouquet.
5
Trim the stems underwater. Lower the stems into a bucket or sink full of water. Trim off the ends at a 45º angle, about 1–2 inches (2.5–5cm) from the end. This allows them to pull up water without air bubbles forming in the stem.^{[4]
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Research source} Keep the flowers in a container of cool water until you are ready to build the bouquet.
- Leave the stems long so they are easier to work with. You can trim them again once the bouquet is finished.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Making a Round Bouquet

1
Select one type of flowers for this arrangement. Typically, you should use 12 dozen roses.
2
Pull off thorns and foliage. Remove these with a stem stripper or floral shears, or pluck by hand if the stem has no thorns.
- Discard damaged or discolored flowers.
3
Create the center with your largest flowers. Choose four of the largest blossoms from your primary flowers. Position the blossoms in an even layer, crossing the stems.
- Hold the bouquet just beneath the blossoms, where the stems cross. If you grip lower, the bent stems may cause the flowers to snap off.
4
Add primary flowers one at a time. Place these one at a time, building evenly outward from your center. Keep the flowers as tight together as possible, crossing the stems so the flowers face slightly outward in a dome shape.
- As you cross the stems, rotate your hand making a spiral shape with the stems.
- A small bouquet may only use one ring of primary flowers around the center, especially if the blooms are large and fluffy.
5
Expand the dome as you add more flowers. If you are using secondary flowers, place them wherever you see a gap between flowers. Place them around the edge of the dome as well, building it outward. Space these out so no two secondary flowers of the same type are touching each other. When finished, you should have a tight dome, with the largest flowers in the exact center.
- Alternatively, build a Biedermeier bouquet. These have concentric circles of flowers with bold color differences.
6
Trim the stems to make the bouquet easier to work with. Slice the stems to the same length using clean stem cutters or gardening shears. Leave them a little long for now (at least 10" or 25.4cm) as we will be trimming them again as a final step.^{[5]
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7
Make the final touches. Play with the bundle in your hand, adjusting any heights and making sure the bouquet looks balanced and rounded. If you see any uneven patches, fill them in with additional flowers.
- If you have bouquet jewelry, push these down in between flowers throughout the bouquet. It only takes three or four pins to have a noticeable effect, but feel free to use more.
- You may insert filler flowers throughout your bouquet. To make a spray at the edge, insert them between the outermost flowers only.
8
Secure the bouquet with floral tape or natural raffia palm. Secure the bouquet about 1 inch (2.5cm) beneath the blossoms, or as close as necessary to keep the flowers tight together. Wrap the floral tape several times around the stems, then spiral it down another 3–4 inches (7.5–10cm).^{[6]
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- You can use large, strong rubber bands instead, unless using delicate-stemmed flowers such as tulips and hyacinths.^{[7]
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  Research source} Place the band around two stems at one side of the bundle and twist to secure. Wrap the closed rubber band around the whole bundle several times, without inserting any stems inside it. Once tight, open the rubber band again and insert two stems on the opposite side. Place one band near the top of the stems, and a second one about 4 inches (10cm) beneath it.
9
Tie the ribbon in a bow or spiral it down the length of the stems. Choose a ribbon that matches your bridal gown or the colors of the bouquet. Cut a piece about three times the length of the stems.
- For the spiral approach, weave the ribbon down the whole length of the stem, tucking it into the floral tape at the top and bottom. Secure with pins pushed into the flower stems.^{[8]
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- For the bow approach, cut a piece of ribbon and tie a bow around the bouquet. Be sure to cut off any visible floral tape, natural raffia palm, or rubber band that was used to secure the bouquet.
- For an added touch of glamour, use pearl tipped straight pins.
10
Trim the stems once again. This type of bouquet is meant to be held in front of the bride, so the stems should be fairly short to avoid scraping the dress. 6–7 inches (15–17.5cm) is generally a good length. Pat the ends dry with a paper towel before handing to the bride.
11
Keep the bouquet fresh. Keep the bouquet in a cool place until the wedding, in a container of water. A florist can sell you a flower preservative that will prolong the flowers' life. Transport the bouquet in water whenever possible.
- If you do not have a cool room, keep the flowers in a fridge set above 35ºF (1.7ºC). Remove all fruit from the fridge; most fruit produce gases which speed up flower aging.
- A light spray of hairspray may preserve your bouquet as well. Hang the bouquet upside down for a few minutes so the hairspray dries on the blooms, before returning it to the vase.^{[9]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Making a Hand-Tied Bouquet

