9 Tips for When You Struggle with Bouquet-Making 

As October begins, I’m sure many of you have recently wrapped up beautiful fall weddings and created stunning wedding bouquets!

How did everything go? If everything went smoothly as planned, that’s wonderful! But as we all know, things can easily go wrong or take unexpected turns—especially when working on weddings. If you’ve faced challenges and you struggle with bouquet-making, I’m here to help. 

I recently made a wedding bouquet and felt confident throughout the process. Why? Because I now know what to avoid and the tips and tricks that lead to success. I also had a clear vision of the design I wanted to create.

But it wasn’t always like this—I used to get so nervous, unsure of myself, and even lose sleep over it. Over the years, I’ve gained these skills through a lot of struggles, failures, and practice. If you’re feeling stressed, confused, or anxious about bouquet-making, please don’t be too hard on yourself. This is part of the learning process, and it’s how we all grow. Just keep doing your best with your current skills and knowledge, and you’ll keep improving!

Here are 9 tips to help make your bouquet-making a success

1. Avoid too Large and Heavy Blooms

Dahlias are in season, so many of you may be using them as a main flower. However, large and heavy blooms can make it more difficult to create a balanced bouquet because they tend to shift outward and create a flat area. Like Cafe au Lait Dahlias, while beautiful, can be quite large. Opt for smaller to medium-sized blooms to make balancing easier. 

2. Avoid overly curved stems or support them with wires

Curved stems can add a nice flow to the edges of a bouquet, giving it a natural look. But if the stems are too curved, they may droop too much, throwing off the balance. Avoid overly curved stems, or insert wires (if the stems are hollow) or attach wires to provide support. 

3. Avoid twisted or thick stems

One of the keys to successful bouquet-making is selecting the right stems. Look for straight or slightly curved, slender, and strong stems. I love using Ranunculus in bouquets, but they sometimes come with thick or twisted stems depending on the grower or even within the same bunch. Avoid using these thick, twisted stems. Also, remove any bumps or thorns and clean the stems before putting them together. 

4. Use Enough fillers

Having fillers help create a loose and airy bouquet. They can be greenery, or filler flowers like spray Asters, Sedums, or Achilleas if you need to have only flowers. Ensure you have enough fillers, and place some of them deeper into the bouquet for added dimension. 

5. Include furry or velvety stems

Stems with furry, hairy, or velvety textures (like Campanula, Dusty Miller, Russian Sage, Zinnia, Mum, Aster, Strawflower, Geum or Yarrow) help prevent the stems from slipping or shifting while arranging. When you choose the flowers, it will be helpful to includ the flowers that have furry or velvety stems. 

6. Don’t turn the bouquet too often

When using the spiral method, avoid turning the bouquet too frequently. If you do need to turn it, do so slowly to prevent the stems from shifting.

7. Keep a few pretty blooms for the end

Save a couple of small-to-medium blooms for the final touches. The flowers you originally placed in the center may shift during the bouquet-making process, especially when using the spiral method. Adding the saved pretty blooms to the center at the end helps create eye-catching layers and a focal point.

8. Have a clear vision

If you don’t have a clear vision of the style and shape you want to create, you’ll likely get confused during the process. It’s important to visualize or even sketch the design if needed before you start gathering the flowers together. 

9. Don’t strive for perfection

This is something I constantly remind myself of. If you aim for perfection, you might never finish. The more you touch the flowers, the more likely they are to get damaged. If you’re happy with the overall look, stop—even if it’s not “perfect” in YOUR eyes. Trust that your clients will love it! 

I hope these tips help with your upcoming wedding work! We’re also working hard on getting the StemSlider System ready to make your bouquet-making process even easier. It’s getting close to release, so stay tuned! 😊

Music: September l Musician: Not The King