Bouquet out of cymbidium petals

[DIB]

I've been presented with the task of making a bridal bouquet (for Sept. 13th) entirely out of cymbid petals in varying shades of pink- from the light, soft pink right to the almost burgundy cymbid.

I have a photo and an idea of how to put it together but have never made one. Have any of you wonderful designers put a bouquet like this together? Any tips or advice? I'm worried about a couple of things, firstly, cymbid petals go quite soft if broken off the bloom too early, I'm thinking I might have to have many people wiring the morning of the wedding and then put it together that same day, vs. the day before...

Also, I'm worried about it looking too droopy or dead looking! I'm toying with the idea of glueing the first row to a collar. But am worried this will be too rigid looking vs. the softer look of wired petals.

Again, any advice would be immensly appreciated

 

[SpringCity]

I would do it like a composite rose, glued to some sort of backing like cardboard and of course covering the back with salal or other flat greenery. I would also warn the bride that it is not meant to last. (maybe you already did that)
If you wire it I would think the labor would be through the roof!

 

[busybee317]

I'd wire the center one and just pull off the head leaving the petal, and proceed to glue each pedel thereafter.

I've left cym orchid petals out on the counter before (by mistake), and they lasted days, shocking! since then, I've always try to sell this orchid for whatever events, I market them as the highest grade orchid from Holland, always nicely priced and easy to work with.

 

[Lizi]

The petals will hold up, after all they set in the grocery store on a table for over a week at Easter.

Beautiful bouquet.

 

[grohegirl]

I have made one before. You cut a circular piece of cardboard and cut a hole in the
center so it looks like a doughnut. Then glue the cymbidium petals in layers. Once you have 4 or more layers glued depending on how big you are making it you then start wiring the petals and tape them with corsage tape put it through the center hole until it looks like a huge dahlia. It turns out beautiful, I hope you priced it for all the labor it takes!!

 

[lizzie ann]

I have made one before. You cut a circular piece of cardboard and cut a hole in the
center so it looks like a doughnut. Then glue the cymbidium petals in layers. Once you have 4 or more layers glued depending on how big you are making it you then start wiring the petals and tape them with corsage tape put it through the center hole until it looks like a huge dahlia. It turns out beautiful, I hope you priced it for all the labor it takes!!

I have made this exact b.q. I also use the cardboard circle. Actually I use an end piece from a large roll of Lion ribbon,printed side up. Start glueing petals from the outer edge towards the center. I continued until there was just enough room to insert one single cymbidium thru the center with the wire left long. Then I did a few rows of petals on the underside and took salal and arranged the leaves just like I would finish off a hand tied b.q. Plan on a good 1 1/2 - 2 hours to complete this b .q.

 

[DIB]

I have made this exact b.q. I also use the cardboard circle. Actually I use an end piece from a large roll of Lion ribbon,printed side up. Start glueing petals from the outer edge towards the center. I continued until there was just enough room to insert one single cymbidium thru the center with the wire left long. Then I did a few rows of petals on the underside and took salal and arranged the leaves just like I would finish off a hand tied b.q. Plan on a good 1 1/2 - 2 hours to complete this b .q.

Thanks! I like the idea of gluing most, as most of you suggested and then wiring some! I will try a sample. And thanks for the heads up on labour, I have not given her an estimate yet. Lizzie Ann, thanks for the time estimate, do you remember how many cymbids you used?

 

[lori042499]

You should not have to wire any of the outer petals...just the middle orchid or orchids...after you are done glueing the petals before the middle orchids are in spray it with the clear crown and glory(not sure the name now) or hawaiian mist if they still make that...finish with whole orchids and let dry before refridgerating....I believe the hawaiin mist is a better product for orchids it doesn't leave a sheen nad no water spots...but you must let the hawaiin mist dry before putting in fridge...

Good luck and post the finished product so we can all see how you did...

I am sure it will be beautiful..

 

[CHR]

Glueing would be much faster than wiring, but a designer will be hard pressed to recreate the depth and control ( i.e. laciness) acheived in this shot when using glue.

Most of the time, glued petals feel more 'stacked', even when layered. The technique works well for small designs, but larger compositions like this can feel a bit squashed since you can only build upon the previous layer.

Looks like it will take about 20 cymbidiums. Hope the bride has a nice budget.