1
Select the flowers you plan to arrange. A traditional combination is white Roses, Lilies, and a splash of green foliage (Gunny Eucalyptus, Ferns, Camellia, Foxtail, Yarrow)
- Remember to consider any allergies to specific flowers/plants when selecting the combination.
2
Gather the necessary supplies before you begin arranging.
- You will need strippers, scissors, raffia palm or rubber bands, clippers, and white ribbon.
3
Clean the flowers and foliage for the arrangement. Using strippers, remove most foliage and any thorns from the flower’s stems. Consider removing any guard petals (the outer petals) or additional tattered or wilted material from the stem.
- If you'd like green in your bouquet, keep the top leaves of each flower.
- Remove stamens from lilies, as they turn brown and can stain the Bride’s dress.
- Trim the foliage so everything below your grip on the stem in clean.
4
Build the bouquet in your non-dominant hand. If you are right-handed, you will build the bouquet in your left hand and place the flowers and foliage piece by piece with your right hand. The placement of the flowers depend on the natural bend of the flower.
5
Rotate the bundle of flowers as you add more. Adding the stem to the open area by your wrist, crossing the stems to make a spiral shape.
6
Adjust the flowers as you rotate the bundle. Make sure the flowers are not at an awkward angle or extending too far from the center. Add filler to the perimeter to unify the bundle and serve as a border.
7
Cut off about 6 inches of the stems. This will make the bouquet easier to work with.
8
Secure the structure of the bouquet. Wrap the bundle with natural raffia palm or a rubber band as a temporary fastener.
9
Wrap the bouquet with a ribbon and trim off the raffia or rubber band after completing two rotations with the ribbon. Use between 4 and 6 yards of ribbon depending on the width of the bouquet. Tie the end of the ribbon in a knot or a bow.
10
Cut off the remainder of the stems and place the bouquet in water to keep it fresh! Cut the stems evenly about an inch below the ribbon.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Making Other Types of Bouquets

1
Make a presentation bouquet. These bouquets have long stems topped with a long strip of flowers. The bride cradles the stems, resting the bouquet against one arm.^{[10]
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Research source} These are simple to make, but may tire you out in a long ceremony.
2
Use a bouquet holder. Besides the decorative appearance, a bouquet holder helps by hydrating your flowers. Soak the "wick" of the bouquet holder before you place your flowers inside, and the stems will drink throughout your wedding.
- The term "nosegay" refers to a small, round bouquet inside a bouquet holder or a decorative "tussy mussy." It can also refer to a small, looser bouquet that includes greenery or herbs.
3
Craft a cascade bouquet. This is probably the most difficult bouquet to make, as it can easily become lopsided or overwhelm the rest of the decor. Start with a special bouquet holder with a slanted opening. Arrange the flowers so they spill out of the holder. Longer sprays trail out the front, and larger blossoms fill the mouth of the holder.

How Can I Make Wedding Bouquets That Don't Wilt?

Community Q&A

Question

How many types of bouquets are there?

Community Answer

There are as many bouquets as there are people to design them.
Question

What's the meaning of a wedding bouquet?

Community Answer

Different flowers have different meanings. Calla lilies add an element of elegance and sophistication to your wedding, and can be used on their own to create a simple yet striking bouquet or centerpiece. Stephanotis is a traditional bridal flower, shaped a little like a trumpet. Talk to a florist about other flowers that are popular for wedding bouquets.

Things You'll Need

15–30 sturdy-stemmed flowers
10+ additional flowers (optional)
Bouquet jewelry (optional)
Stem cutter
Bucket
Rubber bands (2 per bouquet) or floral tape
Paper towels
Wide ribbon
Straight pins

Warnings

Extra-large bouquets or bouquets with sharp or heavy jewelry are not appropriate for throwing. Make a second, smaller bouquet for this purpose.

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