How To DIY A Composite Wedding Bouquet In Tahiti

A composite wedding bouquet, also commonly called a glamelia bouquet, is one made of a central flower and petals or florets around it to make it look like one giant flower. Today I’ll share with you the process of making such a composite wedding bouquet in Tahiti.

If you are thinking of doing yourself your bridal bouquet while in Tahiti and don’t want to compromise with style, a composite wedding bouquet for yourself (and possibly smaller ones for your bridesmaids) is a very unique option that will set you apart!

A word of advice though: like for any floral work, if you’re not experienced at doing bouquets at all, I strongly recommend that you try your hand at doing such a bouquet at home first. It takes time, patience and experience to get beautiful results.

Bouquet by Preston Bailey Designs

You’ll need to bring products such as the floral glue and finishing spray along from home as this is not available in French Polynesia, and then to arrange for cut florals that have multiple flowers on a stem or multiple florets forming into a single larger flower to be delivered to you in Tahiti.

This type of bouquet should not be made more than 2 days before an event and ideally, you will free up enough time pre wedding to do so the day before the event or better yet, the morning of. This also makes a fun and exciting activity to plan with your bridesmaids the night before the wedding!

Here Are My Tips to DIY A Composite Wedding Bouquet in Tahiti:

1. Get the basis ready:

Cut a 6 or 8 inch cardboard circle. I recommend doing small to make it easier. Take about 5 pieces of thick wire (20 gauge is a good thickness) and bend them in half; insert both ends of the wire in different places through the center of the circle and pull the wires through on the other side; form a handle to hold on to.

2. Take apart your flower petals or florets:

Whatever the type of flowers you have selected, make sure they have opened; the individual petals are needed to form the bouquet, typically roses’ petals are used (use local roses rather than imported to minimize the cost) but if you want to give your bouquet a local feel, I recommend using gingers (these come in red, pink or white) or orchids. Keep one flower intact for the center flower.

3. Start with the center flower:

Take the open floret and glue it in the middle of the cardboard circle using floral adhesive.

4. Get the petals or florets ready:

Take several of the petals or florets and add floral adhesive to the bottom of each; wait for a minute or so to let the glue dry a little.

5. Proceed with the design:

Take the first petal and attach it to the outside of the center flower; the idea is to make the center flower look bigger. Keep adding petals around the center flower until the entire cardboard circle is covered. Make sure none of the cardboard circle is visible.

6. Make the handle pretty:

Wrap around the handle wires with stem tape (or bowl tape). Take a color coordinated ribbon and wrap it around the wire. If it feels too thin to hold wrap a cotton or gauze type material around before adding the ribbon wrap. Use boutonniere pins cut short to hold the ribbon in place. You can also glue green leaves from your cut flowers under the cardboard, so that none of it is visible.

7. Spray & refrigerate:

Place in a vase where the cardboard can sit on the lip of the vase. Spray with Finishing Spray and let dry before covering with a plastic bag; put the vase in the refrigerator and make sure it is no colder than 38 degrees!

If you follow these tips carefully, you will be able to make your own composite bouquet for your wedding in Tahiti, all by yourself!

Your bridesmaids can each carry one smaller bouquet than your own during the ceremony, and then the bouquets can be recycled as table decorations, standing in vases.