DIY Flowers- what did you spend?

Knottie33170765 · January 2015

I plan to do our flowers myself, but I'm still trying to get a grasp on how much I'll end up spending. If you already did your own flowers, know someone who did their own, or are also planning to do them yourself in the future, what kind of money did you/will you spend? What did that budget include? Like a bouquet for yourself and how many bridesmaids, boutineers, table center pieces, etc.?

JCbride2015 · January 2015

Knottie33170765 said:

I plan to do our flowers myself, but I'm still trying to get a grasp on how much I'll end up spending. If you already did your own flowers, know someone who did their own, or are also planning to do them yourself in the future, what kind of money did you/will you spend? What did that budget include? Like a bouquet for yourself and how many bridesmaids, boutineers, table center pieces, etc.?

We are pricing out doing just our own centerpieces (haven't fully decided yet). We have 17 tables, and we're using hydrangeas, ranunculus, roses, dusty miller, and some green filler. The quote for flowers and shipping was $493, and the bowls we're using are $12 each plus some pretty expensive shipping-- I think the total comes to around $750 for all the centerpieces if we DIY. This would be roughly a $600 savings over getting the centerpieces from a florist.

ohannabelle · January 2015

We did about 20 centerpiece size arrangements, 3 bouquets, 4 each corsages and boutonnières, 3 very large window boxes (3ft long by 8in wide, 2 feet tall) and had a bunch of extra. Also a wreath of spray roses for very young bridesmaiid, which never made it there, forgotten in fridge. Damnit. Roses, hydrangeas, lots of dahlias, seeded eucalyptus, dusty miller, Queen Anne's lace. Tape, pins, foam.

About 500, total.

(White ceramic and milk glass containers, already had, or thrift stored.

Overspent on the white hydrangeas because I have no self control, saved on dahlias by driving directly to the dahlia farm.

Before picture, about half the flowers, porch is about to turn into a giant water and flower covered insane mess.

I want all these flowers back.

jay788 · January 2015

A family friend did our flowers for twice the cost of the flowers themselves, but the wholesale price of the flowers ended up at about $350 I think. Huge bouquets of inexpensive seasonal flowers for me and 5 bridesmaids and centerpieces for 12 tables, plus some flowers for the front of the ceremony (the flowers down the aisles doubled as centerpieces). We didn't use any flowers in the bouts.

thesummersky · January 2015

We spent $27 for 7 tables, with flowers bought from Safeway. The tree cookies were donated by the camp I worked at. It was super minimalist though!

Doing your own flowers will cost you a great deal of time last-minute (since you want them to be fresh), so just be sure any other last-minute details are done by that time, or that they will be done by someone else.

Lauderdale Pink · January 2015

For the tables, I got cylinder vases from Dollar Tree and hit each one with three coats (in this order) glue-glitter-glue, so each empty vase was $4.00. I added four of the stemmed tea light holders ($4.00 total) and put the whole thing on a framed mirror after removing the frame. So, without flowers $9.00. Then I was able to get hydrangeas for $5.00 per stem and used two in each vase. Filled in with baby's breath (15.00 got me more than enough for 20 tables) and added 3 roses ($12.00 per dozen). so about $15.00 in flowers. Each BM held two hydrangeas, stems wrapped in ribbons (12.00 each) and the bride carried a huge bouquet of baby's breath (see Pinterest for ideas).

AnneKachelhoffer · January 2015

Quite honestly I went with silk flowers, mostly because I want to be able to keep my bouquet past the wedding. We have ten tables and I made each centerpiece (mason jars, sunflowers, glittery plate to put jars on, etc) for less than $10 apiece. I plan on telling our guests to take them home at the end of the night, as I have no need for them after the wedding and they'll make nice souvenirs. The only instance I plan to use real flowers are the mothers and grandmother's crosages.

[Deleted User] · January 2015

When did you all buy the flowers? How far out from the wedding? I tend to kill all things green and pretty...

The ones pictured look gorgeous!

tj&cw · February 2015

check out Globalroses.com. They are sent by FedEx and are great flowers....ordered some for an event I did and they come tightly closed and then slowly open. They lasted over 2 weeks. sign up for the email list and they send you coupons all the time.

They have all kinds of flowers...rose petal (great price). My mom and her sisters are planning on doing my centerpieces and this is where we are ordering the roses from.

Knottie00699587 · February 2015

I am getting married in 2 months. I bought 20 pieces of 6 inch glass flower vases from the thrift store for $2.99 each, then got 144 votive candles and 144 votive candle holders for a total of $160.00 for 20 tables. My flowers are all silk hydrangea (champagne, plush pink and ivory) which cost $8.00 with large heads of hydrangeas. I can use about 2-3 hydrangeas for each table. Overall, I spent about $320.00 for my centerpieces and candles. For the bouquets for my bridesmaids, I am ordering 100 pieces of ivory roses for $80.00 from Costco and a little bit of babys breath less than $100.00. Overall, centerpieces and floral costs me $500.00.

