When you love what you do, you love to share it with other people. Our monthly flower classes have been an incredible way to do exactly this! And since we’re now well into New York’s beloved “wedding season” (typically spanning from mid-April through mid-October), our DIY wedding flowers workshop came at an opportune time.
For any of you who weren’t able to make it, this step-by-step tutorial is a fun and easy way to bring the spirit of DIY into your home!
Flower Recipe
10 pieces of lily grass
8 stems of stock
6 anemones
8 roses
6 Dendrobium orchids
1.Clean your flowers and organize your design space: group like flowers together & have your tools accessible.
2. Prepare 5 lily grass loops: pair together 2 pieces of lily grass. Fold the lily grass in half to create a loop. Pinch the inner piece of lily grass and pull down slightly so that the inside loop appears shorter than the outer loop. Use floral tape to adhere. Tip: floral tape must be stretched gently in order to function/stick properly.
3. Prepare Dendrobium “beauty marks”: Take a piece of floral wire and fold it in half. Gently poke the ends of your floral wire into the head of your Dendrobium and pull through until the fold of the wire meets the heart of the flower. Start at the base of your wire and wrap your floral tape up to about ½ inch below the base of your Dendrobium. Repeat Step #3 until all 6 Dendrobiums are properly prepared.
4. Creating your bouquet: create a “mini-bouquet” of 3 roses, laying each stem diagonally atop the previous stem. Tip: Stems must always be laid diagonally with the head of the flower positioned top left and the stems angling bottom right. This prevents stems from tangling or breaking.
5. Building upon your bouquet: Gently rotate your bouquet to the left before you prepare to add stock and anemones. Lily grass loops and your remaining roses. Look for ‘gaps” as you determine where to add each flower. Tip: Holding your bouquet vertically at waste level helps you pinpoint “gaps” more easily. Bring your bouquet back up to the table as you rotate and add more flowers, always crossing the stem diagonally atop existing stems. Tip: There is no need to grip your bouquet too tightly. Remember that you can primp and re-position your flowers as necessary, so holding the bouquet too tightly will only result in a sore hand! Tip: Remember to pay attention to the shape of the entire bouquet, sides included! While the bride is typically looking down at her bouquet, the guests of the wedding are typically looking at the bouquet from all other angles!
6. Re-shaping your bouquet: Once all flowers are added to the bouquet, it’s time to primp and round your bouquet! Simply pull the flowers down on the perimeter of your bouquet in order to lower them slightly. This creates a more rounded look.
7. Adding your beauty mark: It’s now time to add your Dendrobium orchids by simply poking the floral wire into your bouquet. Tip: You generally want to add your beauty mark to the front of your bouquet, as this is the most highly visible & photographed portion of your composition.
8. Fastening your bouquet: Measure roughly 2 inches down from the head of your bouquet and use oasis tape to wrap the bouquet together. Repeat this at 2 inches up from the base of your stems.
9. Trimming your bouquet: The stems of your bouquet should run roughly the length of your hand, fingertips to the base of your palm. Using this as a measuring tool, evenly trim the tips of your stems. Tip: Be sure to cut the flower wires (attached to your Dendrobiums) a bit shorter then the rest of your stems. Otherwise, the floral wires tend to poke out and can snag the bride’s dress. Uh oh!
10. Wrapping your bouquet: Begin at about 2 inches up from the base of your stems and wrap your ribbon on an upward diagonal. Stop at about 2 inches down from the base of your bouquet. Cut your ribbon with 2 inches of slack remaining. Tuck the extra ribbon back under the existing trail of ribbon. Use your corsage pins to secure.
Voila, you have yourself a beautifully primped and boldly colored bridal bouquet. So even while you may or may not be walking down the aisle this particular wedding season, there will still be many eyes on you and your exquisite creation!
(Don’t forget to check back for our next DIY session…terrariums by Ovando!)
Unquestionably so, Sandra de Ovando was fated to become an influential force in New York’s eclectic design milieu. Born in Mexico City to Spanish and Russian parents, Sandra fell in love with nature, flowers and bold colors at a very young age when she often spent weekends gardening with her mother. Later, in her travels throughout Europe and Asia, Sandra discovered exotic flowers, plants and fruits which she began incorporating into her designs – hence was born the signature style that today defines Ovando’s dynamic compositions. Since its inception in 2003, Ovando has blossomed into a full-service Floral & Event Design Company. Sandra’s unique approach has made her the favorite floral designer of New York’s elite, including celebrities, high-end restaurants, fashion houses and boutique hotels. From stunning bouquets, moody lighting, and the full-scale construction of breathtaking displays and environments, Ovando is a dazzling celebration of form, function, and flowers. We invite you to take a peek into the world of Ovando and some of the things that inspire our designs! 
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