American Style Flower Arranging (part 6): Bridal Bouquet

Hand bouquet commonly held horizontally by Indonesian brides, but held vertically by American, just like holding an ice cone. It usually gives the consequences of different in making, in using techniques,  in design, in concept and of course in look as the final result. For those who are looking for something different, unusual, new, or beyond your daily look, this one is perfect for you guys. We personally like this bridal bouquet. The design is unique, so bravo for the floral designer, Mr. Andy Djati Utomo, S.Sn, AIFD, CFD.

From the image above, you can see that not only the basic American Floral Design Techniques such as basing, grouping and terracing techniques were used here but also binding, framing, and sheltering as well. Perfect example, isn’t it?

Wanna try to make the beautiful American style bouquet just like the one above? Here’s the step by step how to make it:

1.          First of all, Mr. Andy Djati Utomo showed how the American brides to hold the bouquet - vertically, just like holding an ice-cream cone.

2.               Take 3 pieces of woven leaves of lily paris, then place them in a group at the front. Arrange the length of them that do not look monotonous . Take some ivy leaves. If they're not thick enough and don't dangling beautifully, then tie two ivy leaves with floral wire from the top up to the end so that you are now able to form it as you wish.

3.            Take 2 stems of green anthurium. As we need rather high, so attach floral wire to the stem, then secured it with floral tape. Place them by using terracing technique to balance the lily paris leaves.

Take 3 stems of pink gerbera. Cut them short enough then place them as focus in the center by using terracing technique.

Take 4 stems of two tone color of calla lily (white & maroon) then place them a bit on the right side of lily paris leaves by using layering technique.

Take 2 stems of futoy, insert the wire into the stem then by using framing technique, place them to the opposite side of the calla lilies to give balancing of the right and left side of the flowers arrangement.

Then place the other flowers rest such as caspea, statice, purple roses and red celocia. Also do not forget to fill the foam seen with ruscus leaf.

4.         One more, don’t let the holder looks plain, so this is how to make ‘under the holder’ looks different. It’s done by Mr. Johanes Priyono, the assistant of Mr. Andy.

5.                   Finished.

 This is how the bouquet look from the front

Since it was held vertically, therefore, the back of the bridal bouquet is usually vacant. So as not to contact with the body of the bride as well as her wedding gown because some types of flowers, such as lilies can leave stain (from its stigmas) that not able to be washed easily. So, please be careful if you do with bridal bouquet. Give extra attention to the flowers selection and to the work, for example, do not let any thorns still attached to the stems of the roses that can injure the bride's hands or tear the wedding gown. You don’t want to be sued or pay for compensation, do you?

Note:

Pictures taken at the workshop by Andy Djati Utomo, S.Sn, AIFD, CFD, on May 16^th, 2012 in Bandung, West Java.