Dear Petal’s Edge,
What is a hand-tied bouquet? How is that different from a posy or a round bouquet? I know I don’t want a cascade, but which should I ask for if I want something simple and elegant? I find different answers each place I look.
– Eleanor F.
Dear Eleanor,
This is a really important question, as we frequently see the terms misused in books and articles about wedding flowers. The term “hand-tied” actually refers to the method by which a bouquet is constructed, not the shape. A posy, round and cascade bouquet can all be “hand-tied”.
Hand-tying, while a bit difficult to master, is actually very simple – it refers to a bouquet constructed by taking the individual flower stems and arranging them directly in one’s hand to form the arrangement. Once the arrangement is complete, the florist ties the stems together. At that point, the flowers can either be cut to fit into a vase or the stems can be left long enough to form a handle and wrapped in ribbon to make a hand held bouquet.
Other methods of constructing bouquets involve using forms, such as plastic holders filled with floral foam (the flowers are then placed in the foam or glued onto the form to create the desired shape) or wire, where the flowers are all individually wired and brought together to form a shape. Different florists have different preferences for how they construct their bouquets, and most bouquet shapes can be achieved with any of the methods. Each method has its pros and cons, depending on the flowers being used and the look one is trying to be achieve. Sometimes a combination of techniques are used.
To help you decide, bouquets can be broken up into three general styles:
Round is the most typical style of bouquet we see at weddings these days. Round bouquets do not have to be little tight mushroom caps. Depending on your preference and the types of flowers used, round bouquets can range from very tight and tailored, to fairly loose and draping. But they all share one common feature: they are held upright by the stems or handle, with the flowers on top, and the hands underneath. I would say that this is the style you are probably looking for.
The primary difference between a posy and round bouquet is typically size; a posy is a small, bouquet which typically is held in one hand (it can also be referred to as a nosegay) often given to mothers, grandmother and smaller girls, while a larger, round bouquet is carried with two hands, and is generally given to brides and bridesmaids.
Cascade refers to a bouquet where the flowers are angled downward, and form a shape that can range from a teardrop to a full on waterfall. Often these kinds of bouquet use long, line flowers, which have blooms all along the stem of the flower, to help create that shape and feel. These bouquets are held by short handles at the back of the flowers, with the flowers facing outward, away from the bride.
Presentation refers to a bouquet that is held in the arms, typically with the blooms laying in the crook of one arm and the stems stretching to the other elbow, similar to how you would hold a baby. These style of bouquets are not typically used at weddings, and are rather used at award ceremonies and similar style of events where flowers are given as a gift to the award recipient (think pagents), hence the name. They can, however, be very useful for presenting to mothers or other honored members of the family, if that is something you would like to include in your ceremony.
I hope that helps! Best wishes with your wedding!
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Do you have a question about flowers or wedding planning? Send us your question in the comment field or by email (to info@petalsedge.com, subject line “Ask the Florist”), and we’ll include it in a future round of Ask the Florist!
I never knew that there were so many different shapes and variations of bouquets, ranging from round to cascading! My daughter is getting married soon, and she has told me how she wants the perfect bouquet for her big day. Because I personally don’t know much about this, I’ll be sure to find a florist near me that can walk me through the process of finding the right bouquet for my daughter!