Affordable Wedding Bouquets: Diy Guide To Save Costs

Flowers are an essential part of any wedding, but they can also be expensive. One way to save money is to make your own bouquet. This can be a fun project to do with your bridesmaids, and it will add a personal touch to your big day. You can buy wholesale flowers or order them online, and with some simple materials and a bit of creativity, you can create a beautiful arrangement that fits your budget and style.

Buy wholesale flowers

Buying wholesale flowers is a great way to save money on your wedding bouquet. Here are some tips to help you get the best deals and create beautiful arrangements:

Find a Reputable Supplier

Start by finding a reputable wholesale flower supplier. There are many online options, such as FiftyFlowers, Blooms By The Box, and Flower Moxie, that offer a wide range of flowers at wholesale prices. These suppliers often have a large selection of flowers, including roses, peonies, calla lililies, hydrangeas, and more. They can also provide professional floral supplies and same-day shipping.

Compare Prices and Quality

Don't just settle on the first supplier you find. Take the time to compare prices and flower quality between different wholesalers. Look for companies that source their flowers directly from farms to ensure the freshest blooms. Also, check for companies that offer free shipping or discounts on bulk orders.

Plan Your Order

When ordering wholesale flowers, it's important to plan ahead. Consider the types of flowers you want, the colours, and the quantities needed. Wholesale suppliers often have minimum order requirements, so make sure you know how many flowers you need for your bouquet and any other decorations. It's also a good idea to order a few extra flowers in case of any last-minute changes or damage.

Timing is Key

Fresh flowers are perishable, so timing your order correctly is crucial. Ideally, you should receive your flowers a few days before the wedding to give them time to open up and reach their full bloom. This also gives you time to create the bouquets and arrangements without rushing. If you're ordering online, check the delivery times and schedule your order accordingly.

Care for Your Flowers

Once you receive your wholesale flowers, proper care is essential. Follow the care instructions provided by the supplier, which may include trimming the stems, removing guard petals, and hydrating the flowers. Store the flowers in a cool, dry place and keep them away from direct sunlight to extend their lifespan.

By following these steps, you can create beautiful wedding bouquets at a fraction of the cost of a traditional florist. With some planning and creativity, your DIY wedding bouquet will be a stunning and memorable addition to your big day.

Use seasonal flowers

Using seasonal flowers is a great way to save money on your wedding bouquet. In-season flowers are easier for your florist to source, so they will be fresher and easier on your floral budget.

If you're having a summer wedding, you'll be spoilt for choice. There are plenty of in-season options, from standards like roses and carnations to statement pieces such as dahlias and sunflowers. If you're having a fall wedding, consider adding fall florals to your bouquet to give it a seasonal vibe. Chrysanthemums and dahlias are best in the fall. For a spring wedding, you might opt for daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips. And for a winter wedding, amaryllis is a vibrant and distinctive choice.

To make your dollar stretch as far as possible, pick your flowers based on the timing of your wedding. If you're able to be flexible, you can choose flowers that are in season during your wedding month. For example, peonies are only available during a short window in mid-spring, so if you're able to get married in May, you can consider yourself lucky!

Another way to save money is to buy your flowers from a local grocery store or flower market, rather than ordering them online. You'll likely only spend around $25 and you can ask the florist for advice on which flowers are in season.

Order flowers in bulk

Ordering flowers in bulk is a great way to save money on your wedding. You can buy flowers in bulk from local farmer's markets, your neighbourhood grocery store, or online. Buying flowers online is often cheaper than buying them from a florist, and you will have access to a wider variety of flowers. Online flower companies often offer prices similar to wholesalers, and you can usually get a great deal on your wedding flowers.

There are many online flower wholesalers that offer beautiful blooms on a budget for your DIY wedding arrangements. Fifty Flowers, for example, offers wholesale flower prices and free shipping. They also have a 100% event date guarantee, so you can rest assured that the flowers will arrive on time for your wedding. Another option is Bloom Culture Flowers, which helps you create a full action plan for stress-free DIY wedding flowers with step-by-step instructions.

