How to make a bouquet of flowers with your own hands step by step

Learn how to make bouquets from fresh flowers can be anyone, the main thing is to stick to one of the 4 styles and know a few secrets of assembly. You will learn how to assemble a bouquet with your own hands step by step, how to give the composition a "zest", how to combine flowers in a bouquet and why follow the rule of 3 triangles.

Floristry styles, techniques

Floristics is based on 4 leading styles: vegetative, decorative, linear and massive. When creating flower arrangements, they adhere to one technique.

Vegetative

The most complex style, requiring the florist to use maximum knowledge and imagination. Bouquets are made up of flowers that echo each other in shape, color, and volume. Compositions are often supplemented with dried flowers, berries/fruits, driftwood, and decorative stones.

The essence of the style is a clear arrangement of stems, 3-5 growth points and a muted color spectrum.

Flowers of different seasons, collected together - bad taste, bad manners. The main and widespread technique when using the vegetative style is called one growth point. All flowers and their accompanying addition are collected, for example, in a vase. The growth lines of plants in one bunch should not cross each other. This rule does not apply to low-growing varieties.

Decorative

A technique for bold florists with unlimited imagination. Here it is acceptable to combine flowers and multiple plants in one bunch. When a bouquet is skillfully assembled, each flower is in its place. However, it does not lose its individuality, harmonizes perfectly with the other plants and creates a single fragrant whole with them.

When creating, the presence of symmetry and asymmetry, sharp polarity and artificial materials is welcomed. Do not hesitate to include plastic fruits/berries in the decorative ensemble, wrap bouquets in bright paper, textured ribbons.

The decorative style is often used at weddings - its features play into the hands of florists when decorating such celebrations.

Linear

This style is distinguished by its clarity. Florists try to create compositions that have the most natural forms with a minimum of material. The technique is based on creating even, clear lines.

Slender flowers with straight or curved stems are best suited for this. All components of the bouquet are arranged asymmetrically, which favorably emphasizes the length and curves of the selected flowers.

Massive

Massive style is a full vision of a complete composition. Often, florist masters use baskets, boxes, and specially woven frames to organize such bouquets.

Each flower or plant is strongly connected to each other, so the center of the bundle is never empty. The composition does not emphasize individual components, on the contrary – the bouquet represents a single whole, where one bud complements another. Monochrome colors merge into one bright spot, and multicolored flowers create a beautiful, colorful background.

Basics of making bouquets from fresh flowers

A professional florist can create a luxurious bouquet of simple flowers. But this is not because he has experience - some rules and "tricks" are applied here. The packaging material plays a great role in the final result.

Kraft paper, corrugated and film

Making a bouquet of flowers with your own hands step by step using craft paper is easy even for beginner florists. Craft paper is an environmentally friendly material, sometimes with a crumpled effect.

Suitable for exhibition and competition ensembles, but often used in the usual design of compositions.

1. Gather the flowers into a bouquet and tie them together with a ribbon or tape.
2. Place a sheet of craft paper with one end facing up.
3. Place the bouquet in the center of the sheet.
4. Fold one end over and secure with a stapler.
5. Do the same with the other end.
6. Tie the base of the bouquet with a beautiful ribbon.
7. Slightly bend or open the edges of the craft paper.

Corrugated or crepe paper is a thin, lightweight material. You need to work with it carefully, as it tears quickly.

One of the options for packing flowers in corrugated paper:

• fold the paper into an accordion shape;
• Place a bunch of flowers in the middle of the sheet;
• wrap the bouquet with paper on all sides;
• secure the composition with a beautiful ribbon;
• If desired, fold back the edges of the paper.

Film is a cheap and most widely used packaging material. It does not lose popularity due to the variety of textures and colors (monochrome, printed).

1. Lay a sheet of film on the table with one corner facing up.
2. Place the bouquet in the center of the sheet.
3. Fold the left edge first, then the right edge, overlapping.
4. At the bottom, where the flower stems are, pinch the film with your hand.
5. Secure this spot with a bright ribbon, tying it into a bow, for example.

Combination of textures in composition

Each plant/flower has a special appearance of petals and foliage, called plant texture. There are 8 texture groups that must be taken into account when composing bouquets.

Texture	Suitable flowers
Rustic	Rudbeckia, helianthus
Woolen	Ageratum, astilbe, cotton grass
Silky	Anemones, poppies
Brocade	Gaillardia, marigolds, primrose
Velvety	Some types of roses and violets, Saintpaulia
Porcelain	Hyacinths, orchids
Glass	Irises, bells
With a metallic sheen	Sedum, begonias, anthurium

How to combine plants depending on structure

When composing the right bouquet, be sure to take into account the structure of the flowers. All plants are divided into 3 groups, depending on the parameters and configuration of foliage, buds, and inflorescences.

