How To Make A Bouquet (In 5 Simple Steps)

by Chioma Iwunze-Ibiam

Bouquet-making has been around since 2, 500 BC. The Egyptians constructed stylized flower arrangements for funeral processions, weddings and other special occasions. Today, there is a more sophisticated way to transform a single stem into a blossoming bushel. And it is quite a rewarding task. A bouquet is something you’ll thoroughly enjoy making if you put your heart in it. Whether you want to make a bridal bouquet or anniversary flowers, ensure that you make it simple and the resulting bouquet will be gorgeous.

Why You Should Make Your Own Flowers

• Because it’s very easy to do and you love DIY, anyway
• It can help you save some money from the wedding
• You can make the dome-shaped flowers you want to compliment your elegant dresses
• You can decorate your house with those flowers
• It’s a wonderful skill that can become a source of income

Constructing a bouquet of between 30 – 60 stems will take about 30 – 60 minutes. You’re advised to use resilient flowers like roses. Tougher flowers are capable of withstanding all the bending and twisting involved in bouquet construction.

So Where Can You Get Quality Flowers For DIY Bouquet?

• A flower market
• The reliable grocery store with a floral section
• An online flower wholesaler (Like Rosesonly.co.uk)
• Where ever you can get quality flowers at an affordable rate.

Apart from 30 – 60 stems of flowers, here’s a list of other things you will need:

• Bucket or sink
• Floral or stem wrap tape (preferably ribbon in a matching color. Width between 1 and 2 inches)
• Paper towels
• Rubber bands or green waxed floral tape
• Floral wires (to prop up weaker stems)
• Stem cutter or very sharp knife
• Stem stripper
• Straight pins or pearl-tipped floral or corsage pins

1st Step: Getting The Flowers Ready

• Use either hands or stem stripper to prune away thorns and other unattractive outer parts of the flower.
• Hold the stems under a bucketful of water. At an angle 2.5 inches from the base, cut the stems with a sharp knife or stem cutter.
• If the flower heads aren’t yet open, you can dip the stems in a bucket of hot water for a short time. This will force the blooms open. But only do this when you’re ready to use the flowers, else you might ruin them.  
• Let the flowers soak in a preservative for several hours. This will ensure that the bouquet lasts much longer.
• Better to keep stems long during the construction process. Only trim to a shorter length after the bouquet has been constructed.

2nd Step: Gather and Arrange the Flowers

• Choose two flowers to start the base of the bouquet. Hold the base in your right hand and select the flowers with the other hand..
• Don’t be scared to mix flowers of different colors and textures. Select more flowers and add around the anchor until you form a bunch.
• Ensure that the bunch is shaped like a dome. Hold it in front of the mirror to see if it has the perfect dome shape.

3rd Step: Secure the Flowers

• Secure the flowers with a wire along the full length of the stems in a spiral. Start the binding at the point where they naturally meet (about 2 to 3.5 inches below the flower heads).
• Repeat the binding along the length of the stems. Leave about 2 inches of stems to trim later. Wrap with a floral tape.

4th Step: Preparing the Handle

• With a floral cutter or knife, snip the ends of the stem so that they’re the same length. You could leave the stem lengths at 7 – 8 inches.
• Towel off stem ends with some toilet paper.
• Choose a ribbon and secure it horizontally in such a way that it is parallel with the floral tape.
• Wind the ribbon over the tape until the tape is hidden beneath the ribbon.
• At the top, fold the cut end of the ribbon beneath and push a pin through the ribbon and into the stems. If you want a bow, snip another length of ribbon and simply knot it just below the flower heads.

5th Step: Maintaining The Bouquet

• Cover the bouquet with a paper towel.
• Gently place the bouquet in a refrigerator until it’s ready for use or delivery.
• Bouquets are best made on the morning of the ceremony.

Bio: Chioma Iwunze-Ibiam writes creative non-fiction and prose fiction. Her works have appeared in Romance Meets Life, Flash Fiction Press, MTLS, Saraba Magazine, Sentinel Magazine and others. Her first novel, Finding Love Again, was published by Ankara Press. She owns and manages creativewritingnews.net