Wedding Flowers: Diy Or Delegate?

DIY wedding flowers can be a fun and cost-effective way to add a personal touch to your big day. However, it's important to be aware of the challenges and time commitment involved. Here are some key considerations to help you decide if DIY wedding flowers are right for you:

Benefits of DIY Wedding Flowers

- Cost savings: DIY wedding flowers can be significantly more affordable than hiring a florist. The average price tag for wedding flowers is $2,000, but you can create a beautiful DIY bouquet for around $50.

- Personalization: With DIY flowers, you have complete artistic control over the final product, allowing you to reflect your shared style and incorporate your favourite blooms.

- Fun activity: Creating your own wedding flowers can be a fun project to do with your bridal party or family. It's a great way to involve your loved ones in the wedding preparations.

Challenges of DIY Wedding Flowers

- Time and dedication: Creating DIY wedding flowers takes time and effort. It's not as simple as it looks, and you'll need to allocate sufficient time for sourcing materials, designing, and assembling the arrangements.

- Transportation and storage: You'll need to transport and store your flowers and supplies at the appropriate temperature (between 34-75 degrees) leading up to the wedding.

- Budget management: It's easy to go over budget when sourcing flowers, especially if you're set on expensive or out-of-season blooms. Certain flowers, such as gardenias, peonies, or hydrangeas, can be costly.

- Skill and flexibility: Florists have the training and experience to create intricate arrangements and deal with flower-related emergencies. If you're not confident in your floral design skills or willing to be flexible with your flower choices, DIY flowers may not be the best option.

Overall, DIY wedding flowers can be a great choice if you're looking to save money, add a personal touch, and are willing to put in the time and effort. However, it's important to manage your expectations, stay organized, and be prepared for potential challenges along the way.

DIY flower costs and budgeting

The cost of DIY wedding flowers can vary depending on several factors, including the types of flowers chosen, the size and number of arrangements, and the seasonality of the blooms. On average, couples spend between $700 and $2500 on wedding flowers, with some spending upwards of $4,000 or more. However, by choosing the DIY route, couples can save a significant amount on their floral budget.

When creating a budget for DIY wedding flowers, it is important to consider the different elements that will impact the overall cost. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:

• Number of Arrangements: The number of arrangements needed will depend on the size of the wedding and the desired level of floral decor. A good starting point is to create a list of all the places you want flowers, such as bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres, centrepieces, and ceremony structures.
• Types of Flowers: The cost of flowers can vary greatly depending on the type and variety chosen. For example, garden roses, peonies, orchids, and dahlias tend to be more expensive, while carnations, mums, and alstroemeria are more budget-friendly options. Mixing expensive flowers with cheaper blooms and greenery can help create a beautiful arrangement while keeping costs down.
• Seasonality: Using seasonal flowers is a great way to save money on wedding flowers. Choosing flowers that are in season during your wedding month will ensure better availability and lower prices. For example, peonies are in season from May to July, while dahlias are more abundant from mid-summer to early fall.
• Labour and Time: DIY wedding flowers require a significant time investment, especially if you are creating complex arrangements. It is important to consider the time needed for sourcing flowers, designing arrangements, and setting them up on the wedding day. Enlisting the help of friends or family can make the process smoother and less stressful.
• Supplies and Tools: In addition to the cost of flowers, there are also additional expenses for supplies and tools, such as buckets, floral tape, ribbon, vases, and other decorative items. These costs can add up, so it is important to include them in your budget.

When creating a budget for DIY wedding flowers, it is advisable to allocate a slightly higher amount than your initial estimate to account for any unexpected costs or last-minute changes. It is also beneficial to be flexible with your flower choices, as certain varieties may not be available due to supply chain issues or weather conditions.

By carefully considering the different cost factors and creating a detailed plan, couples can successfully manage their DIY wedding flower budget and create beautiful floral arrangements that fit within their financial constraints.

Choosing and sourcing flowers

Choosing Flowers:

First, decide on a theme or colour palette for your floral arrangements. Vision boards are a great way to gather inspiration and create a cohesive look. Consider the types of flowers you want, keeping in mind that certain flowers may not be in season for your wedding date. For example, peonies are typically in season from May to July, so if you're planning a February wedding, you might opt for ranunculus instead. Think about the different arrangements you'll need, such as bouquets, boutonnieres, and centrepieces, and create a list of the flowers you want to include.

