Floral Design Demystified

If you’re anything like me, you know that putting flowers in a vase is a lot more complicated than just that. The stems are too long, the flowers droop all over, the combination doesn’t look right, etc., etc. If this sounds all too familiar, buckle your seatbelt and get ready for a crash course in floral design!

My arrangement!

Last week, The Average Girl’s Guide attended the inaugural It! Girl's Guide to Floral Design hosted by the fabulous Aime Dunstan, principal of It! Weddings & Events, and led by the incredible floral designer to the stars, Kim Votaw.

Here’s a key list of what you can do to make the perfect flower arrangement:

• Want fresh flowers? Make sure they’re firm to the touch. You're thinking, I’m scared I'll ruin them. Don’t! While we barely touched our flowers, Kim practically man-handled hers to be sure they were up-to-par. Feel the base of roses or squeeze a bunch of hydrangeas, for example.
• Make “wet oasis” your new best friend. That’s the green stuff often at the base of arrangements. Buy it at a crafts store like Michael’s. Just be sure to get the wet foam, not dry. Put it in your vase or creative holder, stick your flowers in it, add water and voila, gorgeous!
• If you're you a procrastinator like me and don’t buy flowers until the day before – or day of – a dinner party, fake it by forcing the petals open. Lightly fold petals back as you work your way in toward the base of the rose. The difference is incredible!



Kim demonstrates how
not to use a vase.

• Don’t put your flowers straight in a vase, put them in at an angle. It just looks nicer!
• And, think outside the vase when considering what to use. Pitchers, decorative cylinders, platters, even mirrors are ideal options (see pic for what Kim did). Check out Home Goods or TJ Maxx to get ideas.
• For the perfect circular arrangement (think bridal bouquet), start gathering flowers one by one at the base (not by the stem). When done, pull the middle higher to achieve a nice roundness. To keep in place, use oasis tape (sold at floral shops) or find a sturdy ribbon or string. Oasis tape is a florist’s best friend… they often use it to make a grid on top of a vase and put the flowers in each of the holes; keeps the flowers in perfect place!
• If you like a flower, remember the name of it; not all pink roses are the same, for example.
• Use different flowers of the same color. Create visual interest by placing flowers at various heights. Use “stock” flowers, which are linear (tulips or calla lilies), wide options and star shapes, like lilies. If you like a more colorful arrangement, consider keeping it to two to up the sophistication factor.
  

  

  Creative display with roses
  and carnations. Love.

• Carnations are not a dirty word! In fact, they’re making a comeback. Use them as Kim did (see pic) at the base of a creative display. {And, that's kosher salt underneath the star fish; cool!)
• Think color for tablescapes! Pair floral arrangements with bright green; it’s a great floral neutral! Look for wire balls, votives and other fun accessories to liven up a display. Kim also loves orange for entertaining and suggests that if you love all white florals, consider adding champagne to the mix… it helps the flowers stand out when being photographed.

And, just because you should know…

Someone asked, what about the plastic on the stems of gerber daisies. Take them off, says Kim. (good thing an It! Gal asked!).