Summer hand-tied bouquet idea

What do you say we get a little crafty on this Monday, shall we? And since it’s the very first Monday of summer, this seasonal hand-tied bouquet seems pretty fitting. Whether you’re thinking of doing your own wedding florals or just enjoy flower arranging as a pastime, you’re gonna love what Rachel Bowes from Finch & Thistle Event Design and Stephanie Cristalli Photography have in store. Take it away, Rachel…

Supplies:
– garden clippers
– rubber bands or green floral tape
– ribbons at least 1 yard long, in complementary colors
– corsage pins
– summer flowers and greenery of your choosing

Step 1: Start by picking out the best stems of each of the various flowers and greenery you have collected. For this bouquet I used magnolia, parrot tulips, ranunculus, anemones, sweet peas, roses, rosemary, and jasmine vine in shades of peach, blush and white. You’ll then want to remove any thorns or leaves that will sit below the water line for a centerpiece or where the stems will be held for a bouquet.

Step 2: I like to start a bouquet by creating the overall shape first—out of foliage usually—but I started with the tulips on this one because they have such a distinct draping line that I wanted to follow. Holding the tulips loosely in one hand, I added the largest, stiffest blooms first, twisting and turning the bouquet to make sure it was filling out on all sides and maintaining the shape I wanted. These are usually the most dramatic flowers in the bouquet so I like to keep them front and center and use odd numbers of stems.

Step 3: Then I added the ranunculus and anemones in small groups, the rosemary, and finally the sweet peas because they are so delicate. I try to think in terms of layers, moving stems in and out to create different heights with smaller blooms on the periphery of the bouquet.

Step 4: Add any vines as the last step and secure with a rubber band or green floral tape. Wrap the stems tightly with ribbon starting at the bottom so you can secure it at the top with a pearl-headed pin.

Step 5: To make the ribbon streamers, simply cut varying lengths of complementary ribbon at an angle or dovetailed, fold them in half and pin to the top of the stems. Make sure to add the streamers on your favorite side of the bouquet so they hang properly in front when carried. You can also forgo the ribbon and place the bouquet in a vase to use as a centerpiece.