DIY bride's bouquet of fresh flowers. How to make, photo

A wedding bouquet is an accessory without which it is almost impossible to imagine a modern bride.

Today, wedding bouquets are very individual and are an expression of not only the style of the celebration, but also the personality of the bride. Therefore, it is so important to find “your” bouquet that will become a full part of your image. How to do it? What flowers are best to choose? What should brides who want to save money do? We reveal these and other secrets in our article!

Our expert:

Daria Vazhenina, florist at Event Studio Daria Vesna

Types of wedding bouquets

There are many different shapes and variations of the bride’s bouquet - from the most familiar to the avant-garde. Here we list the most common and popular options.

Classic bouquet

brides - round in shape on living stems or porta bouquet. This bouquet will suit almost any look; it can be regular in shape or slightly disheveled - depending on your wishes.

Cascade bouquet

- a very sophisticated and glamorous option. The lower edge of the bouquet seems to fall down, forming a waterfall of flowers, which can be either very small or reach almost to the floor. When deciding to order a cascading bouquet, keep in mind that it is not suitable for every dress and image. Such a bouquet will look especially advantageous with an outfit of a tight-fitting or moderately fluffy style. For petite brides, it is better to avoid a cascading bouquet - in your hands it will look too massive and will emphasize your small stature.

An interesting version of the bride’s bouquet - Biedermeier

. The flowers in it are arranged in dense rings, which, as a rule, are made of flowers of different varieties and/or shades. Biedermeier is a fairly universal bouquet option; depending on the content, it will suit different wedding styles - from Classic to Rustic.

One of the most unusual options for a bride's bouquet is Glamelia

. It looks like a huge flower made up of many petals. Glamelia is ideal for brides who want originality and exclusivity.

An important question that worries many brides when choosing a bouquet - a porta bouquet or “your own legs”?

What type of assembly to choose depends on your preferences and the characteristics of the wedding itself. A bouquet holder is a special plastic handle with a floral sponge soaked in water into which flowers are inserted. Its undoubted advantage is the high durability of a bouquet collected in this way. However, there are also disadvantages: if you handle the bouquet carelessly, the flowers can fly out of the sponge, but you cannot put the flower back in, it will quickly die. Therefore, the bouquet on the bouquet holder should be held vertically, it is not advisable to put it down, turn it over and, by the way, throw it to friends (the bouquet may fall apart in flight). In addition, the size of such a bouquet is limited to the standard size of a porta bouquet.

Bouquets on living stems are becoming increasingly popular today. Many brides are afraid that flowers remain without replenishment during the day. But a competent florist will select flowers so that they will last with you throughout the long wedding day. But a bouquet “on its own legs” can be of any size, looks truly alive and fits better with modern trends - porta bouquets are going out of fashion, although their legs can also be decorated with stems to give the bouquet a more natural look. The downside is that a bouquet “on its own legs” cannot be made cascading.

Throwing tradition

According to old Russian customs, unmarried friends were given flowers during a round dance.

The girls stood in a circle, held hands, and blindfolded the bride. When the dance stopped, the bride, with her eyes closed, gave it to her friend at random.

The ritual also involved the use of ribbons, which the girls held onto while leading the round dance. It was not acceptable to quit.

This custom came much later. Hollywood has made its own adjustments to Russian life. Thanks to romantic films, many have learned that in the West, brides throw flowers behind their backs, and their girlfriends catch them. This long-standing tradition originated in Europe or the USA, it is not known for certain. It is believed that in this way the bride gave a piece of luck to her unmarried friend. At first there was no talk of marriage.

Later they began to think that the girl who caught them would get married within a year. Perhaps this sign is due to the fact that in the past, girls did not stay too long as maidens - any guest invited to the wedding, one way or another, soon got married.

How to choose “your” wedding bouquet?

The choice of bouquet depends on many factors:

• budget
• season
• favorite and least favorite flowers
• wedding style
• image of the bride

However, you should start not by choosing a specific form of bouquet, flowers, etc., but by choosing a competent florist who will help you decide on your desires and then make them come true. This is especially true for brides who want an original, designer bouquet for themselves - here EVERYTHING will depend on the professionalism of the florist. Some brides believe that they can even go to the nearest flower stall to pick up a bouquet. However, the choice there is extremely poor, and the storage conditions for flowers leave much to be desired. There is a big risk that the purchased bouquet will not “live” even for a couple of hours.

