Flower-Arranging Secrets Straight From A Brooklyn Florist

Making a bouquet seems simple enough: throw a few stems together and wrap a ribbon around 'em, right? Not exactly. Blooms often prove to be an unruly bunch, and taming them takes proper-placement tips and the knowhow to make intentional combinations. Since it's the height of wedding season, we turned to floral-design master Taylor Patterson, owner of Fox Fodder Farm in Brooklyn, for a quick tutorial on bangin' bridal bouquets.

She broke down the basics with step-by-step instructions for two in-season arrangements: one romantic and the other a free-spirited sensibility. Of course, you don't have to be slipping on a wedding band this summer to make them. A vase will do just fine.