How to Make a DIY Wedding Bouquet | A Practical Wedding (2024)

There is a misconception that learning how tomake a DIY weddingbouquet is an arduous feat, which it’sabsolutelynot.But, hey, a foolproof step-by-step How-to never hurt anyone, right?

how to make a diy wedding bouquet

DIY doesn’t save the world, and it isn’t always cheaper. But when it comes to wedding flowers I personally feel thatthe latter of the two should be true. When you hire a florist you are not only price quoted for the flowers, but also the labor put into making your floral arrangements. So, if you can take the labor out of the cost by making your own bouquet, you’ll be spending a lot less money.

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tip 1: DON’T BE AFRAID TO MIX AND MATCH SUPPLIERS AND/OR VENDORS

We live in a world of many, many options; and no one said that you had to go one place and one place only to get your flowers. With other aspects of your wedding, yes, you may have to be loyal to one particular supplier or vendor. But with your flowers, do what works for you and your budget. If you want to get your roses from Costco, but your greenery from the flower market, then go for it! There is no flower-buying etiquette to be followed here. Trust me: the flowers will understand.

tip 2: KEEP SEASONALITY IN MIND

I’m sure lots of you didn’t know that “seasonality” is a proper word, but it’s a common phrase in the flower industry. We use it to describe flower varieties that have very seasonal growing patterns, which you definitely need to think about when choosing certain flowers. For instance, peonies have a very sporadic growing season, which is why they are insanely expensive at certain times of the year and not available in hot summer months. On the other hand, hydrangea are grown in green houses all year-round which makes them less costly because they are more readily available. Basically, when seasonal flowers are in season they are the best quality and most affordable!

making your diy wedding bouquet:

what you need:

  • Flower shears
  • Floral tape
  • Bouquet pins
  • Bouquet wrapping (We used white ribbon)
  • Flowers of your choice (We used pink lisianthus, white spray roses, green pompon button mums, painted lady wax flower, purple statice, and green hypericum)
  • A bucket
  • Water

Step 1: find the flowers

You can buy your flowers from:

  • A flower market
  • An online wholesaler (Like Blooms By The Box)
  • A grocery store,Trader Joe’s, ,Costco, Sam’s Club, wherever you can find the best quality flowers on the cheap

Figure out what your budget is, what kind of flowers you want, and how many flowers you’ll need; then do some research. If your local grocery store is stocked with awesome quality blooms for a great price, then go that route. And if an online wholesaler is your best bet, click away! Just figure out what’s best for you and what you feel most comfortable with.

step 2: set up your workspace

Kitchens are ideal for making a flower prep because clean up is easy, and if you have a lot of counter space, even better! An outdoor space would also work. Keep all flowers in big buckets too!

How to Make a DIY Wedding Bouquet | A Practical Wedding (5)

step 3: prep your flowers

  • Use your hands or a stem stripper to make sure all foliage has been removed from the stems
  • De-thorn your roses
  • Make sure all stem lengths are approximately the same (you can alsotrim as you go)

How to Make a DIY Wedding Bouquet | A Practical Wedding (6)

step 4:start putting together your flowers

  • Choose 2-4 flowers to be the “base” of your bouquet
  • Bunch the stems together and wrap with floral tape
  • Make sure there is 1 to 1 1/2 inches of exposed stem visible where you wrap the stems
  • Leave 4-5 inches of exposed stem at the bottom

step 5: build up your diy wedding bouquet

  • Add flowers around your anchored flowers to create a bunch
  • Envision your bouquet and its focal point (hint: don’t go too big!)
  • Mix textures and colors to create an interesting composition
  • Continuously wrap your bouquet with floral tape as you add flowers (TIP: This adds support and creates consistent, yet attractive, composition to your design)

How to Make a DIY Wedding Bouquet | A Practical Wedding (7)

step 6: wrap your bouquet with floral tape

  • Begin wrapping the stems 1 to 1 1/2 inches from the flower head
  • Leave between 0-4 inches of stem exposed (TIP: use your personal preference!)
  • Use floral tape as your guide and pin the ribbon horizontally (TIP: you want the ribbon to be parallel with the floral tape)
  • Wrap until the floral tape is covered and pin to secure the ribbon
  • Ta-da! You’re finished!

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Lastly, if you decide to go the DIY your weddingbouquet, we offer a fabulous resource (written by yours truly) available for free on our website called The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Wedding Flowers.In it you’ll learn everything from flower prep basics to how to coordinate flower colors.

Did any of you have a DIY wedding bouquet? What did you learn? What would you have done differently?