Daria Vazhenina:

“When choosing “your” florist, pay attention first of all to his work. The type of your bouquet will directly depend on the qualifications and capabilities of the florist. If the master is not professional enough, then by choosing one thing, you may end up getting something completely different. In a good salon, each florist has his own personal portfolio, not a general one. A florist is the same as an artist: he sees differently and treats flowers in a special way. If a specialist knows a lot about flowers and speaks about them with trepidation and care, most likely your bouquet will delight you and will last for more than a day (or maybe more than a week). I also advise you not to forget about the reviews of other brides: read, don’t be lazy. If you find a florist who is your soul mate, then your bouquet will be perfect! The choice of the bouquet itself primarily depends on your preferences, style and theme of the wedding, and your image. Much depends on the character of the bride herself: if she has a bright personality, energy is overflowing, I prefer to emphasize this feature with an unusual bouquet, rather than hide the uniqueness of the girl behind the severity of flowers. Show the florist sketches of wedding decor or examples of design, explain the style and theme of the celebration. Bring with you a photo of your dress (preferably the one you are wearing). The florist will show you approximate options for bouquets and tell you what will suit you best. When choosing a wedding bouquet, listen to your heart. Girls have a very keen sense of nature and intuitively choose the one bouquet that will accompany them throughout their wedding day.”

Tips for choosing plants

Unlike classic bouquets, flowers with different growth patterns are used for a free style. Their correct combination and dosage is the key to the beauty of the final result. You can use the following table to guide your selection:

In other words, the bouquet composition consists of a central focal part formed by large and small flowers. As well as long branches, greenery and herbs, creating a spreading, picturesque crown. This is the main difference between the “ruffled” and classical arrangements with the strict geometry of the “cap”.

How much does a bridal bouquet cost?

Different florists have different levels of prices and professionalism. On average, a wedding bouquet will cost you from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles. This price also includes the original design of the bouquet stem.

Daria Vazhenina:

“Flowers become more expensive every year and, no matter how hard we try to make special conditions for our beloved brides, rising prices, unfortunately, are inevitable. Bouquets that cost less than 2,000 rubles don’t look much like a bride’s bouquet, so I wouldn’t recommend saving too much. Otherwise, either there will be very few flowers, or their quality and durability will not be up to par.”

The price of a bride's bouquet directly depends on its contents. If you want to save money, but at the same time get a beautiful and high-quality bouquet, tip number 1 for you is to choose seasonal flowers! At the end of winter - beginning of spring these are tulips; in spring and summer - buttercups, peonies, hydrangea; in autumn - dahlia, garden rose, cotton. All year round you can make bouquets of roses, chrysanthemums, alstroemerias, gerberas, eustomes, gypsophila, and lilies.

Daria Vazhenina:

“If a bride wants a bouquet of peonies in August, only one in 100 companies will be able to help her with this. Moreover, no one will be responsible for the quality and size of the flower, and the price will be incredible. But the beginning of summer or mid-winter is the season for peony! Plantations are ready to supply this flower in huge quantities, in different shades, sizes and varieties. Accordingly, the price will be lower.”

Bouquet: no small details.

A modern wedding is always accompanied by wedding rings and flowers: in the groom’s boutonniere, decorating the bride’s hair, car procession, guests’ outfits, shoes. Therefore, the bouquet must be combined with the image of the bride. The wishes of the bride are necessarily taken into account, especially if she is allergic to any plants. Therefore, when composing a bouquet, it is best to resort to the help of a florist: you will not have to worry about delivery on time and worry about the correctness of the composition. Important questions are the size of the bouquet, flower arrangement and cost. Usually a girl knows at least in general terms what bouquet she needs at her wedding. Experiments will help you choose the best option, but you shouldn’t get carried away with combining only aromatic plants: you can put the bouquet aside, but the aroma will be felt for a very long time, and a headache from the strong smell is possible.

A huge bouquet looks provocative, and its cost may well exceed the price of the bride’s outfit itself. It is unlikely to be able to combine, and transporting such an attribute will become very problematic. You will have to pose with him both at the wedding ceremony and at the photo shoot, and this is very tiring. A beautiful and stylish bouquet is also not cheap, but if composed tastefully and without frills, it is much cheaper than a set of expensive plants that are not arranged in a single composition

Color is of no small importance. The bride herself knows enough about flower symbolism, and florists will never add yellow roses, symbols of infidelity or gerberas, frivolity to the wedding bouquet

But there are universal flowers - white roses.

Many exotic plants are very capricious, so it is important to remember that they can wither in a few hours, ruining a beautiful bouquet. Therefore, find out how to extend their life and how long the flower can live under given conditions

But what if the bouquet is made in advance, and the wedding takes place in a couple of days? Plants wither without moisture, this is an axiom. Therefore, it is advisable to shorten the stems by a couple of centimeters so that air can penetrate into them; it is important to cut them obliquely under running water. It is better to do this with pruning shears rather than scissors or a knife. For plants that are hollow inside, the bottom node should be cut, not the stem itself. Milky juice is released - be sure to burn it over a candle so that it does not thicken and clog the blood vessels of the flower.

In order not to suffer from solving this problem, it is better to choose a conscientious and experienced florist. But you should know how to protect flowers yourself

It is important not to leave the bouquet in a draft or sun, not to touch the cuts with your hands and not to leave them in tap water. To prolong the life of flowers, you can throw a tablet of activated carbon, vitamin C or a little potassium permanganate into the water

It is quite possible to add table salt, vodka and glycerin, nutrients that prolong the life of plants. But, if no measures help and the flowers are rapidly withering, then emergency measures are needed. The bouquet is sprinkled with water, wrapped in paper and placed in warm water at a temperature of forty degrees. From the heat, the vessels expand, and water again begins to flow to the plants.

