From nailing the timing to cost-saving tips, Joy\u2019s guide to DIY flowers covers all the basics for couples looking to make their big day bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DIY-Wedding-Flowers-1-1024x684.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhere to Start<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFirst, settle on a theme that will be the through line of your DIY floral arrangements. Whether it\u2019s a uniting color palette or spotlighting a particular flower, it\u2019s good to narrow down your plan before you go shopping. Vision boards are a great way to piece together your design into one cohesive picture. If you hit a creative roadblock, florals or color palettes from your wedding website<\/a> or invitations can be a good place to find inspiration. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAlso mentally walk through your ceremony and reception to count each arrangement, bouquet, corsage and boutonniere. Once you have an idea of the workload, activate the phone tree and sign up some recruits! Enlisting friends or family will help things run much smoother the day of your wedding and relieve any additional stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many floral arrangements can be made a day \u2014 or even a couple days \u2014 in advance if you have proper storage. Emily Mathison, U.S. creative director of McQueens Flowers<\/a>, advises using durable fresh flowers and storing the finished product in cool temperatures to extend the life of the blooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cFlowers with a woody stem, such as hydrangea, often have a longer vase life,\u201d she says. \u201cHowever, softer-stemmed flowers, particularly spring flowers such as daffodils or tulips, don’t do well in any kind of heat and will often only last 3 to 5 days. Keep your flowers somewhere cool [before your big day].\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember, the smaller the arrangement, the less time it will take to create. Give yourself ample time to put together the ceremony and centerpiece arrangements. Boutonnieres, bouquets, and cocktail table adornments will naturally take less time because they are smaller, with the exception of a wedding bouquet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What You\u2019ll Need<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n- Sharp flower shears or scissors<\/li>
- Floral foam blocks<\/li>
- Floral tape<\/li>
- Plastic buckets for storing the flowers prior to arranging<\/li>
- Ribbon, twine and straight pins for wrapping the stems of bouquets and boutonnieres<\/li>
- Chicken wire (depending on the arrangement)<\/li>
- Secateurs, if foraging or using branches<\/li>
- Vessels<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"DIY](\"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DIY-Wedding-Flowers-2-1024x732.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nGet the Most Out of Your Budget<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nBuy in season<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBuying in-season flowers from a local purveyor is the best way to stretch your budget for floral design. If your favorite flower isn\u2019t in season for your wedding date, surely there is a comparable varietal that completes your vision. \u201cEven if your favorite flower isn’t in season, there is bound to be a gorgeous alternative,\u201d says Mathison. \u201cFor example, brides who love peonies (in season May to July) but are getting married in February. A good alternative that I would recommend is ranunculus. They have a similar frilly, super soft petal and gorgeous appeal. There are many options like this for most types of flowers.” Consult the list below to get an idea of what\u2019s in season around your big day.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWinter<\/strong><\/td>Spring<\/strong><\/td>Summer<\/strong><\/td>Fall<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>Gardenias<\/td> Lilies of the Valley<\/td> Roses<\/td> Chrysanthemums<\/td><\/tr> Poinsettias<\/td> Peonies<\/td> Poppies<\/td> Sunflowers<\/td><\/tr> Winter\u2019s Rose Camellia<\/td> Forget-me-nots<\/td> Calla Lilies<\/td> Pansies<\/td><\/tr> Christmas rose<\/td> Lilacs<\/td> Daisies<\/td> Hibiscus<\/td><\/tr> Ranunculus<\/td> Periwinkles<\/td> Dahlias<\/td> Aster<\/td><\/tr> Hardenbergia<\/td> Forsythias<\/td> Hydrangeas<\/td> Coronillas<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nForage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe most beautiful floral arrangements showcase a combination of textures. Get creative by using blooming branches from trees in your yard to lend a natural vibe to your motif. \u201cWe use seasonal branches a lot of the time [in our designs],\u201d says Mathison. \u201cSo, if you have any trees that are starting to blossom with some low-lying branches, cut off the sprigs just before the flowers open and enjoy them in a vase at home. Fruit trees or tree lilacs are gorgeous for this.\u201d Not to mention, it\u2019s free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nRepurpose vessels<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOver the years of a couple\u2019s courtship, you’re bound to have a vase or two stored away on a shelf. Dust it off and give it new life at your wedding! Mixing and matching clear bases with the same arrangements will not only save some major coin, but it will add a little dimension to your tables. If you find that you don\u2019t have enough for all of your centerpieces, check out local yard sales or Goodwill for some inexpensive finds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not into the clear vase look? Hop over to the craft store and pick up a can of spray paint made for glass products. Better yet, paint each vessel with chalkboard paint and have your centerpieces double as table numbers. Vintage books, lanterns and other trinkets can also serve as tablescape decor, bringing down your flower budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nUse the ceremony flowers in the reception<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nRepurposing your ceremony flowers at the reception is a big-time budget-saver. A great way to do this is by using arrangements lining the aisle as centerpieces on your reception tables. Use the altar flowers to make an elaborate vignette at the sweetheart table or at the entrance of the reception. For cocktail tables, wedding party bouquets make for the perfect lowline centerpiece when put into a small vase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nSource locally<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe math is easy here: The shorter distance a flower has to travel in a refrigerated truck, the less the product will cost. Set your sights on local wholesale flowers for your supplies. \u201cWhen it comes to purchasing the flowers, you can source them from local floral markets and, surprisingly, Costco and Sam\u2019s Club. These usually offer the best bang for your buck,\u201d says Stefan Bucur, founder and owner of Rhythm of the Home<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cAnother tip that will help when DIY-ing your own wedding florals is to add silk flowers and faux greenery to installations that are used in the background and off the tables,\u201d he continues. \u201cMost people will not know the difference but will appreciate the beauty. This helps keep the cost of florals down tremendously.