If you are looking for a wide selection of wholesale flowers, BloomsbytheBox.com is a great choice. They offer a huge assortment of blooms, as well as floral supplies like snips, floral wire, and floral foam. Costco and Sam's Club are also great options for buying flowers in bulk at affordable prices.

When buying flowers in bulk, it is important to consider the seasonality of the flowers. Seasonal fluctuations can affect prices, so buying flowers that are in season can save you money. For example, daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips bloom in the spring, while chrysanthemums and dahlias are best in the fall.

Make your own bouquet

Making your own bouquet is a great way to save money on your wedding. While it may sound intimidating, it's not as challenging as it seems and you can easily make a professional-looking bouquet with some simple materials and a few steps. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a beautiful DIY wedding bouquet:

Step 1: Source your flowers

The first step is to decide on the type of flowers you want to use in your bouquet. Consider the style of your wedding dress and your colour palette. Do you want complementary colours for a subtle look, or contrasting colours for a bolder statement? Also, think about whether you want a classic, tight bouquet or something more whimsical, like a cascading arrangement. If you're going for a modern and simple design, stick to one to three varieties of flowers and very little greenery. For a more garden-style look, choose five to seven varieties of flowers and greenery.

Once you've decided on the type of flowers you want, you can source them from a local garden, a friend's garden, local farms, grocery stores, or order them online in bulk. Ordering online from wholesale retailers is a great way to get flowers at a cheaper price.

Step 2: Prepare your flowers

When you have your flowers, it's time to prepare them for the bouquet. Remove all the leaves from the floral stems and the bottom halves of the greenery stems. Cut the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle and keep them in a bucket of water as you work. This will ensure your flowers stay fresh. If you're using tropical blooms or if it's particularly hot, research the best way to keep them vibrant.

Step 3: Choose your focal flower

Now it's time to start building your bouquet! Choose a focal flower—one that you want to be the centre of attention. Hold the flower near the blossom end and add the next flower at an angle, facing towards the left, but with the bloom at the same height as the focal flower.

Step 4: Add more flowers

Continue adding flowers, rotating the bouquet a quarter turn to the right each time and positioning the new flower diagonally, angled to the left. Add in some filler flowers—usually smaller, green flowers—to give a natural look to the bouquet. Make sure to put all the filler flowers in at the same angle to keep the bouquet symmetrical.

Step 5: Tie the bouquet

When you're happy with the arrangement, tie a tight knot at the highest point of the stems to hold the flowers together. Then, cut off any excess string so it's not visible.

Step 6: Cut the stems

Cut the stems to a comfortable length, measuring about two hand lengths from the string, plus an additional 3 cm for wiggle room.

Step 7: Wrap the stems

Wrap floral tape around the stems, starting from the top and going downwards. Don't wrap all the way to the bottom, just over the size of one hand to keep the bouquet looking natural. Then, add a ribbon by placing the shiny side of the ribbon facing the stems and wrapping the rest around them. Leave about 40 cm of ribbon at the end to tie a knot and add a bow.

And that's it! You now have a beautiful DIY wedding bouquet. Enjoy your special day and don't forget to throw the bouquet!

Use filler flowers

Filler flowers are an excellent way to add volume and colour to your DIY wedding bouquet. They are the supporting characters to the overall design and help cover any gaps in the arrangement. Filler flowers are usually smaller and green, giving a natural look to the bouquet.

To ensure your bouquet stays symmetrical, it's important to put all the filler flowers in at the same angle. Some examples of filler flowers include:

• Baby's Breath (Gypsophila)
• Monstera Leaves
• Bells of Ireland
• Silver Dollar Eucalyptus
• Tree Fern
• Eryngium
• Kale
• Dusty Miller
• Camomile
• Hydrangea
• Lady's Mantle
• Lavender Scabiosa

When choosing your filler flowers, consider the colour palette you want to achieve and the style of your wedding dress. If you're going for a more modern and simple design, consider using fewer varieties of florals and very little to no greenery. If you want a garden-style bouquet, opt for more floral and greenery varieties with different textures and gestural qualities.

Frequently asked questions