FLOWERS FOR THE WEDDING

My new daughter-in-law gave me her bridal bouquet five days ago, and it still looks wonderful!  I have been cutting the stems afresh every day, which really seems to help.

We put together our own flowers, which saved heaps of money, though I never thought we would dare try such a thing.  The internet made it easy for my flower team:  my sister-in-law and her two daughters.

First, they watched information about how to loosen up tight rosebuds (although in practice that didn't go over too well):  Rebecca Cole's "How to Force Rosebuds to Open"

Next, they made 14 corsages and boutonnieres out of roses and hypericum berries, using a photo I found on the internet along with Kara Beckett's videos for "Wiring and Taping a Rose for a Boutonniere" and "Add Accent Flowers and Greenery to Your Boutonniere."  

The corsages and boutineers were exactly the same.  Here is my sister-in-law showing one of the finished ones.

And here is my son wearing his own.

The bride carried a bouquet made of short-stemmed roses, made with the assistance of Crystal Nassar's video.

And the bridesmaid had a bouquet of gerbera daisies.  They're such exciting flowers we were afraid they would eclipse the bridal bouquet!

All told, it took the team about 3 hours to put these together and I'm so proud of them!  (the flowers AND my relatives)