Sourcing Flowers:

There are several options for sourcing flowers, each with its advantages and disadvantages:

• Local flower farms: Small local flower farms can be an excellent source for fresh, seasonal blooms, and they often sell directly to consumers at farmer's markets or from their farms. However, they may have limited varieties and quantities, and they are confined to the growing season.
• Grocery stores: Grocery stores typically offer a limited selection of flowers at low prices. While this option is convenient and budget-friendly, the quality and variety of flowers may vary, and they may not be the best choice for specific flower types or colours.
• Florists: Florists have access to a wide variety of high-quality, grade-A flowers and can source specific flowers to match your vision. However, this option tends to be more expensive, especially if you're looking for particular flowers in specific colours.
• Online flower ordering: Ordering flowers online can be convenient, and it's possible to find a good selection at competitive prices. However, there may be risks involved, such as late or damaged deliveries.
• Growing your own: If you enjoy gardening and have experience, growing your own cut flowers can be a rewarding option. It allows you to choose your favourite flowers and colours, but it requires careful planning and consideration of factors like seasonality and weather conditions.

When sourcing flowers, it's important to consider your budget, the availability of flowers, and the amount of time and effort you're willing to invest. Comparing prices and shopping around can help you find the best value, and don't forget to ask about substitutions if your desired flowers are unavailable.

Timing and preparation

Timing

• Opting for a DIY bouquet can save you money, as the priciest aspect of a florist-crafted bouquet is often the labour involved. However, creating your own bouquet will still take a significant amount of time, especially if you want a complex design.
• It is recommended to make the bouquet the day before the wedding. Typically, flowers are sourced two days before the event, and the ribbon is added on the day of the wedding. This ensures that the blooms are at their best.
• Fresh flower bouquets should ideally be made within 24 hours of the wedding to keep the flowers looking fresh and beautiful. However, some blooms can last up to 48 hours after being cut, so it is important to research the shelf life of the flowers you plan to use.
• For large, complex centrepieces, allow yourself 60 to 90 minutes per arrangement. Smaller, simpler centrepieces will take at least 30 minutes each.
• Pick up your fresh flowers as close to your assembly time as possible. If necessary, they can be stored for up to six hours in a dedicated refrigerator.
• Fresh flower arrangements should be stored for no more than 24 hours, and preferably less than 48 hours, to guarantee freshness.
• If you are making your own bouquets, it is important to know that certain flowers can last longer out of water than others. Flowers with woody stems, such as hydrangeas, often have a longer vase life. Softer-stemmed flowers, like daffodils or tulips, don't fare well in the heat and will usually last only 3 to 5 days.
• If you are using an arch for your ceremony, start designing it the day before your wedding. Add textiles and any props, so that on the day itself, all you need to do is set the arrangements.
• Bouquets and centrepieces can be created up to two days before the wedding, and stored in a cool place.
• The flowers will need time to hydrate and bloom after they are delivered, so plan to receive them a few days before your event. The exact timing will depend on the type of flowers you order.
• Give yourself ample time to experiment with different designs. The first arrangement is always the hardest, but once you settle on a method, creating the rest will be much easier.
• If you are using an online wholesale flower delivery service, they will usually call you to help figure out the best delivery date for your flowers.

Preparation

• Before you begin constructing your bouquet, prepare your flower stems and greenery. Remove all the leaves from the stems, and any thorns. Cut the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle, and keep them in a bucket of water as you work.
• When sourcing your flowers, consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. Think about whether you want to use complementary colours for a subtle effect, or contrasting colours for added drama.
• If you are going for a modern and simple design, use one to three varieties of flowers, very little to no greenery, and blooms with a lot of textural interest. For a garden-style bouquet, use five to seven varieties of flowers and greenery, with different textural and gestural qualities.
• If you are making your own bouquets and centrepieces, it is helpful to have a clear, spacious workspace, with all the necessary tools and equipment.
• To keep costs down, use your most expensive flowers in the bridal bouquet, a smaller amount in the bridesmaids' bouquets, and then limit your centrepieces to the least expensive blooms.
• To save money, you can use your wedding bouquets as centrepieces. Leave empty vases on the tables, and ask your bridal party to place their bouquets on different tables before the reception starts.
• To save time and effort, alternate centrepieces at each table. You can also use faux and fresh greenery as filler around more expensive blooms.
• If you are making your own bouquets, it is recommended to use 15 stems for bridesmaids and 25 stems for the bride.
• To create a bouquet, take four stems and wrap them with floral tape to create a base. Then, add stems around the base to build the bouquet.
• For the bridal bouquet, start with a base and then add in larger, focal flowers. Continue adding smaller flowers and greenery, balancing the design as you go. Once you are happy with the bouquet, trim the stems and secure them with a rubber band and floral tape. Finish with a ribbon wrapped around the stems, or cascading down the side for a more relaxed look.
• If you are making boutonnieres and corsages, consider using miniature roses. Spray roses hold their shape out of water and can lie flat against the body. Alternatively, dried flower creations can be made days or even weeks in advance.
• If you are making your own arrangements, it is a good idea to do a class or consultation with a professional florist beforehand. They can teach you useful techniques and share simple tips to make the process easier.
• Practise creating bouquets, centrepieces, flower crowns, and boutonnieres in the months leading up to your wedding. You don't need to use expensive blooms – even foliage from your garden or local park will do.
• When sourcing flowers, consider the longevity of the different types. Some items, like buttonholes, foliage garlands, and hardier bouquets, can be made the day before and stored in a cool place. But once the flowers are out of water, they will start to fade, so only take them out at the last minute.
• Be mindful of dyes when choosing flowers for your bouquets and boutonnieres, as some can stain your wedding day attire.
• Recruit friends and family to help with the flowers. It is a fun activity, and will make the process much smoother. Ensure you have enough tools for everyone, and some clear instructions or pictures to work from.
• If you are ordering flowers online, place your order at least one month in advance. Have your design ideas ready a few weeks before that, so you have time to compare prices.
• When ordering flowers, be aware that certain blooms are more expensive than others, depending on location, time of year, demand, and growth difficulty.
• To keep costs down, buy in-season flowers from a local supplier. If your favourite flower is not in season, there are often gorgeous alternatives available. For example, if you love peonies but are getting married in February, ranunculus could be a good option, as they have a similar soft, frilly look.
• Using local wholesale flowers is a great way to save money. Places like Costco and Sam's Club often offer the best value.
• To keep your flowers fresh, keep the water clean, and cut the stems at an angle before putting them in water.
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DIY bouquet assembly

