Types and styles of hand-tied designs

Types of Hand-Tied Designs

Traditional Bouquet: A classic design, often round in shape and loosely tied. It features a balanced mix of blooms, foliage and filler flowers.
Posy: A compact, round arrangement. Primarily, its proportion is wider than its height, making it easy to handle. It’s suitable for all occasions.
Pomander (also known as flower ball): A perfect sphere of flowers, usually held by a loop of ribbon. Most commonly used in weddings.
Sheaf (or Spray): Large, dramatic design where stems are left long and tied at the bottom. Often laid flat for display.
Teardrop Bouquet: A traditional design for weddings, structured with a trailing shape, fuller at top, tapering down.

Styles of Hand-Tied Designs

Tropical Style: Features vibrant, exotic plants and flowers, like birds of paradise, orchids, and anthuriums.
Vintage Style: Characterised by pastel colours, lace, pearls and popular flowers include roses, peonies and hydrangeas.
Modern Style: Frequently utilize a minimal amount of flowers and colors, often with sculpted stems in clear or colored vases.
Romantic Style: Makes use of traditional, full-petal flowers like roses, peonies and gardenias, typically in pink, red or white.
Wildflower Style: This employs a looser, organic form, utilizing a variety of flowers and grasses that look as if freshly picked from a field.

Factors Influencing Style

Seasonality: Certain flowers are more readily available during specific seasons, which may dictate the choice of flowers.
Event Type: The occasion will influence your style, for instance, a wedding might lean towards traditional or romantic, while a farewell gesture might suit a modern or wildflower style.
Personal Preference: The recipient’s favourite flowers, colours, and personal style will guide the bouquet’s design.

Assembly Techniques

Spiral Technique: This method involves adding one stem at a time at an angle to create a spiral effect- the most basic and commonly used technique.
Parallel Technique: Here, all stems are held and arranged parallel to each other. Suited for long-stemmed flowers.
Grouping Technique: This involves placing same type or same color blooms together in clusters for a dramatic impact.
Layering Technique: This technique layers flowers upon one another, providing depth and height to the arrangement.
Random Placement: This less structured style mimics a natural, just-picked look.