How to Make a Hand Tied Wedding Bouquet

A natural hand tied bouquet is very popular with brides. The same type of flowers can be used together such as roses or a variety of different flowers. If desired, leaves such as camellia can be placed around the edges. This type of bouquet is made by holding the flower and foliage stems in one hand and adding the other stems around in a spiral fashion, criss crossing the stems at the one point,and binding them in position with string. A ribbon bow with long tails completes the bouquet. It's really easy to do yourself, as follows.

EditSteps

1. 1
   Choose suitable materials - you will need flowers with fairly long stems such as roses, irises, carnations, alstroemeria, freesias, Singapore orchids and lisianthus. Suitable foliage includes camellia leaves, eucalyptus gum, box, ivy, nandina and leather fern.
   A mixed bouquet looks best using three to four varieties of flowers plus foliage.
2. 2
   Cut the ends of the stems on a slant and give the flowers a long drink. Remove the thorns and strip off the lower foliage from the bottom half of the stems.
3. 3
   Lay the flowers out on the table.
4. 4
   Start off with the largest flower to form the centre.
   • Hold the stem between the thumb and first finger on the left hand about 15-20cm (6-8")from the base of the flower head.
   • With the right hand add about 4- 6 clusters of foliage evenly around just below the flower heads to help fill in, criss crossing the stems on an angle and turning the bouquet around as you work.
   • Secure the stems in position by placing the end of a piece of string and winding it around a couple of times. Do not cut the string.
5. 5
   Holding the bouquet in the same way as before, with the thumb facing towards you, place 5-6 of the same type of flowers evenly around turning the bouquet around clockwise. Secure all the stems in place with a couple of twists of string in the same place as before.
6. 6
   Continue adding flowers for the next round extending these flowers out slightly further. Keep the bouquet a gentle rounded shape across the top like an upside down saucer, criss cross all the stems and give the bouquet a quarter turn clockwise after adding a few stems. Secure stems in position with string in the same place as before when necessary.
7. 7
   Continue adding flowers and foliage stems turning the bouquet around clockwise until the bouquet is the desired size. You could add wired camellia leaves around the edges, or use pieces of foliage having the tips extend out about 5-7.5cm (2-3") past the edges of the flowers. Secure all the stems together with string winding it firmly around several times in the same place as before, cut the string and tuck the end in.
8. 8
   Cut the ends off the flower and foliage stems so they are about 6-8"(15-20cm)long and all the same level.
9. 9
   Spray lightly with water.
10. 10
    Finish off the bouquet by tying a piece of wide ribbon around the bouquet to cover the string and tie the ribbon in a shoe lace bow with long tails.

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Carnation

*All members of the genus Dianthus including the florists's carnation are called pinks. 

Blooms: summer. (But January in English Floral Calendar)

Victorian Language:

General: Affection, health & energy. 
Pink: Mother's Love, or I'll never forget you
Red: Admiration, my heart is aching
Solid colored: Yes, acceptance
Striped: Refusal, no, I can't be with you
White: Pure love, innocence, good-luck gift to a woman.
Yellow: Rejection, disdain
Purple: antipathy, capriciousness

Emblem:

Mother's Day (1907)
Parents Day & Teachers' Day in Korea
National flower of Spain 
State flower of Ohio (scarlet carnation)
Fraternities/Sororities :
(White carnation): Delta Chi, Delta Sigma Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, and Zeta Psi, Chi Omega.
(Red Carnations): Alpha Chi Omega, Sigma Lambda Beta, Phi Kappa Tau, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Theta Chi, Eta Phi Beta, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Fraternity for College Band members, Alpha Chi Sigma the national professional chemistry fraternity. 
(Rose Carnations): Phi Mu
(Pink carnation) Gamma Phi Beta 
(Green carnation): St. Patrick's Day/ homosexuality.

Mythology/Folklore:

Christian legend tells us that when Mary saw Jesus carrying the cross, she began to cry, and where her tears fell, carnations began to grow. Perhaps because of this legend, the pink carnation became a symbol of a mother's love.

In Korea, carnations were used to tell fortunes. A girl placed a cluster of three blossoms in her hair. If the top one died first, this signified that her last years would be difficult. If the middle one died first, the earlier years would be hard. If the bottom flower died first, superstition held that her entire life would be miserable. 

History/Modern uses:

Pinks were called the flower of flowers in ancient Greece, and the genus name means 'divine flower' because of its fragrance and beauty. It was called Flos Jovs, or Jove (Jupiter or Zeus in Greek)'s flower, in Rome.

The earliest mention of carnations was in connection with theCrusaders, who were stricken with the plague near Tunis in the 13th century. They drank wine mixed with leaves of the pinks to help control the raging fevers, and took the flower back to France. 

During the Renaissance, pinks were associated with happiness and carefree days, and because of this, they were used to “combat melancholy and cheer the heart” according to an ancient herbal.

In England, Pinks were thought to be favorite flower of William the Conqueror, Edward III, Charles II, and George V. 

At Oxford University, carnations are traditionally worn to all examinations; white for the first exam, pink for exams in between and a red for the last exam

Green carnations were famously worn by the Irish writer Oscar Wilde.The green carnation thence became a symbol of homosexuality in the early 20th century.

In France, it is a traditional funeral flower, given in condolence for the death of a loved one. Therefore in France and Francophone culture, the carnation symbolizes misfortune and bad luck.

In 1907 Anna Jarvis chose a carnation as the emblem of Mother's Day because it was the favorite flower of her mother.This tradition is now observed in the United States and Canada on the second Sunday in May. Ann Jarvis chose the white carnation because she wanted to represent the purity of a mother's love. This meaning has evolved over time, and now a red carnation may be worn if one's mother is alive, and a white one if she has died.

The scarlet carnation became the state flower of Ohio in honor of William McKinley, Ohio Governor and U.S. President, who was assassinated in 1901. He regularly wore a scarlet carnation on his lapel.

In Korea, it is not uncommon to see Parents who wear a corsage of red or pink carnations on Parents Day (May 8) or teachers on Teacher's Day (May 15).

Most aren't aware that carnation petals are edible and quite sweet. For 400 years, well into the 18th century, carnations were used to flavor beer, ale, and wine, are still used to make the French liqueur Chartreuse. Tavern keepers would sometimes grow this plant in their own gardens and called in sops-in-wine.

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