A Peony Wedding Bouquet with its sumptuous blooms and layer upon layer
of tissue like petals are a delight to a wedding. Peonies come in
white, red, yellow, peach and pink.
When buying peonies select buds that are just opening and are soft to
the touch (if they are too hard they probably will never open).
Your peony wedding bouquet can last for over a week if you keep it in
water. When making an arrangement in peony flowers be careful not to
touch the flower head. Peonies flower in spring.
Flowers and Essentials
Pink peonies
Pink roses
White hydrangea
White freesia
Eucalyptus leaves
Clippers
Twine, rubber bands
4 to 8 pearl corsage pins
3 yards (2.7 meters) of 2 inch (5cm) wide ribbon
Preparation
and Assembly
Condition the stems of
the peonies, hydrangea and roses. This is done by bending the stem
about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom until it splits. Scrape the bent
area with a sharp knife in a dragging motion. This will remove some
bark exposing the inner stem and allowing more water to enter the stem.
Next fill a container with about 2 inches (5cm) of boiling water. Place
the stems in the boiling water for a few minutes, then empty the water
and fill the container with cold water. Let the flowers soak in the
water for at least two hours if possible.
Condition the stems of the freesias; this can done by placing in warm
water (up to their necks) overnight. Once you have cut the flowers sit
them in 2 inches (5cm) of warm water for five minutes. Then fill the
container about one-third of the way up with cold water.
In your hand gather a
few roses, freesia stems, and peonies and hydrangeas, alternating the
flowers for texture and color. Keep adding flowers making a tight
bunch. When you are happy with the look add a collar of eucalyptus
leaves.
Bind the stems tightly with a piece of twine just below the flower
heads, then bind with a rubber band at the bottom.
Re-cut the stems so that they are even and the length that you want.
Start wrapping the
bouquet with ribbon. Starting from the bottom, leaving bare stems
exposed at the bottom. Fold the end of the ribbon under itself, then
wrap up to the top of the stems covering the twine, then make a bow at
the top. Secure ribbon in place with the corsage pins.
Keep the bouquet in
water for as long as possible to keep the peonies fresh.
