DIY Flowers

caitcjackson · December 2011

Hello all!

I was hoping to cut costs by doing my own flowers and was wondering if anyone else had done this/had any tips.

Thanks!

Sue-n-Kevin · December 2011

I ordered the 20 piece white rose wedding package from Costco.com for $399.00. They allow you to change your order if you need fewer centerpieces and want more bouquets, etc. They were LOVELY and lasted over 2 weeks! (Their standard order is 2 BM bouquets, with several centerpieces)

Also, our Costco has a flower kiosk where you can buy lovely floral arrangements for about $17. I asked at the customer service desk and they have an actual florist who does the arranging. They gave me her phone number. I called her and ordered for pickup, 3 days before the wedding, 9 dozen white vendela roses, 70 stems of white asiatic lillies and 2 huge bunches of baby's breath for $177. When I picked them up I was able to see them in person, they were fabulous! She handed them over in buckets that I kept in the basement so they could bloom more, after adding the floral food. I thought I had an exclusive "in" for a floral source. She told me when I picked these up that she does about 18 weddings a week! I don't know if Sam's has the same type of set-up for local stores.

Below is the rose centerpiece, with baby's breath. I used green floral foam inserted in the silver vases I got from a local florist going out of business for $5 each.

This is the centerpiece I made with the Asiatic Lillies (it came with the long grasses) and baby's breath. I purchased "jelly balls" from www.lacrafts.com. Each bag was enough for a 9" tall cylinder vase, they had the cheapest price I could find.

I made all 10 of the centerpieces the morning before the wedding, then put them in the basement to stay cool.

I had a lot of the lillies left over, I overbought. But the thing about lillies is that they open upward.......... the bottom flowers open first, then they open up along the stem. You have to have them at least 3 days before the wedding for that to occur.

Wiscisbliss · December 2011

I ordered from fiftyflowers.com and flowersandfreshness.com

It saved a ton of money, but it did cost time. Making the bouquets and centerpieces was pretty easy, but the corsages were trickier. There are videos on youtube that were helpful.

You also have to think about where you are going to store all the flowers.

Demea · December 2011

Really beautiful centerpieces. So you alternated between low and high? It looks great. Did you have any problem with the pollen from your lillies? Was that all taken care of when you purchased? Also where is a good place to get the tall cylinder clear vases?

soozy87 · December 2011

We ordered from Sam's Club. The flowers we ended up with came in great condition and arrived on time. It does take a while to put everything together, but that probably varies on what you need. Ask people to help you if you can. Read up on flower care and how to actually put the flowers together. I had a lot of fun with it and I am glad that I did it the way that I did!

Sue-n-Kevin · December 2011

Really beautiful centerpieces. So you alternated between low and high? Yes
It looks great. Did you have any problem with the pollen from your lillies? Was that all taken care of when you purchased? I had the lillies for 3 days before the wedding. I took care of them as the florist directed, which was refreshed the water when I got home, added the floral food, and they opened upward over the next 2 days, actually a LOT. I personally clipped off the orange stamen at the end of each lilly with a small pair of craft scissors, but any will do. You can actually just pull them off with your finger tips.

Also where is a good place to get the tall cylinder clear vases? I got mine from the same florist that was going out of business where I got the silver swirl bowls. However, I've seen them at every major chain craft & hobby store, as well as Walmart.

graysquirrel · December 2011

We did flowers from Sams and loved them. Here are my tips:
1. Practice!!! Make sure that you buy some flowers ahead of time and practice what you are going to make, especially if you are doing bouts.

2. Watch youtubes on technique. It isn't hard, but there is a knack to it.

3. Invest in some good floral shears, floral tape, and wire. I would also get some wet oasis for your centerpieces.

4. To store our bouts, we re-used those plastic cases that pastries come in at the grocery store. They worked perfectly!

5. Make sure to spritz your arrangements after you are done and if you are leaving them overnight. Spritz your bouts before storing in the fridge to keep them fresh.

6. Make sure that you have a space of time cleared when they arrive so that you can condition them right away. They will be really dry from shipping. Cut the leaves and ends off underwater and put them in water right away. Leave at least a day for them to condition

7. Get help. It is definitely a multi-person job!

DIY Flowers

Re: DIY Flowers

Choose Another Board

Search Boards