1. Small – a group that includes bush asters, tulips, daisies, and small varieties of roses.
2. To the average include gerberas, all varieties of carnations, small roses, chrysanthemums. They look impeccable in any compositions and are located in a bouquet below large or above small plants.
3. Big ones - gladioli, large peonies, lilies, large chrysanthemums, delphinium. It is not recommended to mix these specimens in one bouquet, each of them is dominant. It is best to mix large and medium flowers, so the composition will be spectacular and lush.

When combining plants, one should strive to achieve harmony between each flower and the other components in the bundle.

The Golden Ratio Rule

The golden ratio is the adherence to proportions, as a result of which the composition is complete and integral.

In floristry, the ratios 2:3 or 3:5:8 are used.

1. Height proportion. When arranging bouquets in vases, the height of the vessel should be taken into account, using a proportion of 2:3. The height of the prepared vase is equal to 3 parts, and the flowers are 2. You can do the opposite - 3:2. The proportions in the flower bunch are calculated starting from its center. The ideal ratio is 3:5 (3 parts - bottom, 5 - top).
2. Length proportion. It is calculated in a similar way, based on the diameter or base of the vessel.
3. Length to height ratio calculated for horizontal bouquets, taking into account the height of the future vase. The ratio 3:5:8 works great here.
4. Mass proportion of the material used, calculated for asymmetrical flower bundles. The main part of the plants is 8 parts, the nearest - 3 parts, the distant - 5.

Symmetry or asymmetry

Take a bouquet in your hands and mentally draw a geometric axis through the middle of the bouquet. If there is an equal number of plants on both sides of it, then this is a symmetrical bouquet. If there is more material on the left than on the right, this is asymmetry.

In a symmetrical bouquet, the main elements of the material are placed in the middle.

The remaining flowers and accessories are less significant, they serve as a complement and maximally emphasize the advantages of the central specimens: height, configuration, color. If the composition is asymmetrical, the main elements are located slightly deviating from the imaginary axis. However, the ratio 3:5:8 should still be adhered to here.

Florists usually place the main part of the composition on the left side of the axis, with the remaining plants on the right. The smaller their size, the further away they should be placed.

You can enhance asymmetry with light colors, and reduce it with dark colors. Asymmetrical compositions are suitable for amateur interior decoration, symmetrical ones are used for weddings and other respectable events.

Combination of flowers in a bouquet

A bouquet looks luxurious and presentable only when it combines all the colors used. The packaging, whether film or crepe paper, must necessarily echo the main color scheme of the composition.

For example, if the bouquet is dominated by pink and beige, the packaging material should be 2-3 tones darker. Sometimes contrasting packaging looks more advantageous, but it is not suitable for compositions of bush roses and hydrangeas. The flowers are lost against its background.

If you plan to give the bouquet the next day, but have already collected it today, wrap the bunch in cellophane and put it in water. This will keep the plants fresh, and in the morning they will look like they were just cut. Choose paper or other packaging and arrange the composition.

How to assemble a boutonniere. Master class

You can assemble a bouquet of flowers with your own hands step by step for a wedding yourself. A wedding boutonniere is a small but significant accessory that completes and complements the images of the groom and the bride.

What you will need

To make a classic boutonniere you will need:

• 1 flower – of your choice;
• floral glue;
• 2 small sprigs of greenery (davallia, ripsalis);
• 1 decorative insert;
• floral tape;
• safety pin;
• 7mm floral wire;
• nippers;
• knife.

Roses, small lilies, gerberas, lavender, and succulents look best among flowers. Artificial analogs are also often used, including orchids, roses, paper flowers, and other materials. For themed celebrations, cones, anchors, leaves, and fairy-tale characters are chosen.

Step by step collection process

A boutonniere for the groom, for example, is made in a few simple steps:

1. Clean the flower from dry twigs and leaves, cut the stem to the desired length and place it in water for 3-4 hours.
2. Before creating the composition, the cut must be treated with floral glue.
3. Then you should cut off 2 pieces of wire 10-15 cm long with nippers and thread them crosswise through the stem of the plant at the base of the bud. Bend the ends down, along the line of the stem.
4. Next, you need to mask the wire with floral tape by wrapping it.
5. The greenery should be placed slightly below the main flower and also wrapped with floral tape.
6. Finally, attach a safety pin to the mini-bouquet.

