I'm needing to make a floral arrangement for my friends wedding cake. I've never tried this before and I'm not sure where to begin. I have the bowl that is going on the cake for the arrangement to go into. What do I need and how do you get the flowers to stay in place? Does this make sense? TIA!

You need a block of floral foam cut to the size of the container (so that it is a snug fit). You stick the stems of the flowers in the floral foam. If they are fresh flowers, make sure to soak the floral foam first - the moisture in the foam will keep the flowers fresh.

How long will the flowers stay fresh in the floral foam?

also put several pieces of scotch tape across the floral foam in both directions so it sticks to the container. this will keep the foam from coming out and you will not be able to see the tape.

freshness depends on the flower and how fresh it is to begin with
those foam things can be dunked in water to feed the flower (but its heavy and messy that way - be warned). without that, a fresh flower, no water in foam, a day.

do the arrangement the day before and keep in a cool place (like we used to do with out easter flowers when we were kids) but make sure you keep the foam wet.

The water soaked foam will be heavy so be sure put some support under the bowl if it's going to sit on top of the cake. You can make the arrangement a day ahead as previously stated and keep in the fridge until delivery time and it will stay fresh longer.

Double posted..........sorry

how big is this bowl????

Is it a clear or solid bowl ? If it is clear, the craft shops have a product, and I'm trying to remember the name, and it is not coming to me... anyhow if you asked the store clerk could probably tell you..... It is just a small packet of stuff that looks like beads..... you can get plain or colored to match your cake....... You just put about a tablespoon of these"beads" into your container.....add your water.... there are directions on the lable.....you don't need much.... maybe a cup of water.... these little suckers swell up and fill the entire bowl. It looks like ICE..... just BEAUTIFUL, and will hold the flowers right in place without having to add more water. You can even let them dry out and reuse them another time......... I either paid 2.99 or 3.99 at Pat Catan's...... but I'm sure Michael's and Hobby Lobby would have them too..... OR you can use the clear ( or matching wedding color ) glass beads.... just pour them in until the container is about half full, and fill with water.... the glass beads are heavy enough to hold your flowers in place and look much prettier than the foam.......

The bowl is a clear 4' bowl. Should I use this or just use flower spikes? I'm not sure what I'm doing?

if the bowl is clear i would use white styrofoam in the bowl tape it in and use water spikes. make the foam high enough that you can angle some of the flowers down along the rim of the bowl so you won't be able to see the foam in the bowl. i have also wrapped the foam in some colored tissue or plastis wrap that complimented the color of the cake and flowers.
i hope this helps. i sure you'll get it just right.