wedding bouquet
make-ahead base
A permanent posy offers a sturdy start to showcase fresh Freesias.
This bouquet’s base of permanent Hydrangeas and its quick-to-construct permanent leaf collar are not only efficient to arrange ahead of time but also withstand the many demands of a wedding day, such as rough handling, lack of water and temperature fluctuations. The Hydrangeas recede into the background and let the fresh Freesias shine, while a contemporary striped ribbon enwrapping the stems accentuates the complementary green and fuchsia hues.

By choosing a permanent base, designers also can color match the blooms to the bridal party attire well ahead of the date. The Hydrangeas and leaves for this posy were plucked from a single permanent bush, adding cost savings versus purchasing multiple individual stems. The collar requires no special mechanics but is simply created by arranging and gluing permanent Hydrangea leaves into a circular form.

This design makes a stunning bridal bouquet, but the technique also can be an efficient way to create multiple bouquets for a large group of bridal party members. While the Freesias won’t dry permanently in this base after the wedding, the faded fresh blooms could be plucked out to leave a precious permanent keepsake of the special day.

MATERIALS: permanent Hydrangeas and leaves from Autograph Foliages; Freesias from The Sun Valley Group; ribbon from burton + BURTON; Oasis® Waterproof Tape from Smithers-Oasis.   
 
HOW TO 1:
Trim permanent Hydrangea leaves from their stems.
Overlap the leaves, and
secure them into a circular
form with cool-melt glue. Be sure to leave an opening in
the center of the circle.		 HOW TO 2:
Gather permanent
Hydrangeas into a cluster,
bind them midway down the stems with waterproof tape,
and slip the cluster into the
leafy bouquet collar. Arrange fresh Freesias into the Hydrangea base.		 HOW TO 3:
Secure the leafy collar to the Hydrangea and Freesia stems with waterproof tape. Finish the bouquet handle by wrapping the entire length with ribbon and leaving two decorative tails.

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