A contemporary design for a hipster bride who wants an unconventional bouquet.
From brides to prom-goers who have adventurous and unconventional tastes, this dramatic bouquet, with its decorative architectural aesthetic, is sure to express individual personalities. In addition, this design idea—from the fertile mind of Erik Witcraft, AIFD, CFD— offers myriad options, from the color (or colors!) chosen for the wire structure to the selection of botanicals; it offers you great versatility, so you can get as creative and daring—and individual— as you and each of your customers desire.
Form a length of 6-gauge silver decorative wire into a circular form (hoop), approximately 10 to 12 inches in diameter (or larger, if desired), by wrapping the wire around a round container, like a flower display bucket, of the desired diameter. The length of wire should be 6 to 8 inches longer than required to achieve the desired diameter so that both ends of the wire can be overlapped 3 to 4 inches and bound, to create the grasping point (“handle”).
(For a 10-inch-diameter hoop, the length of wire should be 38 to 40 inches; for a 12-inch-diameter hoop, the length of wire should be approximately 44 to 46 inches. The formula is: Desired diameter x 3.14 + 6 to 8 inches.)
Bind the overlapping ends of the wire hoop (3 to 4 inches) with 24-gauge silver metallic wire.
Spray an aluminum or stainless-steel surface, such as a cookie sheet, with cooking oil spray, 3-in-One Oil, WD-40 or leaf shine. This will prevent the hot glue from sticking to the surface, making it easy to peel off.
Lay the silver wire hoop onto the oiled metal surface. Within the circumference of the silver wire hoop, artfully position several silver metal craft rings (O-rings) of varying diameters (eight are used in this design; three different diameters). Wire the silver craft rings to each other and to the outer wire hoop, in several places, with 24-gauge silver metallic wire.
Form several coiled scrollwork pieces, of varying sizes, with 12-gauge silver aluminum wire (six are used in this design). Design the scrolls to fit into the open spaces between with metal craft rings, within the circumference of the silver wire hoop.
Artfully drizzle hot-glue onto some areas of the wire structure. Leave some of the metal craft rings devoid of hot glue (five rings are left “open” in this design).
Allow the hot-glue to cool, and carefully remove the finished structure from the oiled metal surface. Check the structure for stability and security; if it needs more rigidity, add more hot- glue and bindings of 24-gauge silver metallic wire.
Wire two callas to the structure, in multiple places, with 26-gauge silver bullion wire, creating curved lines and visual movement with the stems of the callas that mimic the circular and scrolling lines of the wire rings and decorative wire.
To enhance the pliability of the calla stems, remove one narrow strip of epidermis from the stem of each calla, “tearing” it upward from the stem end to the bloom.
Remove the stems from the other botanical materials, and glue them to the wire/hot-glue structure with liquid floral adhesive, in this order: permanent fern; Eryngium and ‘White Mikado’ spray roses (in clusters); dusty miller; and Hypericum. Arrange these botanicals so that their placement carries the eyes around and throughout the design.
Design Note: Make sure to leave the grasping point (“handle”) of the outer wire hoop exposed so that the bouquet can be carried comfortably, without interference from flowers being placed too close.
Create a coordinating boutonnière using one small silver wire craft ring, one scroll of 12-gauge silver aluminum wire (wired atop the wire craft ring, hot-glue, and a more tightly grouped and smaller selection of the same botanical materials (sans calla!).