The boutonniere is ready, it should stand out against the background of the guest boutonnieres.

Spiral bouquet step by step

Spiral is the most common method of making flower bouquets.

Mastering the technique requires practice; not everyone succeeds the first time.

What you will need

To create a spiral composition you will need:

• flowers;
• greens for decoration;
• scissors or pruning shears;
• packaging material (sisal, mesh, paper);
• ribbon (rope, anchor) for fixing the bouquet.

Chrysanthemums, roses, gerberas and carnations are best suited for spiral compositions.

Step by step collection process

It is not difficult to assemble a bouquet in a spiral if you follow certain rules:

1. Take the flower that will be in the center of the composition in your left hand and hold it vertically. 2/3 of the plant should be above your hand.
2. Now place the second flower on the first one at an angle, diagonally. Hold the junction of both plants with your left hand.
3. Take the next flower or greenery to decorate the bouquet and arrange it diagonally again, from left to right. It turns out that you are laying the flowers in a spiral. With each added flower/greenery, the angle of inclination will increase.
4. When all the flowers are collected in a bouquet, they should be secured at the point of contact with each other. For this, florists use ribbon, anchor or rope, tightly tying the bunch of plants.
5. The final touch is to align the stems. Take scissors or pruning shears and cut the ends of the stems diagonally so that they are the same length.

Parallel Bouquet (Linear Style) Step by Step

Most often, parallel compositions are used to decorate banquet halls, wedding venues and other important celebrations.

What you will need

To create a parallel bouquet you will need:

• flowers with very large buds;
• fern greenery or other plants for decoration;

• decorative elements;
• wire (optional);
• rope (ribbon).

Step by step collection process

In the parallel technique of collecting a bouquet, the so-called “ladder” method is used:

1. Take one flower in your hand (large roses will look best here), holding it vertically.
2. Place 2 more of the same flowers in a row behind it so that their buds rise above the first flower.
3. Place the next 5 flowers in a similar manner, making a total of 4-5 “ladder steps”.
4. Tie the stems with ribbon or rope each time to make them stronger.
5. When all the flowers are collected in a bouquet, add greenery and other decor. Do not cover the upper buds with it.
6. To make the bouquet more stable, you can use wire.
7. Trim the stems to the same length.
8. Decorate the bouquet with a sheet of beautiful film, bows, ribbons.

Asymmetrical bouquet step by step

Florists recommend making a bouquet of flowers with your own hands step by step with an asymmetrical shape from 5-7 flowers/plants of two types. For this, the “3 triangles” technique is used.

What you will need

To create an asymmetrical composition you will need:

• flowers of two types (you can take anthurium, chrysanthemums);
• greens for decoration;
• scissors/pruning shears;
• packaging on request.

Step by step collection process

1. Take the top flower and place it vertically in front of you – it will serve as the top of 2 triangles.
2. Take the next flower – this is the future basis of the right triangle – and place it to the right almost completely horizontally. Its length should be shorter than the length of the apical flower if the composition is supposed to be high. If the bunch is low, the second flower should be longer than all the others. Choose flowers of the same type. Draw an imaginary line through the place where both plants touch, and you will get the 1st triangle of the unequal type.
3. Place the third flower of the same type so that its apex is located on the hypotenuse of the resulting triangle.
4. Take a flower of a different type and place it to the right so that the top extends beyond lines 1-2. This will create the 4th element – ​​the top of the 2nd triangle.

   

   

   

5. Take another such flower and place it almost completely horizontally to the left. Connect elements 1, 4, 5 in the head and get the 2nd triangle of an unequal shape.
6. On its 4-5 lines, install the 6th component – ​​again the same flower. Mentally connect the 1-5 elements with the junction of all the plants in the composition, and you will get the 3rd triangle with unequal sides.
7. On lines 1-5 place the top of the flower of the first type - you will get the 7th element. Components No. 3,6,7 are additional, placed arbitrarily, due to them you can increase the bouquet.
8. If there are enough flowers, the composition can be immediately combined with greenery, if there is not enough material, greenery is used as an addition, placing it on the lines of contact of flowers. Wrap the bunch in beautiful paper or tie it with a colorful ribbon.

Useful tips from florists

If you want to create original flower arrangements that will please the eye for a long time, listen to the advice of experienced florists. You will learn how to pack flowers in a box or basket, learn about mobile applications for beginners and be able to create the right wedding bouquet.

