Pleading for floral advice

I'm sorry this is happening to you! I too have seen quite a few videos but I can't imagine being able to assist you with such an important task based on that alone.

No idea, but I believe Linda knows. Also Jessica C. and Mrs. Awesomepants have worked at a florist, so if they don't show up soon, PM them.

I'm sorry this has happened to you. Just be calm and confident and I know you'll get it right. I'm happy you are going with Costco I think you will be really happy with the quality which is half the worry. I used to work in a flower shop and you just start with one stem and slowly add and then wrap them tight. Before you start think if you want the rond full or the more off centered.

There are some great videos on YouTube for making handtied bouquets. Here is a link to one of my favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKYmG53CYQI&feature=related

Actually this one might be better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VliURIUjpc&feature=fvwrel

I would invest in floral tape to wrap all the stems together, you can get a big pack at walmart. When you wrap the floral tape start at the top by the buds, and then go down. When you wrap the ribbon, use wide ribbon, start at the bottom, and wrap tight to the top. I used a video to do mine but I was using fake flowers. It turned out lovely.

First, make sure you cute the stems and put them in water. if you're just doing roses, start with one rose, and then add roses around that rose. depending on the size of the bulb, you should be able to fit 5-6 around the center one. the center may not stay the center, fyi. when you're adding on stems, remember to cross the stems, i.e. make sure the bulb is pointed away from you and the stem in pointed towards you. the reason for that is so when you go to tape the bouquet, the stems will "twirl" and fall in line with out stressing out the neck of the stem, and having the bulb pop off.

so, just add stems until you've got the size of the bouquet you need. wrap floral tape around it by first stretching the tape so it's tacky and then holding it in place with one hand, wrap it around the stems a few times to get it secured, then finish wrapping the tape. i hold my tape in my right hand. i turn the bouquet counter clockwise and wrap the tape with my right hand while pressing it..

The tape into the stems with my thumb. it's actually really simple. if you want to skype at some point i can help you.

If you go to your local craft store they will have bouquet handles that have a ball of the green stuff on it, you can soak the green stuff in water, then cut your stems and poke them in. The bouquet will end up being perfectly round, or you can do a variety of other shapes depending on your taste.

I think Michaels has the handles for like 15 bucks.

I used floral tape in my test run, and I've also bought floral wire since then but haven't worked with it. I almost bought bouquet holders and/or these blossom-shaped things weeks ago but didn't since I'd found a pro.

Thanks for the advice. Linda, the videos are actually ones I've watched prior a few times but thank you. Our Michaels/JoAnn stores don't carry bouquet holders so I'll try my hand at using floral wire.

Is there a good and a bad kind of floral tape? I wondered if I got the bad kind; there was space for a different one next to the kind I bought as the other was out of stock...

I've been known to use electrical tape before in wrapping bouquets when I ran out of floral tape -- so I wouldn't worry so much about the kind of tape? It's going to be covered (and additionally secured) with ribbon afterward anyway.

Tbh, I think you did a really good job on your trial run. The bouquet looks just fine!

Can't help with how to round out your bouquet but here's a diy tutorial on bouquet holders

http://diy.weddingbee.com/topic/diy-bouquet-holder