The Romantic Bridal Bouquet

My inspiration for this wintry bouquet was the 19th-century poem “The Eve of St. Agnes” by John Keats. Set in a medieval Scottish castle, the poem takes place on one of the coldest nights of the year, when legend has it that unmarried girls dream of their future husbands. For my design, I chose flowers and materials that reflect the imagery from the poem. Three shades of white roses add a soft, bridal look to the base of white and green hydrangeas. White phalaenopsis orchids and gardenias add a touch of elegance, and textured greens feel like they could have been gathered from the moors. I added traditional lace and a Scottish thistle kilt pin as finishing touches on this romantic bouquet, perfect for a winter bride. —Robert Long

Materials & Supplies
white phalaenopsis orchids, white trachelium, ‘Champagne Moment’ roses, galax leaves, silver echeveria succulents, gardenias, begonia foliage, snowberries, Italian pittosporum, green hydrangeas, ‘Sahara’ roses, white hydrangeas, ‘Avalanche’ roses, stem-wrap floral tape, floral wire, Scottish thistle kilt pin, pearl-head pins, ribbon scissors, lace, flower snips, calligraphed card

Step 1
All flowers except the roses and white hydrangeas need to be wired. To do this, cut each stem a few inches below the flower head. Take an 18-inch-long wire, push half of it through the very top of the stem, and then bend both ends down together. Next, tightly wrap floral tape several times around where the stem and wire meet to secure them together. Continue to wrap the length of the wire, pulling and stretching the tape down and around.
Start the bouquet with larger flowers, such as three or four white hydrangeas, as the base. Then add several smaller, wired hydrangeas in and around the others to form a traditional, round shape.

Step 2
Start the bouquet with larger flowers, such as three or four white hydrangeas, as the base. Then add several smaller, wired hydrangeas in and around the others to form a traditional, round shape.

Step 3
Continue by adding the roses, orchids, gardenias, and remaining materials to the bouquet. To create the handle, cut the stems 8-to-10-inches long—relative to the size of the bride’s hands.

Step 4
Check the position of the flowers, and adjust if necessary. Secure the stems together with wire, and then tightly wrap the handle with tape. Next, cut a rectangle of lace. Fold the edge of the lace around the handle, covering the bottom.

Step 5

Then wrap the folded lace several times around the handle to cover the taped stems.

Step 6

Secure the lace by pinning it along the seam as well as on the bottom of the handle.

Step 7

A bow is a nice accent for a traditional bride. The simpler the better—it should complement, not compete with, the flowers. Cut a strip of lace and tie it into a bow. Push a pin through the center of the bow, and attach it to the top of the handle.

Step 8
To play off the Scottish theme from the poem, I’ve included a silver thistle kilt pin as a finishing touch. Pin it to the handle right beneath the bow.

I like to present the bouquet in a beautiful way. Adorning it with a special hand-calligraphed card with the bride’s name, placing it in a tissue-lined box, or including a personal note are all ways to achieve this. | Calligraphy by Marlean Tucker

Produced by Alexandra Schmitt | Photos by Erica George Dines

More Hand-Tied Bouquets and Wedding-Worthy Flowers

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• Making a Flower Crown with Janie Medley
• French Twist – A Hand-Tied Bouquet with Mimi Brown
• Make Cut Roses Last
• More Wedding Flower Arrangements