One of a Kind Binds
Simple bridal and attendant bouquets are an easy do it yourself project, but the secret to taking them from plain to fabulous lies in the ties that bind.
Starting with a standard bunch of your favorite flowers, begin to arrange them in a dome shape by first creating a square from four centered flowers, and adding flowers to surround the square, gradually lowering the height with each addition.
Once your dome of flowers is created, begin the binding process by joining all of your stems with elastic bands, one at the top of the stems where the flowers join, and the other near the end. Finish them off by neatly trimming the ends to make them even.
Before beginning to add decorative bindings to your banded bunch of flowers, it is a good idea to wrap stems first using standard floral tape. By securing your stems without fear of them coming undone, you open up endless possibilities for artfully binding your bouquets.
Ribbons are perhaps the simplest accent you can choose, starting from the top of the flower bunch and winding them down over the flowers long stems. Enhance that simplicity and take them to another level simply by combining two or more colors or textures of ribbon and braiding them or otherwise twining them down the stems.
More intricate bindings can be made using lace or fabric, or a combination of both that can be found in a special keepsake like your grandmother's handkerchief.
If there is leftover material resulting from alterations to your wedding dress or from your attendant's dresses, you may want to utilize the material as a bind, wrapping it tight enough that you do not have to worry about it unravelling, but not so tight that you damage your flower stems. Leaving a quarter of an inch of green stems showing at the bottom of your bind, you can then accent your material with crystals, an heirloom brooch or other pieces of jewellery.
A more natural look in bindings involves creating a swag effect by intertwining small flowers such as mini carnations, daisies, or tea roses to accent the base of the bouquet in a drop-down effect. With ribbon wrapped and intertwined amongst the smaller flowers and left to hang down at the bottom.
Whether you choose to create your floral bouquet yourself, or have a florist create one for you, adding personal touches like a handkerchief or family heirloom piece of jewelry, makes for a spectacular one of a kind bind.
©2008 Weddingstar Inc.
