A romantic bridal bouquet - Part 1 - Designing and preparing the bouquet
with WILLOW CROSSLEY
Lesson 2 of 20
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Jumping straight into the first project, Willow talks through the importance of the bridal bouquet when creating the floral scheme for a wedding. There can be a lot of pressure for it to be perfect, so Willow shows you how to design and plan in advance to make sure it’s absolutely right on the day.
From the Lesson Workbook
Designing & Preparing the Bouquet
The bridal bouquet is such a special element of a wedding floral scheme - it's carried by the bride for most of the day and sets the tone for all the other floral displays. There can be a lot of pressure for it to be perfect, so it's well worth spending time planning and getting the design absolutely right.
Requirements of a Bouquet
- It should feel really special and personal to the bride. They will often have lots of inspirational images of how they want it to look, and these are a great starting point.
- The bride will carry the bouquet for a large portion of the day, so it's really important that it lasts well and you select flowers for their longevity out of water.
- It should coordinate with the other floral displays around the venue.
Designing and Preparing the Bouquet
Step 1
Establish what size and shape the bride would like her bouquet to be.
Step 2
Work out which colours you will use; this will help you to whittle down your choice of flowers.
Step 3
Ascertain what flowers are in season at the time of the wedding, as these will last much better than flowers that aren't in season.
Step 4
Decide on your chosen flowers based on your colour palette and the seasonality, and order double the quantity you require - this ensures that you have enough to be able to pick the perfect example of each flower to include and accounts for any damages in transit.
Step 5
Condition and prepare each stem.
- Remove any unwanted leaves and thorns, as well as buds or flower heads that aren't looking their best or will hinder the overall look of the hand-tied bouquet.
- You ideally want long and straight stems, and flowers that are on the smaller side, as large flowers can dominate too much.
- I think odd numbers of stems look best, so prepare the right amount.
- Save any lovely cuttings from your stems for corsages or bud vase arrangements.
Spring Recipe:
- Narcissus
- Hellebores
- Tulips Solomon Seal
- Muscari
- Blossom branches (e.g. Cherry or Apple)
- Spirea
- Ranunculus
Autumn Recipe:
- Dahlia
- Japanese Anemone
- Zinnia
- Scented pelargonium leaf
- Hydrangeas
- Phlox
- Roses
- Ammi Majus
- Cosmos
- Seeded eucalyptus
Flowers That Last Well
- Peony
- Scabiousa
- Lisianthus
- Ranunculus
- Dahlias
- Cosmos
Flowers to Avoid
- Astrantia
- Lilies (their pollen can stain bridal outfits)
- Flowers prone to wilting quickly without water, such as delicate poppies or bluebells.
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Your Instructor
Willow Crossley
World-renowned florist, author and designer, known as the UK’s ‘Queen of Flowers’.
Willow Crossley is a professional floral stylist, creating wild and whimsical arrangements full of colour, pattern and movement for an array of top British brands (Jo Malone, OKA). She is the author of four books and is regularly featured in House & Garden and many other publications. Willow is passionate about the profound impact nature can have on how we feel, and has gained a substantial following for her down-to-earth and inclusive approach to floristry and gardening. Willow firmly advocates a sustainable approach to floristry, working with the seasons and sourcing locally grown stems wherever possible.
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