How to make a bouquet original

To create an unusual bouquet, not only flowers are used, but also additional elements.

For example, these could be:

• oddly shaped driftwood;
• leaves/branches of exotic plants;
• about or more than 10 different colors in one composition;
• wire decorations;
• artificial petals/greenery, made by hand;
• original packaging;
• branches of pruned trees;
• dried or candied fruits, berries;
• unusual vase, dishes;
• moss;
• candles;
• stones.

Use your imagination, create with soul, don’t be afraid to experiment – ​​and you will definitely get a bouquet that you will never find on a store shelf.

How to make a bouquet in a basket

To collect flowers in a basket you will need:

• decorative basket (preferably made of birch bark, twigs, branches - a synthetic frame will deprive the bouquet of its naturalness);
• stationery knife;
• floral foam covering the bottom of the basket;
• household tape;
• set of flowers.

Florists advise to assemble a bouquet of flowers with your own hands step by step in a basket from several types of plants.

1. Place the sponge in a container with cold water and leave for 15 minutes to soak completely.
2. Cut the flower stems diagonally, remove any yellowed, dried foliage. The fewer dry leaves and buds remain and the more you shorten the stem, the longer the plant will last in the basket, retaining its fresh appearance.
3. Line the bottom of the basket with new, unbroken film. You can wrap the sides with it - the main thing is that the liquid from the sponge does not leak out, but remains inside and nourishes the flowers.
4. Insert the plants into the wet sponge. If you plan to decorate the composition with greenery, start with this decoration. After that, insert flowers with harder stems, then with soft ones.
5. Make sure that there are no distortions and that the basket stands level.
6. While filling the sponge, rotate the basket - this will distribute all the flowers more evenly.
7. You should not maintain symmetry and the same arrangement of plants on all sides - on the contrary, some carelessness and asymmetry will give the composition a natural look and natural charm.

The more flowers and additional decor in the basket, the more lush and multifaceted the bouquet will be.

Flower arrangement in a box

Flowers in a box are original, beautiful and presentable. To make a bouquet, take any flowers, the main thing is that they match each other in color and shape.

1. Place the floral sponge in a bowl of water for 15 minutes and soak it completely in the liquid.
2. Line the bottom and sides of the box with film. If the cardboard is moisture-resistant, skip this step.
3. Sometimes florists trim the edge of the box with thick lace or corrugated paper to give the bouquet a certain shape.
4. Trim flower stems to desired length at an angle.
5. The stems should not rest against the bottom of the box - this will prevent them from absorbing liquid.
6. Keeping the angle at 25-30º, start pushing flowers and decorations into the sponge, moving from the edges to the center.
7. Constantly rotate the box from side to side – this way the composition will be uniform, without gaps.

If you don’t have a sponge, you can take a plastic container or a cellophane bag, fill it with water, place the plants in it, and then put them in the box.

About wedding bouquets

If you don’t want to spoil your wedding celebration, take care of the bouquet for the bride and groom in advance.

1. Don't buy flowers for your wedding bouquet in the last days before the holiday - do it in advance so that even rare items can be delivered on time.
2. If you want to stand out with your bouquet, don’t order it from a catalogue – use your imagination and tell the florist about your preferences.
3. Choose a flower arrangement to match the style of your dress, your appearance type and your figure. Show the florist your future wedding outfits – your dress and the groom’s suit. Specify what jewelry you will be wearing.
4. Show the master the wedding bouquets that you like - this way the florist will get to know your taste a little.
5. If you or your guests have any allergies to any plants, please be sure to mention this when placing your order.
6. Tell the florist if you plan to go for a ride around the city or on a boat. The master will take these nuances into account when composing the bouquet.

Mobile apps for florists

Mobile phone applications for floristry are always full of useful tips and life hacks.

Here are the most popular ones:

• InfoFlowers – will help you choose flowers for allergy sufferers, sort flowers by shades and find out if a certain plant is available at the base;
• Garden Answers – knows all the names of flowers (helps if the names are not written on the base), suggests alternative options if the necessary plants are not available;
• FlowerBook includes several ways to sort shades, suggests the presence of seasonal plants, has high-quality photographs, and information about the stages of flower opening.

A bouquet of flowers, assembled step by step with your own hands, can cause admiration among guests and pride - among the master. The main thing in floristry is not to be afraid of experiments, to use imagination, to try something of your own, something new. It is important to take into account the nuances that allow flowers to retain their freshness and original appearance for a long time.

Author: Kravtsova Victoria

Video about making bouquets

Spiral technique for assembling a bouquet: