Before the autumn season fades, why not slow down and absorb nature’s paint palette of reds, oranges, greens and yellows before they too disappear? Whether you host a flower-arranging event, or simply choose to savor nature’s fall bounty for yourself, floral experts have some delightful tips and tricks to brighten your home.
Tina Nestor is the founder of Create Yours (createyourswithflowers.com). “The ideal number [for a party] is dependent on how much space you have,” Nestor says. “I have had events at someone’s home that ranged from about 35 people to our minimum number of participants, which is six.”
Suzzane Brena, manager at Eternal Roses, a business that immerses fresh rose blooms in a plant-based preserving substance, agrees with Nestor.
“We have seen a minimum of seven people to 40 where our decor and party favors were used,” she says (eternalroses.com).
Nestor suggests picking floawer with fall colors like orange, bronze/brown, red, yellow and a touch of purple. “And make sure you add some fresh greenery, like seeded eucalyptus.”
The type of arrangement will help determine what supplies you need. But, according to Homes & Gardens (homesandgardens.com), “The main rules of flower arrangements to aim for are: balance, proportion and scale, unity, harmony, rhythm and balance, and finally emphasis.”
Although your guests could certainly construct something as ornate as a cornucopia, offering a more simple vase-based flower project can be just as impressive and entertaining. For a step-by-step DIY flower-arranging blueprint, take a look at Lily Jade’s (lily-jade.com) free Flower Arranging Party Printable.
Generally, to achieve Home & Garden’s earlier advice for overall harmony and balance, even in a simple vase arrangement, it’s best to have the following staples on hand:
Butcher paper (to lay loose flowers and greenery on)
Several different types of flower bouquets (the amount will vary based on your event headcount)
- Vases (these can be glass or Mason jars)
- Shears (strong enough for trimming stems)
- Floral foam
- Tape
- Decorative ribbons or twine
Before party attendees start the snipping and clipping, Alexandra Cotes, social media and marketing director of Flower Company, has a tip to help anchor the arrangement (flowercompany.ca).
“Using floral foam to arrange flowers is easy to do. It keeps the flowers firmly in place. However, floral foam can be a bit expensive,” Cotes explains. “Especially if you are planning to hold a DIY party. Instead of the foam, you can use tape to make a grid-like pattern across the vase.”
Once the foundation — foam or tape — has been set, florists can begin by adding “the greens.”
“Extra greenery helps make your arrangement appear larger and fuller without having to buy more flowers,” Nestor says.
Next, add flowers. Expert florists recommend cutting flower stems at an angle to help them increase their water intake. Instruct partygoers to vary flower heights and ensure any stem leaves don’t go below the water line.
Once fall arrangements are complete, finishes such as a bit of twine wrapped around the top of a frosted Mason jar or a brown, orange or yellow ribbon tied in a bow around a glass vase add a touch of extra autumn ambiance.
Of course, if supply shopping and plan execution are too overwhelming, entities such as Create Yours are always available to do the heavy lifting.
