Since roses are synonymous with romance it only makes sense that they would be the most popular wedding flower. Roses are versatile; they are able to transform your wedding from minimal to mod, and anywhere in between. Here is one glamorous way to employ roses in your special day celebration, using them in a beautiful centrepiece, as demonstrated by our very own Bob at Bunches Direct.

Materials:
- vase
- 12 to 18 roses
- salal leaves
- tiki leaves
- baby’s breath (optional)
- flower food (solution)
- sharp knife or scissors

Instructions:
1. Remove the roses from the box they were shipped in. Cut off the bottom leaves and thorns (any leaves that will be submerged under water need to be removed or they will start to rot due to the moisture), and trim the stems – then place them in water.
Having been out of water for a few hours the roses will be thirsty and will need to
rehydrate.

2. Before you start arranging your flowers, remove the guard petals too. These are the petals on the outside of each flower – they are often browned or ripped from over exposure and shipping. There are lots of petals on each flower, so you don’t need to worry about removing the outer ones.

3. Fill the vase with warm water and add the flower food.

4. Using the salal leaves you have purchased, add them to create the base of your arrangement. You can also add a few tiki leaves. Both leaves will help hold the flowers in place.

5. Cut your roses to the appropriate length. Flowers should always be a minimum of 1 ½ inchs higher than the vase. Cut and arrange 5 (five) roses to create the top layer of your arrangement. When you are arranging your flowers, keep in mind that they should be arranged in the shape of a dome or an umbrella.

6. Begin to arrange your second and third layers. For the second layer, the roses should be placed in between the roses of the first layer. Keep turning the vase to guarantee there are no gaps between the flowers; the arrangement will be seen from all angles, so you want to make sure that there are no gaps.

7. Depending on how full you want your arrangement to be you can stop after 12 (twelve) roses or continue on to 18 (eighteen) flowers. Eighteen flowers usually creates a full, round arrangement.

8. Once all your flowers are added, add more tiki leaves beneath all the floral layers.

And there you have it; you’ve completed your first centerpiece for your wedding. Wasn’t that easy?

To watch the video for this arrangement with our floral expert, Bob, visit: Bunches Direct – DIY: White Rose Centrepiece Video

Optional Add-on:
You can leave your arrangement with just the tiki and salal leaves, or you can add some baby’s breath throughout for an extra touch of elegance. If you are interested in adding baby’s breath see the tutorial video here.

Tips:
- Since tiki leaves are fine and soft they create a finer, softer looking arrangement, which is a nice contrast to the thick, hard stems of the roses.
- When filling your vase with water, ensure you use warm water and the provided flower food. This will keep the water clean and fresh, just the way roses like it.
- Make sure that when you are cutting the stems of the roses that you cut them on an angle, so they are able to drink enough water to keep them well hydrated and looking fresh.
- Always make sure you are measuring the height of the flower before cutting it, to ensure that you get the proper height that you desire for your centerpiece.

Play with Shape: Arrangements with a just-picked, unstructured look are replacing the tightly bound bouquet and centerpiece shapes that were previously popular. To ensure that you have a modern look, not messy, make sure you choose the right flowers. Use hearty blooms, like lilies, orchids, and amaranths – they work well in looser arrangements because of the sleek shape of the individual bloom. You can also try including non-floral elements too, like feathers, berries, and crystals to add interest and depth.

Get into Navy: Sophisticated and classic navy is one of the hottest colours of 2009 for weddings. Many brides are daring to think beyond the basic baby blue by incorporating the darker shade into their floral scheme. Naturally, navy flowers may be hard to come by, but there are some options that are a close match: deep blue violets, thistles, and hydrangeas are available in various shades of blue and indigo, while roses are a versatile bloom and can be dyed any colour – including navy. Try pairing these bold navy blooms with white or ivory for a classic look, or yellow for a bright burst of colour.

Think Beyond the Vase: There are many options to consider besides the traditional vase. Consider instead mix and match clusters of unique containers like wood buckets, mason jars, cans, pitchers, antique urns, and uniquely shaped vases to add interest and reflect personality within your wedding theme. Some ideas are to: fill watering cans with wildflowers for a garden celebration, or use apothecary jars filled with sand and sea glass to complement a waterfront wedding.

 Lighten Up: Candles are always a popular choice for centerpieces; they are becoming even more popular as a budget and eco-friendly enhancement to traditional floral centerpieces. Ample candlelight lends the day a romantic, organic feel, while the natural resource saves electricity and drapes the setting with a dreamy, intimate glow.
Another way to enhance your arrangements with lighting and really make your centerpieces pop is through a technique called pinspotting. This advanced lighting design shines tiny beams of light from the ceiling to illuminate the centre of the arrangement.

Get Stoned: Say goodbye to light pastels and muted shades, and seek inspiration from the trinkets on your ears and wrist. Rich gemstone colours like amethyst, turquoise, and amber are hot on this year’s wedding palette.

Go Green!: Going green is easy when it comes to wedding flowers. Consult Mother Nature for inspiration and bring the outdoors inside. Natural objects like stones, leaves, pinecones, even twigs can add an organic aesthetic to your reception décor. Place these items in rustic containers or scatter them amongst pillar candles for added ambiance.

 Make it Personal: Further seeking to personalize their weddings, brides are using their wedding flowers to call out specific interests by incorporating unique items into bouquets and centerpieces and creating a conversation piece for guests.

Tie it Together: The hand tied bouquet continues to reign as the most popular bouquet style as brides opt for a more tailored and natural look to their wedding flowers. A fresh bunch of flowers gathered and wrapped in a wide satin ribbon presents the look of simple elegance, but brides wishing to up the glam of this otherwise simple look can embellish this bouquet with brooches, pins, and crystal picks.

Lose the Corsage: De rigueur brides are foregoing corsages and instead having the Mum’s carry nosegay bouquets or tussy mussy’s down the aisle. Beside the fact that corsages tend to conjure up memories of proms gone bad, there is a practical reason for this trend too – it saves the dress! Often dresses are made of fragile material, so keep from pulling and tearing the dress, just simply skip it!