Learn how to create your own DIY Wedding Flowers by following along in this post. I will share how to take care of the wholesale flowers leading up to the event, and how to create your own floral arrangements. Use these tips and tricks to create a dreamy ceremony pergola, dainty ceremony chair adornments to line your aisleway, and large, stunning centerpiece arrangements to decorate your big day!
How to order and take care of the flowers and greenery
STEP 1: Order your flowers online from a wholesale website. I used Fify Flowers, and they arrived in excellent condition. You will want to set your delivery date for a few days before your event so your buds can open. I had mine delivered Wednesday for a wedding that was on Saturday. The flowers still looked great all the through to that next Wednesday.Different flowers last longer than others, so be sure to ask when ordering them if you have any questions.
STEP 2: Be home when your flowers are being delivered, and be sure to have a helper or two. You will need to unpack your flowers and get them in water as soon as possible. They will start to look amazing once in water for a day or two.
STEP 3: Unpack all flowers and cut each stem at an angle before placing in water. Cut off all leaves at the bottom of the stems. I cut all of my leaves on the entire flower, but some people like to keep them at the top. I used buckets and tubs for my flowers and greenery. Fill about 5 inches with water. You do not need to use flower food. You can if you want, but I have not the last two times and the flowers did well.
STEP 4: You will want to store in a cool place. I used my garage because it stayed cool. If it is hot out you will want to use inside your air-conditioned house, or in a floral fridge. DO NOT store in a regular fridge; the temperature is too cold for the flowers.
STEP 5: You will need to change the water out after two days. You do not need to cut stems again unless you have flowers looking like they are dying.
STEP 6: Create your arrangements the day before the event.
Creating arrangements that will be in mason jars or vases can be done two days before the event since they will be sitting in water. I add in ice every day to keep the flowers fresh. You always want to add in your greenery first, and then add your flowers. Keep adding extra greenery and flowers until you love it. At first it will look funny, but just keep adding until you create something you love.
When creating floral arrangements that need wet floral foam I would do it the day before. But they can last longer. You will drop your foam in water and let it sink an inch or two below the water before grabbing out (takes a few minutes). Do NOT push the foam under the water. This will create air bubbles and your flowers will not get the water they need. Instead you set it in softly and let it sink by itself.
If you need to cut some foam you will want to do it after your foam is soaking wet. A knife will slide through it like butter when it is wet.
Same as with the mason jar arrangement above … You will want to add in your greenery first and then the flowers. Just keep adding flowers and greenery until you love it. The more the better in my opinion. BE CAREFUL not to take a stem out of a hole and place back in the same hole. It will not get water if you do this. So if you need to move a flower just insert into a new hole.
For the Pergola I used wet foam floral cages and zip tied them to the pergola. You will get them soaked the same way as the above floral foam. Then zip tie to the pergola and start to fill with greenery. Add flowers once you have all of your greenery in place. You can continue to fill in with more greenery and flowers as needed to complete the look you want.
To see more flowers for this wedding check out the Jewel Tone Wedding post.
Wholesale Flowers- Fifty Flowers
Floral Foam- Flora Craft
