There’s a really great flower market by my apartment, but if you’re not so lucky, worry not. Grocery stores have really stepped up their game in the flower department. I suggest shopping for bold blooms like dahlias, as well as more delicate pieces like baby’s breath or Queen Anne’s lace. You can always forage in the backyard for wildflowers, branches, and bits of pine.

When crafting my own flower arrangements, I like to keep in mind a few basic guidelines:

Keep things simple and stick to just a few varieties of flowers. Start with one statement bloom (in this case, burgundy dahlias), greenery, and something delicate, like baby’s breath. From there, it’s all about proportion and balance.
Start with a statement piece

Greenery is just as important as the flowers! Think of it as a basic, like your favorite jeans that you can wear with anything.
Go green

To help stems suck up water, trim the flowers and branches at an angle with scissors. Add water every couple of days to get the most out of your bouquet. Flowers can be thirsty!
Trim stems at an angle

If you don’t have time to start making your arrangements right away, keep flowers fresh by wrapping the stems in a wet paper towel. Then, place the entire bunch of ends in a Ziploc^® brand bag. This keeps everything nice and hydrated until you’re ready to start.
Keep flowers fresh

For smaller tables, like my tiny cafe table, I suggest repurposing a small pitcher or creamer into a vase. Add a bit of festive ribbon to make this arrangement extra special.
Consider Your Table Size

For tables that seat 4-6 people, I like to do a grouping for my centerpieces. For this, I focus on collecting pieces of varying heights, then dispersing my flowers throughout. It can be dramatic and lovely to add a single sprig of blooms to a tall vase.

For larger tables, only a dramatic centerpiece will do! To keep your blooms organized within the container (while keeping your container clean and protected), I recommend filling Ziploc^® brand bags with water and placing your blooms in them. This allows for easy clean up, too!

Seriously, ribbon is my favorite. Add a wide, textural ribbon to the vase for another pop of green.

Photography by Nathan Michael