How to Make a DIY Wedding Bouquet | A Practical Wedding (9)

Meg Keene

Founder & Editor-In-Chief

Meg is the Founder of APW, and has been the sites EIC for the past twelve years. She has written two best selling wedding books:A Practical WeddingandA Practical Wedding Planner.Meg’s work has been referenced in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Jezebel, and Refinery29. She’s also written hugely viral wedding articles for Buzzfeed.Shelives in Oakland, CAwith her husband and two children.For more than you ever wanted to know about Meg, you can visit MegKeene.com.

How to Make a DIY Wedding Bouquet | A Practical Wedding (2024)

FAQs

How far in advance should I make a wedding bouquet? ›

If you're planning to make the bouquet a few days in advance, don't do it earlier than 1-2 days before the big day. You want your flowers to be as fresh as possible, and not all of them can last long.

Is it cheaper to DIY wedding flowers? ›

On average, you can save between 50 and 60% with making your wedding flowers versus having them done. Are you geared up to DIY your wedding flowers?

Is it hard to make your own wedding bouquet? ›

This bouquet may look intimidating, but it is actually quite simple and easy to make! You will probably already have almost all of the equipment needed, but you may need to get hold of some white ribbon or floral tape.

How many types of flowers should be in a bridal bouquet? ›

It all depends on the kind of bouquet you want. It can be a single type flower bridal bouquet or a mixed flower one. A mixed bouquet is one that has one or more types of flowers. You can make it with 2 or 20 different types.

How many flowers do I need for a DIY wedding? ›

When planning how many flowers you need to use for weddings, a good rule of thumb is to prepare at least 10 to 30 stems for bouquets and one to two flowers with greens for boutonnieres and corsages. You can also start with 75 stems for venue decorations and 120 stalks for centerpieces.

How to keep a bridal bouquet fresh overnight? ›

One of the best tips we've seen and one which many florists out there have recommended to us, is to keep your bouquet in a cool spot when not in use. Before you walk down the aisle, have your bouquet either kept in a fridge or cool room. The same goes for before your wedding photos take place.

How many stems are in a wedding bouquet? ›

For flowers that are between 2.5”- 3.5” in diameter, like roses, dahlias, or peonies, we recommend using at least 25 stems for a 9” bouquet and at least 35 stems for an 11” bouquet and add some greenery leaves. However, that's just the minimum. You can create elaborate arrangements with upwards of 45 stems.

Do people use fake flowers for wedding bouquets? ›

In more recent years, fake wedding flowers have become a popular alternative, and the options have gotten much more realistic. Choosing fake flowers for your wedding is a great way to cut down on costs without compromising on beauty!

Is $1,500 enough for wedding flowers? ›

If your wedding party is larger, 8+ then expect to spend on the higher end of $1,500. Let's say your wedding party is only 3 or less, you can expect to spend closer to the $1,000 side. As with all things, there are ways to cut down costs in this area.

How much does it cost to make your own wedding bouquet? ›

Real-Life Example:
DIY FlowersSimpleLush
Bridal Bouquet$35$75
6 Bridesmaids Bouquets$90$120
8 Boutonnieres$15$15
4 Corsages$10$10
5 more rows

What makes a good bridal bouquet? ›

Incorporate In-Season Flowers

For example, bright, pastel-colored flowers make an April or May wedding pop while honoring the softness and new life of springtime. Or, for a winter wedding, dark greenery, red roses, and white flowers create an intimate, cozy feeling.

Does the bride toss her own bouquet? ›

To prevent the guests from tearing her gown to shreds, brides began to toss their bouquet as a distraction to guests, allowing her to make an escape with her dress intact. Grabbing the flowers was considered an act of good fortune, as the accessory symbolised fertility coming from a married woman.

How many flowers are needed to make a bridal bouquet? ›

To give you a rough idea, bridal bouquets can require 18 to 30 stems, bridesmaid bouquets 10 to 15 stems, and centerpieces anywhere from 20 to 50 stems, depending on the size and style.

How to make a fresh flower bouquet for a bride? ›

As you put together stems in your hands, start with a base and then add in larger, focal flowers. Then, continue to add smaller flowers and greenery, balancing the design as you build. Once you've constructed a bouquet you love, snip the stems to trim them back and wrap the entire bouquet with a rubber band.

How many stems are in a bridal bouquet? ›

Quick Guide to Help Plan for your Wedding Flowers
BOUQUETSmallMedium
Mixed Bouquet*7 to 9 stems18 to 20 stems
Peony Bouquet5 to 7 stems9 to 12 stems
Garden Rose Bouquet5 to 7 stems9 to 12 stems
Hydrangea Bouquet2 to 3 stems4 to 5 stems
2 more rows

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