Knottie0839442 · February 2015

abcdevonn said:

When did you all buy the flowers? How far out from the wedding? I tend to kill all things green and pretty...

The ones pictured look gorgeous!

Agreed on the gorgeous flowers!

Where you get your flowers depends on when you order them. If you go through a store, the floral manager will want to talk to you 2-3 months ahead of time so the specialty order for the color and type you want can be put in. It'll arrive 1-4 days before the wedding depending on flower type (lilies maybe sooner because they have to bloom before being used).

If you're doing it yourself, depends on the type of flower, but generally plan to have them arrive 1-4 days before the wedding, to give them at least 24 hours to fully rehydrate before designing with them. If the wrong type got sent (had this happen to me), 2 days ahead of time is nice b/c then you have 1 day to rush order a substitute/replacement from a local wholesaler if needed. Always order just a little extra, in case a few flowers get broken or arrive in bad condition.

madamerwin · February 2015

For my sister's wedding, she gave me $200 and instructions to get "red, orange, and/or yellow flowers at the farmers market". I was able to get about 4 buckets' worth of flowers (I don't remember the exact quantity, but at least 5 dozen large flowers?)

A few other bridesmaids (who all volunteered without being asked) and I spent a few hours the morning before the wedding making the bouquets and bouts. They turned out beautifully! Then, after the ceremony, I took all the bridesmaid bouquets apart and split them up to go onto tables, which was a great way to cut costs too (multipurpose flowers!). I am planning to do the exact same thing.

theartistformerlyknownas · February 2015

I spent about a thousand dollars on flowers, succulents and greenery for 23 tables, two bars, the guest book table, escort card table, and arbor, plus about $75 on vases/candleholders and probably $30 on spray paint (faux mercury glass).

Bought the bouquets from a florist ($600 for 5 BMs and myself, plus 3 corsages) and made boutonnières from silk (about $40 with leftover materials).

Knottie84221682 · April 2015

Doing paper roses from Martha. $31.50 for enough crepe paper to do 150 flowers. $5.89 for wire stems. $8.56 for 8 glass vases from dollar tree. Floral tape $7.98. $8.56 for glass gems. $60 total. Considering less than 25 people I don't need many centerpieces.

lanternwaste17 · April 2015

I went super cheap on the flowers and probably spent about $150.

I did potted plants as centerpieces on all the tables - beautiful pansies and baby hyacinths and other adorable little spring flowers from Home Depot. I added a vase of baby's breath to each table as well, to add height.

The baby's breath I ordered in bulk from Sam's Club and used to make all the bouquets and boutonnieres and such. It looked really pretty in large quantities. My mom got silk flowers from Michaels to add to my bouquet as well. Oh, and most of my girls put baby's breath in their hair as well!

I did also make 100+ crepe paper flowers to go with each person's table assignment. That was really fun if you have the time!

I adored the way my tables looked but my dream was to carry white lilacs! Alas, none of the neighborhood trees were in bloom,.

larrygaga · April 2015

Is this a zombie thread or just a slow board?

I am doing sams club DIY flowers. I have been a bridesmaid in 3 weddings where they ordered from sams and they turned out BEAUTIFUL. I don't believe flower arranging is hard, although I am fairly artistic so I could just have a talent for it. I've led the project for the last few weddings. Flowers are pretty hard to make ugly.

I am having a garden wedding, so my reception hall decor is 100% flowers and plants. I am spending about 1,100 on flowers and plants, total and doing all the work myself.

I know it's a lot but don't let my price scare you. I have a huge wedding, therefore a lot of tables to cover and my only decor expensive is the flowers. Everything else is borrowed. 18 tables with a few different flower/plant based decorations per table, 8 bouquets, and extra for the bar/bathroom/cake table areas.

From experience, my advice is to have nice shears, 5 gallon buckets and lots of flower tape and ribbon at the ready. Look up pictures of what you want, so you can just copy it day of. Have the flowers delivered 2 days before your wedding, so they have time to open up. When they are delivered, immediately cut them (at an angle) and stick them in the buckets with water.

Buying in bulk means you will get some dud flowers. So buy too many! You might be able to save flower heads to tuck in random places.

DIY flowers means you gotta be flexible day of. The only thing I'm getting from a florist are corsages. I made silk boutonnieres because I had a bad experience making them with real flowers. It took me about 6 hours and it was horrible.

brooklynscott · April 2015

Not sure if you every thought about silk flowers but saw some on some1's Instagram page & they looked really good they got the flowers from Afloral chk them out.

DIY Flowers- what did you spend?

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