Alternatives to Water Vials for a Flower Bouquet

Tussie Mussie Holder

• You can make a tussie mussie by gathering a small bouquet in one hand and setting it into a lace or doily collar. Wet several pieces of paper towels, and wrap the stems with the water source. Wrapping the towels with a piece of plastic wrap will help keep the moisture contained. Use a silver or gold colored holder to set the tussie mussie flower stems into the holder for a more formal occasion. A bride will carry her short-stemmed flowers in the attractive holder for her wedding.

Bouquet Holder

• You can purchase a fresh flower bouquet holder from a florist or floral supply company that sells to the public. Set the foam-filled plastic holder into a container of water until the foam is fully saturated. Arrange a full floral bouquet into the foam. The foam will supply a water source to the short-stemmed flowers for a few days. The bouquet holder is one of the main methods a floral designer uses when making a wedding bouquet.

Moist Wrap

• Place sterile cosmetic cotton balls or facial pads in a cup of water. Cut the bottom of the bouquet flower stems at an angle under water. After wrapping the cut stems immediately with the water-soaked balls or pads, cover the moist cotton-wrapped stems with plastic wrap or a sandwich bag to contain the dripping excess. Hide the plastic by setting the bouquet into a paper cone or container.

Wired Bouquet

• Cut fresh flower stems to a length of 3 to 5 inches. Use a florist technique to insert floral wire through the stem. Wrap the wired stem with floral tape to completely cover it. The wire supports the flowers in the designed bouquet for a wedding. These flowers go without a water source once they have been cut and wired. The tape is pulled tightly against itself as it sticks to the stems and wires, adding a second skin to the stems. Wrap the taped and wired stems with ribbon or lace to give the handheld bouquet a formal look. This labor-intensive project is mainly used for shaped wedding bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres.