Calla lilly bridal bouquet

Perhaps one of the reasons why callas are so popular with DIY brides is their resilience. Like all fresh blooms, callas can suffer bruising or wilting if not properly cared for, but among the ephemeral flowers, callas are on the sturdy side and enjoy an unusually long vase life.

Caring for callas is much like caring for other flowers: immediately remove them from the box on arrival, and cut the stems under running water at a 45 degree angle, approximately an inch from the bottom, to prevent air bubbles from rising internally. Then place in cool water.

Part of the calla lily's beauty is its simplicity. Still, callas are so sleek and uniform, a bouquet composed only of standard-sized white callas can look one-dimensional. The best way to create a striking bouquet is to combine your full-sized callas with minis, either colored or white. White minis offer subtle contrast in the shape of the head and the shading, so even an all-white bouquet of full-sized and mini callas will look richer and more interesting than a bouquet made wholly from standard ones.