Easy DIY Bridesmaids’ Bouquet
This Easy DIY Bridesmaids’ Bouquet is sponsored by my friends at FiftyFlowers.com. I highly recommend them as the best way to save money when planning a wedding or other event. All opinions are my own.
Hi! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend celebrating Independence Day with family and friends.
If you’re one of my regular readers you’ve probably noticed I haven’t been posting many recipes lately and for that I apologize. We’re in the middle of wedding planning for our daughter and we are coming down to the wire. We’re at 24 days and counting! So, I’ve been a little preoccupied. I hope you’ll indulge me one more time as I share another DIY Wedding How-To.
Today, it’s an Easy DIY Bridesmaid Bouquet.
If you remember, we are doing all the wedding flowers ourselves. This is absolutely the easiest way to save money! Bouquets and boutonnieres are WAY easier than you many think. I promise you….if I can do it, anyone can!
To get an idea of how much we are saving I decided to check with a local florist just to see what she would charge for making the bridesmaids’ bouquets. I can tell you, I could barely believe the price…… $102.00 EACH! The bouquets would contain about 20 roses, 3 red and the rest white. With four bridesmaids that added up to $408….plus tax! I can’t even imagine what they would charge for the Bridal Bouquet!
Needless to say, I was even more thankful for FiftyFlowers.com! I knew I was saving money but I had no idea how much. By getting the flowers from FiftyFlowers I will be able to make the bouquets for less than half the cost I was quoted! The quality of the flowers is amazing! They are so beautiful and delivered right to your door. Orders can be placed weeks ahead and delivery date set. Convenient and inexpensive…..SCORE!!! Also, because of my relationship with FiftyFlowers, they are offering my readers an extra 10% off all orders through August 1, 2016! How cool is that?! Just use the code OTASTE10 at checkout.
Here’s How-To:
The design for this bouquet was my daughter’s. Of course, any color roses could be used….the same steps would apply.
Supplies:
- Bouquet holder – your choice, depending on what you like.
- Flower Food (from local florist)
- Branch Cutters
- Floralock (floral glue)
- Crowning Glory (floral spray)
- Vase to sit holder in as you assemble
- Towel (to absorb water as you work)
Flowers:
- 15-18 roses (we’re using Polar Star White Roses because they are a pure white)
- 3 roses in contrasting color (ours are Freedom Red roses)
- 5-6 sprigs of Leather Leaf
- 3-5 springs of Tree Fern, Lily Grass or other greenery as “filler” (we used Tree Fern)
*Flowers should be kept in water prepared with floral food. If they have not, prepare water according to flower food directions. Make a fresh angled cut on the stem of the rose and allow to sit in fortified water 3-4 hours before using. This will insure proper hydration and make roses last longer*
We chose these holders because they give a perfectly “round” bouquet…which is what we were looking for. These holders are designed with small holes at the bottom specifically for greenery. All flowers will go in the sections above the white “rim”.
Another good option would be the Gala Bouquet Holder in the small size.
About 1 hr before starting to assemble, prepare fresh water with flower food according to package directions. Containers with tall sides work best.
Place the end of the bouquet holder that will hold flowers in water…. DO NOT SUBMERGE!! This will cause air pockets in floral foam and may prevent some flowers from getting water.
Gently, lay holder on top of water and allow it to submerge as it becomes saturated with the water. Allow to soak about an hour.
When ready to assemble, place a towel on work surface to absorb any drips and help keep flower blooms dry
Place the handle of the bouquet holder in a small vase to allow it to sit upright and turn easily for assembly
You may want to choose the largest most open white rose for the very top of our bouquet
One at a time, using branch cutters, cut stems of three white roses about 2″ long
Place them in a triangle at bottom of holder, just above the “rim”
Cut and place 3-4 more white roses along the base of the holder, between the 3 you just placed
Next, cut stems of the 3 red roses and place in a triangle above the white circle just created
Place the large white rose that was set aside right in the center on top….or if you prefer not to have one rose at the top, place 2-3 between the red, depending on size of blooms
Continue to cut and place roses until holder is filled.
When placing flowers be careful to push them in evenly so one doesn’t stick up higher than the rest. This can be adjusted as you go
When all flowers have been placed cut stems of fern to desired length and place in the holes on the underneath side of the holder
Place sprigs of tree-fern (or other filler) to fill in any gaps between flowers or around red roses to accent
To insure everything stays in place, insert straw into Floralock nozzle
Holding straw between flowers GENTLY spray the base of each to lock flowers in place
Be very careful with the Floralock, spraying too much can cause glue to get on pedals or drip down handle
It’s important to clean the Floralock straw thoroughly when finished. Do this by placing it upside down in a trash can and spraying until it stops spraying. This forces all the glue out of the straw
Mist lightly with Crowning Glory floral spray. This will help flowers stay fresh longer
Don’t forget to drop by FiftyFlower.com and place your order with code OTASTE10 to save and extra 10%!