Flowers...

JeremiahsBabe

So I know that I have 11 months to go before my wedding, but I have been thinking flowers lately.  I keep hearing about how expensive flowers are and I know I can't spend thatmuch money but I guess I have no idea what "expensive" really is.  I am debating between real and silk flowers and and I am thinking I want to do real flowers for bouquets and bouts and silk for the centerpieces (gonna do the submerged flowers in cylinder vase with floating candle thing)

SO I was wondering
1. Did you DIY flowers?
2. Where did you get your flowers from / what florist did you use
3. How much did you spend total on Bouquets and bouts? (include # of attendants I suppose)
4. Would you recommend whatever vendor you used?

Other advice?
Thanks Ladies!

maybe984

First of all, DON'T do silk. It will probably end up costing you more than real. Seriously.

I almost did the same thing you're thinking about, with the real bouquets and silk submerged orchid CPs... but instead I did all real. I'm really glad I did, because I have since heard from other brides that 90% of store-bought silk orchids will bleed really bad when submerged in water. Nothing says "not real" like flowers that are bleeding dye.

I used a really affordable floral designer, Intuitive Blooms... and basically she did my bouquets, bouts, corsages, 2/3 of my CPs (I had three different styles) and because I had some existing supplies (cylinder vases & rocks) she sold me stems of orchids for the same price she bought them for and I made a 3rd DIY centerpiece with submerged orchids and floating candles.

I spent about $850, but it would have been a LOT less if I had less expensive tastes in flowers. We used a lot of hydrangeas, which are pretty spendy. My bouquet was $85, the BMs bouquets were $40 each,  corsages and bouts were about $5 each and the two non-DIY CPs were about $35 each. The amazing thing was the great price she got the dendrobium orchids for. I got a HUGE bunch (enough for about 10 CPs) for $40.

MilitaryBride2Be

I am not doing flowers for the centerpieces so I can give you the prices for everything else We're going with Molly at Petals and Sprigs and Twigs, she was great because I am not a flower person and she had all sorts of ideas!

1 bridal bouquet - $100
5 BM's bouquet - $40 each = $200
1 Toss bouqet - $25
5 Boutonnieres - $8 each = $40
2 mother's corsages - $18 each = $36
3 grandmother's corsages - $15 each - $45
2 sister's corsages - $13 each = $26
deliverty - $20
total = $492

We're using in season flowers in shades of purple

MaggieandJake

I am using silk orchids in 3 tiered cylinder vases w/a floating candle for the same centerpiece as you.  I am doing mainly white, which a few fushia.  I bought a huge box of the white orchids from a knottie for $8 that will cover all of my centerpieces.  I also did a mock centerpiece to see how it would look and to check for bleeding.  I left my them in the water for over 24 hours and there was absolutely NO bleeding.

I am also doing tissue paper pomanders atop a 30" pilsner vase with a 20" crystal bead drop. (this type of centerpieces usually runs $130-150 a piece and will cost me a total of about $120 for all of the supplies and labor)

As for real flowers-I am doing them just for bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres for the dads (FI and groomsman/ushers will be doing pocket squares only)

Here's my cost breakdown:

My Bouquet-$175 (this is a bit on the pricey side, but I'm also using expensive flowers-dutch blue hydrangeas, white cymbidium orchids, while calla lilies, and white roses)

Bridesmaid bouquets ($40x4)-simple white calla lillies with blue rhinestone accents and a silver collar

Dads'/brother's boutonnieres-($8x3)-white callas for the dads/white rose for my bro

Mom/grandma/PA corsages ($10x6)-White cymbidium orchids for moms/g'mas and white roses for PAs

I'm also paying my florist for rental of her vases for my centerpieces and labor to set them up ($100 for both)

So my total floral costs are $550

My florist is Deven Nelson and she is AMAZING!!  Totally understood the style I was going for and is able to work within budget and with my DIY endeavors.

www.devennelson.com

**NOTE: Deven does not charge a delivery fee, or set up fee for her arrangements (I'm just paying her to set up MY- DIY centerpieces).  She also does not charge a deposit and includes a free toss bouquet will all of her orders.

My Bouquet inspiration

My centerpiece #1 trial

My DIY pomanders

My centerpiece #2 inspiration

 

graysquirrel

We are DIYing with real flowers. I agree with Maybe that silk are usually more money and don't look nearly as good. I've only seen one way in which silk saved anyone money. I used to work at Michaels and people would buy up huge quantities of seasonal flowers when they'd go on 70% off clearance. Otherwise, they're really pricey.

We plan on ordering our flowers from Sams and the Flower Exchange. We will make 4 bouquets, 11 bouts/corsages, and at least 12 floral centerpieces for about $300-400. The arrangements are really not hard to make. I watched some youtubes and my FI is a plant guy, so I'm not scared. We will have a flower party the night before and make our stuff with my zealous BMs. If you have the time and really want to save some money, this is a great route to go!

SuperRNluvsChef

Our flowers will be 100% real.  We're also using Lacey at Intuitive Blooms, she's awesome and will make it work with your budget.  We're spending just over $600 for...
1 bridal bouquet (orchids, gladiolas, ranunculus, dahlias and calla lillies)
4 BM bouquets (dahlias and ranunculus)
1 Jr. BM bouquet
13 bouts (orchid for FI and dahlias for the rest)
4 corsages
1 alter arrangement (gladiolas and manzanitas)
the final cost, I believe $604, also includes delivery charge, tax.  It would have been cheaper but were also using some pricier flowers (orchids, ranunculus).  Lacey is great with working with your budget.  Highly recommend her.