Creating Your Wedding Flowers: Bouquets And Centerpieces

If you're looking to save some money on your wedding, making your own bouquets and centrepieces is a great option. The cost of a professionally-crafted bouquet is largely due to the labour involved, so you can save a lot by doing it yourself. You can buy flowers wholesale or from local farms, grocery stores or flower markets. You'll also need floral snips, ribbon or floral tape, and vases or lanterns for the centrepieces. It's best to make the bouquet the day before the wedding, so the blooms are at their best. Start by building the shape of your bouquet, then add in the larger, focal flowers before finishing with smaller flowers and greenery. You can use a similar process for centrepieces, starting with greenery and then adding in textural stems, accent blooms and finally focal flowers.

Choosing and sourcing flowers

If you're going for a modern and simple design, opt for one to three varieties of florals, little to no greenery, and flowers with lots of textural interest. For a more whimsical, garden-inspired look, choose five to seven varieties of florals and greenery, and select flowers with different textural and gestural qualities.

Once you've decided on your style, it's time to source your flowers. If you have access to a garden, see what's in bloom there. Otherwise, local farms, grocery stores, or flower markets are great options. You can also order flowers in bulk online.

When selecting your flowers, keep in mind the timing of your wedding. If you're getting married in the spring, look for daffodils, peonies, lilacs, and tulips. For a fall wedding, consider chrysanthemums and dahlias.

Don't be afraid to get creative and break the rules. Adding a unique touch, such as your birth flower or a sentimental colour, can make your bouquet even more special.

DIY bouquet vs florist

The cost of a florist for a wedding can be eye-watering, with quotes ranging from $1,000 to $2,500. This is a large expense, especially if you are paying for the wedding yourself. DIY-ing your wedding flowers is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your special day.

The main cost of a florist is the labour involved in creating the bouquet, so if you are willing to put in the work yourself, you can save a lot of money. The cost of flowers varies depending on the type of flowers you choose, the season, and whether you buy wholesale or from a florist. Wholesale flowers can be bought online or from local markets and grocery stores.

If you are crafty and creative, making your own bouquet can be a fun project. It can also be a fun activity to do with your bridesmaids, although it is recommended to keep the group small to avoid spending too much time organising. It is also a good idea to start early in the day to avoid feeling rushed.

However, making your own bouquet does come with some challenges. You will need to source your own flowers and materials, and ensure that they are stored and transported correctly. It can also be difficult to achieve the same level of refinement as a professional florist.

Overall, DIY-ing your wedding bouquet can be a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your wedding, but it is important to consider the time and effort involved.

Timing and preparation

Start Early:

Give yourself plenty of time to source the flowers and materials, and to practice arranging them. Begin by deciding on the types of flowers and colours that fit your wedding theme and dress style. Consider whether you want complementary or contrasting colours for your bouquets and centrepieces.

Source Your Flowers:

You can order flowers in bulk online, or buy them from local farms, grocery stores, or flower markets. If you have access to a garden with blooming flowers, you can also pick them yourself. Keep in mind that the cost of flowers varies depending on the season, so try to pick flowers that are in season to save money.

Prepare Your Flowers:

Ideally, source your flowers two days before the wedding. Remove any leaves from the stems and cut the stems at a 45-degree angle to encourage hydration. Place the flowers in buckets of water to keep them fresh. If using tropical blooms or flowers during a dry spell, research how to care for them specifically.

Assemble Your Bouquets and Centrepieces:

Start assembling your bouquets and centrepieces a day before the wedding. Use floral snips to trim the stems and add a beautiful ribbon or floral tape to hold them together. For the bridal bouquet, use a variety of flowers and build the bouquet in front of a mirror to see the shape and design. For bridesmaids' bouquets, use fewer varieties of flowers and smaller sizes.

Display Your Arrangements:

On the wedding day, place the bridal bouquet in a vase of water to keep it fresh for photos. Display it on the sweetheart table or head table during the reception. For bridesmaids' bouquets, place them on bars, refreshment tables, or group them around the wedding cake. You can also repurpose the bouquets as centrepieces, but ensure they are proportional to the size of the table.

Delegate Tasks:

Enlist the help of your bridal party, family, or friends to prepare and arrange the flowers. It's a fun activity to do together, but make sure to give clear instructions and allow enough time.

