How to Make a Rose Bouquet

Co-authored by Rachel Cho

Last Updated: October 19, 2021

Rose bouquets have many uses, from home decoration to being used as part of special ceremonies or outdoor parties. There are numerous ways to produce a rose bouquet; you'll need to experiment with color, rose variety and shape to come up with your preferred arrangement. Most importantly, try to keep it simple and let the roses do most of the designing.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Dozen Roses Bouquet

1
Remove the leaves and thorns from 12 roses. Use secateurs or sharp scissors.
- As part of this, cut all of the stems to the exact same length.
2
Collect all of the roses together in your hand. Tape them together about midway along the stems.

Advertisement
3
Wrap plain or colored foil around the stems. Tape each end of the foil wrap, to keep it in place.
4
Know a ribbon over the foil. Use a bow or a beautiful knot that you're able to do. Make it look pretty or elegant.
5
Spray some water on the bouquet to freshen it. Store in a cool place prior to use.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Rachel Cho
Floral Designer & Plant Specialist
Expert Interview. 20 August 2021.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Wedding roses bouquet

1
Make the handle first. Glue the Lomey column to the bouquet holder with hot glue.
- A long handle is optional; you can just use the bouquet holder if preferred.
2
Wrap the column with the double-sided tape. Wrap the column with the white ribbon.
3
Float the bouquet holder (with inserted floral foam) in water laced with the flower food. This will give the flowers something to feed off when arranged.
4
Place the flower stems into the holder. Arrange according to your preference.
- Attach the stems securely using the stem adhesive.
5
Keep the bouquet foam watered until you're ready to use it.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Rose bouquet in a glass vase

Use spray roses. These are affordable and have many blooms per stem, allowing you a lot of creative leeway.

1
Remove any unsightly, discolored or brown petals from the rose flowers.
2
Choose the best of the blooms on each stem to form part of the bouquet. Snip them off, keeping them with the same stem length as much as possible.
3
Tidy the stems. Remove leaves and thorns from the stems.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Rachel Cho
Floral Designer & Plant Specialist
Expert Interview. 20 August 2021.}
4
Choose a few stems with good leaves for accompanying the bouquet. Snip off the rose blooms from these stems, leaving several branches of higher level leaves on each stem. Remove lower level leaves.
- All the leaves should be of good quality and firm.
5
Start pulling the bloom stems together. Hold in your hand at a 45 degree angle. Add a new stem, turning the bouquet each time to make room.
- Vary the height of the blooms for added interest.
6
Weave in leaf steams now and then. The leaf stems creates a framing backdrop that highlights the rose blooms.
7
Tie the bundle together just under the blooms. Use a rubber band, string or other tie. Cover with florist's tape. Then wrap around with ribbon and tie in a big bow.
8
Place clear glass pebbles in the base of the glass vase. Add enough to be able to hold the stems firmly in place.
9
Place the bouquet into the glass vase. The ribbon bow should be sitting above the vase mouth, with the stems extending well into the water.
10
Keep watered to keep the bouquet fresh.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Rose bouquet in a basket

1
Select a basket of size and shape that will fit the amount of roses you wish to add to the bouquet.
2
Prepare the basket first. Make it waterproof by lining it with tin foil or a sheet of plastic.
3
Choose the roses. Old-fashioned, scented roses are a really good addition to a basket bouquet as they are voluminous, soft and suit the basket style. You will need a lot of roses––a medium-sized basket bouquet could fit anywhere from 20 to 50 roses.
- Prepare by removing all lower level leaves on each rose stem and cutting the stems at an angle.
4
Cut a piece of florist's foam to size. Dip it into a bowl of water to cover it completely. Hold it under the water. It is fully soaked when it doesn't pop up again.
5
Place the soaked foam into the lined basket. If it doesn't fit perfectly, wedge in some cut pieces of foam to keep it firmly tucked in place.
6
Arrange the roses. Work your way around the foam methodically, starting at one end and ending up at the other end. Leave the handle of the basket free of roses, as you'll want to be able to pick it up and also see it as part of the design.
- Depending on how you intend angling the basket when on display, it is best to place slightly taller roses at its back and shorter ones at the front.
7
Place on display. Place against a backdrop such as a wall or cabinet or use as a centerpiece.
- It's a good idea to put a mat under the basket to soak up any additional moisture.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you cut a bouquet of roses?

Rachel Cho
Floral Designer & Plant Specialist
Rachel Cho is a Floral Designer, Plant Specialist, and the Owner of Rachel Cho Floral Design, a floral shop based in New York City. With more than 16 years of experience, she specializes in original and impactful floral design and is known for her dexterity, innate artistry, and design sense. Rachel’s work has been featured in numerous national media outlets such as The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, and Huffington Post Weddings.

Rachel Cho

Floral Designer & Plant Specialist

Expert Answer

Use clean sharp shears and cut your rose stems at a 45 degree angle. This allows more surface area for water to be absorbed through the stem to help water reach the bloom.

Things You'll Need

Method 1:

1 dozen fresh roses, in color of choice
Scotch tape
Multi-colored foil
Ribbon (any color)

Method 2:

Bouquet holder, large
1 1/2 yards (140cm) #40 white ribbon
1 yard (90cm) #9 satin white ribbon
Lomey 14" (35cm) column
Flower food
Floral adhesive
Double sided tape
14 white roses (or preferred color)
10 white freesia
2 white spray roses
1 stem baby's breath
Hot glue
Florist's stem adhesive
Flower spray

Method 3:

24 stems spray roses in colors of choice
Garden clippers or secateurs
String or twine
Florist's tape
1-2 yards (90cm to 1.8 meters) of matching ribbon (satin or good quality ribbon)
Glass vase
Glass pebbles (clear)