A Simple Bouquet for your Big Day
Meet Bridgette, founder of Hanabee Designs, who turned her passion and connection to the environment into an art that bloomed into a full service floral design agency. Specializing in weddings and events, Bridgette oversees all creative processes, from the initial design to the final installation.
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Bridgette has always been an explorer. Whether it's skiing, foraging for mushrooms, or running along the coastal trails, she sees the world in plants. Inspired by the movement of nature and the energy of place, Hanabee Designs works with a combination of local and specialty blooms, but more importantly, foraged elements that create the narrative of the project, speaking to both the client’s aesthetic, but also the surrounding natural elements of the location.
We had the opportunity to not only sit down with Bridgette and learn how to make a simple bouquet, but also got to follow her process of gathering flowers at the infamous New York City Flower Market.
“One of the most fun things that I’ve done with friends and flowers was when I was in Japan in 2017, my friend’s sister was getting married. They were doing their own flowers and no one knew what they were doing so we Facetimed and I talked her through how to make her bouquet.” That being said, here are the tips and tricks to DIY when you don’t have the ability to pick up the phone and Facetime Bridgette (though I’m sure she’d still welcome that).
This guide is perfect for brides having a destination wedding, elopement, or simply anyone that’s interested in getting your hands on some blooms.
1. Start with the greenery
When you are making a simple bouquet, it’s best to always start with the greenery (i.e., eucalyptus, palms, etc.) Greenery helps with the shape and also creates the structural foundation of the arrangement so that when you start sticking other stems in, they’ll stay in place. Note: It’s best to build the bouquet in your dominant hand. You also want to make sure you’re holding it loose in your hand (resting, not pinching) wait until the end to pinch.
2. Find a piece with a “joint”
Lay the piece with the joint out sideways, (strip the leaves from the joint piece) and then you can tuck other stems to align with each other. Depending on how much greenery you want showing or how much movement you want in your bouquet will dictate how compact you make it. From there, you’ll begin to build its shape.
3. Don't hold on too tight.
Always strip all the leaves that will be under where you are tying/taping off (below where you have a grasp). There should be no leaves under the water line. It’s okay to build with long stems because at the end you will trim them to align—the shape will change as you go.
4. Keep Accents in Mind
Save all pieces because you never know what could make a good accent at the end. If you are using anything heavy (like the oranges) keep them lower in the arrangement so they aren’t pulling it down. Get the heavy pieces as close to the base (where you’re holding) as you can.
5. Fluff with Flowers
Once you have the shape of you base, you can start to add flowers in. Depending on how wispy you want it to look you can tuck things in or let some out. Play with its height and depth to your preferences; tuck really far for depth and then build out as you go.