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The supermarket chain Trader Joe\u2019s is known for its love of local produce and inexpensive prices, which extends to the flower section. Speak to a store clerk and see if you can order your blooms at a discounted, bulk price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also mentally walk through your ceremony and reception to count each arrangement, bouquet, corsage and boutonniere. Once you have an idea of the workload, activate the phone tree and sign up some recruits! Enlisting friends or family will help things run much smoother the day of your wedding and relieve any additional stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many floral arrangements can be made a day \u2014 or even a couple days \u2014 in advance if you have proper storage. Emily Mathison, U.S. creative director of McQueens Flowers<\/a>, advises using durable fresh flowers and storing the finished product in cool temperatures to extend the life of the blooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFlowers with a woody stem, such as hydrangea, often have a longer vase life,\u201d she says. \u201cHowever, softer-stemmed flowers, particularly spring flowers such as daffodils or tulips, don’t do well in any kind of heat and will often only last 3 to 5 days. Keep your flowers somewhere cool [before your big day].\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, the smaller the arrangement, the less time it will take to create. Give yourself ample time to put together the ceremony and centerpiece arrangements. Boutonnieres, bouquets, and cocktail table adornments will naturally take less time because they are smaller, with the exception of a wedding bouquet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What You\u2019ll Need<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Buying in-season flowers from a local purveyor is the best way to stretch your budget for floral design. If your favorite flower isn\u2019t in season for your wedding date, surely there is a comparable varietal that completes your vision. \u201cEven if your favorite flower isn’t in season, there is bound to be a gorgeous alternative,\u201d says Mathison. \u201cFor example, brides who love peonies (in season May to July) but are getting married in February. A good alternative that I would recommend is ranunculus. They have a similar frilly, super soft petal and gorgeous appeal. There are many options like this for most types of flowers.” Consult the list below to get an idea of what\u2019s in season around your big day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most beautiful floral arrangements showcase a combination of textures. Get creative by using blooming branches from trees in your yard to lend a natural vibe to your motif. \u201cWe use seasonal branches a lot of the time [in our designs],\u201d says Mathison. \u201cSo, if you have any trees that are starting to blossom with some low-lying branches, cut off the sprigs just before the flowers open and enjoy them in a vase at home. Fruit trees or tree lilacs are gorgeous for this.\u201d Not to mention, it\u2019s free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the years of a couple\u2019s courtship, you’re bound to have a vase or two stored away on a shelf. Dust it off and give it new life at your wedding! Mixing and matching clear bases with the same arrangements will not only save some major coin, but it will add a little dimension to your tables. If you find that you don\u2019t have enough for all of your centerpieces, check out local yard sales or Goodwill for some inexpensive finds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not into the clear vase look? Hop over to the craft store and pick up a can of spray paint made for glass products. Better yet, paint each vessel with chalkboard paint and have your centerpieces double as table numbers. Vintage books, lanterns and other trinkets can also serve as tablescape decor, bringing down your flower budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Repurposing your ceremony flowers at the reception is a big-time budget-saver. A great way to do this is by using arrangements lining the aisle as centerpieces on your reception tables. Use the altar flowers to make an elaborate vignette at the sweetheart table or at the entrance of the reception. For cocktail tables, wedding party bouquets make for the perfect lowline centerpiece when put into a small vase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The math is easy here: The shorter distance a flower has to travel in a refrigerated truck, the less the product will cost. Set your sights on local wholesale flowers for your supplies. \u201cWhen it comes to purchasing the flowers, you can source them from local floral markets and, surprisingly, Costco and Sam\u2019s Club. These usually offer the best bang for your buck,\u201d says Stefan Bucur, founder and owner of Rhythm of the Home<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnother tip that will help when DIY-ing your own wedding florals is to add silk flowers and faux greenery to installations that are used in the background and off the tables,\u201d he continues. \u201cMost people will not know the difference but will appreciate the beauty. This helps keep the cost of florals down tremendously.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The supermarket chain Trader Joe\u2019s is known for its love of local produce and inexpensive prices, which extends to the flower section. Speak to a store clerk and see if you can order your blooms at a discounted, bulk price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nGet the Most Out of Your Budget<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Buy in season<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Winter<\/strong><\/td> Spring<\/strong><\/td> Summer<\/strong><\/td> Fall<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Gardenias<\/td> Lilies of the Valley<\/td> Roses<\/td> Chrysanthemums<\/td><\/tr> Poinsettias<\/td> Peonies<\/td> Poppies<\/td> Sunflowers<\/td><\/tr> Winter\u2019s Rose Camellia<\/td> Forget-me-nots<\/td> Calla Lilies<\/td> Pansies<\/td><\/tr> Christmas rose<\/td> Lilacs<\/td> Daisies<\/td> Hibiscus<\/td><\/tr> Ranunculus<\/td> Periwinkles<\/td> Dahlias<\/td> Aster<\/td><\/tr> Hardenbergia<\/td> Forsythias<\/td> Hydrangeas<\/td> Coronillas<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Forage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Repurpose vessels<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use the ceremony flowers in the reception<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Source locally<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Simple](\"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DIY-Wdding-Flowers-3-CommunityTable-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Ceremony](\"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DIY-Wedding-Flowers-Ceremony-Flowers-1024x684.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Tall](\"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DIY-Wedding-Flowers-Tall-centerpiece-1024x732.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Wedding](\"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DIY-Wedding-Flowers-Bouquets-1024x732.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Four](\"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DIY-Wedding-Flowers-Boutonnieres-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n