Transport and Store:

Use the boxes that the flowers were delivered in or create DIY boxes with holes to transport the arrangements to the venue. Store the bouquets and centrepieces in a cool, dry place until the wedding, and keep them away from direct sunlight or heat sources.

By following these steps and allowing enough time for preparation, you can create beautiful DIY wedding bouquets and centrepieces that fit your budget and style.

Assembly and arrangement

The assembly and arrangement of your wedding bouquets and centrepieces are where your creative vision comes to life. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Prepare the Flowers and Greenery

Before you begin constructing your bouquet, ensure that the flower stems and greenery are ready. Remove all the leaves from the floral stems and the bottom halves of the greenery stems. Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle, and keep them in a bucket of water as you work. This will ensure your flowers stay hydrated and fresh.

Step 2: Choose Your Focal Flowers

Select your favourite flowers, also known as focal flowers, to be the stars of your arrangement. These are typically the largest blooms, such as roses, peonies, or sunflowers. If you're creating a bridal bouquet, you can choose two accent flowers or greenery to complement your focal blooms.

Step 3: Create a Base

Start by building the shape and framework of your bouquet. Stand in front of a mirror to help visualise the final result. Begin with a base of greenery or smaller flowers, and then add in your larger, focal flowers.

Step 4: Add Dimension and Balance

Continue adding in smaller flowers and greenery, focusing on creating dimension and balance. Rotate your bouquet as you work, ensuring it looks good from all angles. Play around with different combinations and placements until you're happy with the overall design.

Step 5: Secure the Bouquet

Once you've achieved your desired bouquet shape, cut the stems to your preferred length. Secure the bouquet tightly with a rubber band, and then wrap floral tape around the stems to hide the rubber band.

Step 6: Finish with Ribbon

Add the finishing touch to your bouquet by looping a ribbon around the stems. For a classic look, keep the ribbon tight and neat. If you're going for a more relaxed, garden-style aesthetic, let the ribbon cascade down the side of the bouquet.

Centrepiece Arrangement:

For centrepieces, start by adding greenery as a foundation. Then, layer in textural stems and accent blooms, filling out the arrangement. Finally, add your focal flowers to fill any remaining gaps. For a cohesive look, consider using similar flowers and colours in both your bouquets and centrepieces.

Remember, flower arranging is a creative process, so feel free to experiment and make adjustments as you go. Enjoy the process of crafting something beautiful with your own hands!

Repurposing bouquets and arrangements

During the Reception

• Photo backdrops: Group bridesmaid bouquets together on a table or in a striking area of the venue for an instant picture backdrop. You can also repurpose the wedding arch by combining it with an elegant set of drapes to add romance.
• Wedding arch: You can weave the bridesmaid blooms directly into the arch structure or add them to a dish or vase and set them near the altar. If the arch is light enough, it can be moved to the reception space to create a beautiful backdrop for the sweetheart or head table.
• Add pops of colour: As bridesmaid bouquets are typically smaller, they can be reused to add a dash of your wedding theme to spaces like beside the head table, on the sweetheart table, a buffet area or cocktail bar, or grouped around the wedding cake.
• Centrepieces: Bridesmaid bouquets can be reused as centrepieces for the welcome table, head table, sweetheart table, or at a serving area or bar. Place bouquets in a shorter vase in the centre or front of a table so the flowers don't look disproportionately small.
• Aisle or church pew décor: Enhance the walkway with an extra dose of flowers by repurposing bridesmaid bouquets at the edge of a church pew with ribbon or displaying them at the end of the aisle on pillars, tables, or in large vases.
• On the tables: If you're using bridesmaid bouquets as centrepieces, consider the length of the stems and the surrounding space. For round reception tables, large arrangements in the centre can make it difficult for guests to see and converse.

After the Wedding

• Donate: Give leftover flowers to charitable organisations such as hospitals or senior living homes, or to organisations that repurpose flower bouquets, such as Repeat Roses or Random Acts of Flowers.
• Display at home: If you're not going on your honeymoon immediately, you can place your floral arrangements around your house to preserve the enjoyment of your special day.
• Crafts and décor: Air-dry or press your flowers to use them in crafts and décor projects, such as candles or frames. You can also dip the flowers in wax to preserve them in their original, perfect position.

Frequently asked questions