Materials

Before you start making your bouquet, you'll need to gather your materials. These include:

• Floral or stem wrapping tape
• Household bleach (optional)
• Rubber bands (optional)
• Scissors or a vegetable knife
• Sharp flower shears or scissors
• Plastic buckets for storing the flowers prior to arranging
• Ribbon, twine and straight pins for wrapping the stems of bouquets and boutonnieres
• Chicken wire (depending on the arrangement)
• Secateurs, if foraging or using branches

Prep

Before you start constructing your bouquet, make sure the flower stems and greenery are prepped and ready. Remove all the leaves from your floral stems and the bottom halves of your greenery stems. Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle and keep them in a bucket of water as you assemble your bouquet.

Assembly

Start by building the shape and framework of your arrangement, thinking about dimension along the way. Stand in front of a mirror while you assemble the bouquet so you can see exactly what it looks like from the front.

As you put together the stems, start with a base before adding in larger, focal flowers. Continue to add in smaller flowers and greenery, balancing the design as you build. Once you’ve constructed a bouquet you love, snip the stems to trim them back and secure the entire bouquet with a rubber band. Be sure it’s tightly wrapped before adding floral tape to hide the rubber band. Loop a ribbon around the stems for a clean, classic look or allow it to cascade down the side of the bouquet for a more relaxed, garden-style aesthetic.

Tips

• Be flexible with your flower choices. If your favourite flower isn't in season, there is likely a gorgeous alternative that will still fit your vision.
• Use odd-numbered blooms in your bouquet. It is an old European tradition to arrange flowers in odd numbers, and in many cultures, an odd number of flowers indicates joy.
• If you're short on time, give priority to the bridal bouquet. It will be in most of the wedding photos, so it's worth splurging a little on.

Transporting your flowers

Packing and Securing the Flowers

Use the boxes that the flowers were delivered in to transport them. Cut holes (large Xs) into the box lids, wide enough to hold the flowers and vases. For more complicated arrangements, you may need to secure them with packing tape. Place the flower arrangement on top of the box and mark the outline of the vase. Cut out the shape with a knife or box cutter and place the arrangement inside. If there is space between the vase and the box, use packing tape to secure it on two sides.

Transporting Bouquets

Place an inch of water in a spare vase or jar and carefully put your bouquet inside, ensuring the water doesn't touch the ribbon. You may need to remove the ribbon during transport and replace it when you arrive at the venue. Secure the vase inside the box with tape.

Transporting Corsages and Boutonnieres

If the corsages or boutonnieres have exposed stems, you can use plastic cups with a small amount of water to hold them. Place the cups snugly in a small box, using balled-up newspaper to fill any excess space. If they are sealed, place them in a small box with a bed of paper towels to prevent sliding.

General Tips

• Use a cool, shaded place to store your flowers before transport, rather than a refrigerator, as the temperature and humidity of a normal refrigerator can dry out flowers.
• Only transport flowers with enough water to touch about an inch of the stems and then refill once you arrive at the venue.
• Ask a friend or family member to be in charge of transporting the flowers to the venue, as the wedding party and couple will have a lot going on.
• If possible, transport the flowers in a van or truck to ensure there is enough space.

Frequently asked questions