What flowers should you use to make a bridal bouquet in winter?

Daria Vazhenina:

“In winter, flowers are most often used, which are available all year round, as well as fir branches - brides adore their magical aroma! I would not recommend making a bouquet of white flowers in winter, as they will immediately turn black in the cold. (The most durable flowers suitable for an outdoor photo shoot are scarlet roses. But you need to remember that flowers are delicate creatures, and even 5 minutes of frost will not do them any good.) If, after all, without white flowers in the bouquet and the wedding is not a wedding, purchase for a photo shoot, a duplicate bouquet made of fabric, brooches or polymer clay. It looks impressive, and fresh flowers will remain unharmed.”

Remember that ordering a wedding bouquet is an important issue, and approach it with all responsibility. Look for a florist in advance, and order the bouquet itself no later than 2 weeks before the wedding, optimally a month. Otherwise, the florist will not have time to order flowers for your bouquet, and you will have to choose from what is available in the salon.

The bride's bouquet is a very beautiful accessory that carries the positive energy of the wedding day. Let your bouquet be the most beautiful and lasting! And may you be happy ;))

Bouquets with cotton

Warm and cozy cotton heads are often used in winter bouquets. They perfectly convey the atmosphere of a snowy winter.

wedding bouquet with cotton

Superstitions

The newlywed's bouquet is handled with care. There are various signs about a wedding bouquet and there are a huge number of them. For example, there are signs on what to do with a wedding bouquet during and after the wedding.

1. The bride is instructed to hold the wedding bouquet in her hands throughout the entire celebration. You cannot leave them anywhere or transfer them into the wrong hands: there is a possibility of losing happiness. It is acceptable to give flowers to your mother or husband for a while. Here's more information on how to hold a wedding bouquet.
2. Artificial wedding bouquets are not allowed to be used.
3. The bouquet is not pinned to the belt. This promises a difficult birth for the young wife.
4. According to signs, the choice of such an important accessory as a wedding bouquet is entrusted to the groom, since initially it was the man who was responsible for drawing up the flower arrangement.
5. You can't put flowers in your hair without a veil.
6. If the bouquet falls on the floor, another wedding will take place in the house where it happened.
7. Where to put the wedding bouquet after the wedding? According to signs, it is not kept as a memory of the holiday. You can dry and save the petals. It is better to burn the remaining elements.

The petals are used as a talisman for marriage. To do this, they need to be sewn into the pillows on which the newlyweds sleep. You can also shower your children with petals on their wedding day. It is believed that such a ritual will bring them happiness and parental protection.

Interesting!

Bright colors of summer in a bride's accessory

Along with the fashion for free compositions, another trend has appeared in wedding floristry - rich, contrasting color combinations. This allows you to create very impressive arrangements from your own garden flowers, which are rarely only soft pink, white or powdery.

You can combine, for example, coral peonies, Cream Abundance peach roses, Marsala amaranth and purple brassica - you get a very stylish and trendy mix.

In addition, for the disheveled bridal bouquet shown in the photo, you will need:

• Coral Fern;
• Eucalyptus Populus;
• Craspedia.

Tools and materials:

• pruning shears, garden shears, anchor tape;
• linen ribbon 5 cm wide;
• tailor's pins.

We begin the assembly with peonies, placing them tightly together to form a single large bud. Next, using the spiral technique, we add other accent flowers: hydrangea, roses and brassicas.

We make sure that the buds of the same type stand in groups, and the bouquet “cap” is round and quite dense. At this stage we fix the stems with anchor tape. It does not squeeze or injure, but at the same time it holds much better than twine or silk ribbons, which are sometimes also used for fastening.

We distribute sprigs of eucalyptus and Coral Fern (a type of fern) around the flower center. We insert several craspedia balls between the buds. If the arrangement does not seem voluminous enough, you can make another row of peonies, roses and hydrangeas. However, they are added outside the already taped central part.

Once again we fix the stems. At the last stage, we create an imitation of a cascade by introducing amaranth into the composition, but asymmetrically, only on one side. We carefully wrap the arrangement handle with anchor tape, moving from bottom to top, and then from top to bottom. We trim the stems, leaving a length that is comfortable to hold with both hands at the same time.

We examine the bouquet from all sides. If there are sunken flowers somewhere or, on the contrary, raised too high, carefully take them by the stem and put them in place. In the same way, turn the buds to the most advantageous side.

We attach the decorative tape with a pin to the strongest stem. Brassica or peonies are suitable. We wrap the bouquet stem to the desired height. And secure with pins.

Free-form compositions do not require overly complex or sophisticated decor. The best option is several types of long ribbons or, as in this case, a laconic decoration with braid. You can use lace, but it is better to avoid rhinestones and jewelry.