Brooch bouquets can make your special day last forever. These bouquets can be kept for years to come as a reminder of the love you share. And since this is your special bouquet, family heirlooms and pieces can be incorporated into the finished product as a reminder of those who are there to help you every step of the way.
To make a brooch bouquet, you will need:30 to 60 brooches (or jewelry pieces, earrings, pendants, pearl beads), silk flowers of your choice (hydrangeas work best), floral wire (22 gauge or larger) , floral tape, wire cutters, scissors, hot glue gun, finishing tape (satin, burlap, linen, silk), gold/silver paint, and a small paintbrush.
Pull all the leaves off the stems of the silk flowers. Where the leaves were, cut off the plastic bumps coming off the stem. Once all the greenery is gone, cut the flowers to create the handle of the bouquet; Leave at least 6 to 8 inches from the base of the flowers to where you cut.
When all the stems are cut, start arranging the flowers in a tight bouquet. A normal bouquet size is generally 8 to 9 inches wide and can incorporate numerous types of flowers. Silk hydrangeas are easier to wear because they make a solid crown for the brooches to sit on. When the arrangement is established, wrap the stems with floral tape from the top, closest to the flowers. Wrap it down, overlapping the tape each time it wraps around the stem until it reaches the bottom.
Choosing your snaps is the best part of the project. Incorporate family heirlooms, themed pieces, or specific colors. To make your bouquet full of memories, ask family members or friends to donate a piece to be included in the finished product.
Cut floral wire into lengths that are 2 1/2 times the length of your bouquet stem. Bend each wire in half for a reference point. For snaps and pins, use the snaps at the ends (where the pin is located) to wrap your cord around the bumps. Cross the wire in the middle and braid the wire tightly to form a solid stem. For clips, open the clip and wrap the doubled wire around the base of the clip a few times. Then cross the wire in the middle of where the clip sits and then close the clip. Twist the wire to make a solid stem.
Once all the pins have been wrapped, start inserting each one into the flower arrangement. Attach 8 to 10 bobby pins at a time, then use floral tape to wrap the entire stem to hold them in place. Make sure they are tight to the flowers before wrapping. Keep feeding the snaps in small groups and continue wrapping until all the snaps are incorporated into the arrangement.
You will want to hide all the wires from the clips. Cut a piece of the finishing tape the length of the stem of the bouquet. Depending on what type of ribbon it is, you will make a ruffle for the bottom of the flowers. If it's a wired ribbon, pull the wired ends on both sides to start the fabric together. When you pull the cords, push the fabric to the center and you will see the ruffle formation. If the ribbon is not wired, weave a piece of floral wire in and out of the ribbon until the ribbon begins to form a ruffle. In both cases, once you've formed the ruffle, push it under the flowers and twist the wired ends together. Hide the wired ends in the flowers and glue the ruffle in place.
At the bottom of the stem of the bouquet, fold a small square of finishing tape in half to form a triangle, then hot glue the center of the triangle to the tip of the stem. Wrap the two side triangles around the sides of the stem and secure with hot glue. Now that the tip is covered, begin to spiral the tape up the stem, hot gluing as you go. When you get to the top, cut the tape at an angle, tuck it under the steering wheel, and finish with a dot of hot glue.
Add a strand of pearls by wrapping them around your brooches. If any of your snaps are loose, glue them back in place. If any of your green wires are showing, take your gold or silver paint and your small brush and lightly paint over the green so the wires blend in with the snaps. Once these little steps are done, you will be done with your masterpiece.
Sarah Brobst
Now you have a fabulous bouquet full of memories and beauty to make a lasting impression on your wedding day.
