Floral Dreams-The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Wedding Florals
Wedding flowers bring life, color and beauty to your wedding day. They are one of the most important pieces that lends to the overall “feel” or design of your day. That being said, there is much to consider when planning your wedding florals! In my time as a planner, I’ve worked with some excellent florists, but have also seen brides let their creative juices flow with their own DIY florals!
In today’s blog I’ll break down the pros & cons of several floral options, as well as share some tips & tricks that will help you stay within budget and keep your florals looking their finest.
Hiring a Florist
Of course, the first option that probably crosses your mind when planning your wedding florals is hiring a florist! These wedding professionals are experts in their field (no pun intended) not only when it comes to flowers and plants, but also when it comes to wedding design. Here are some pros and cons to choosing to go with a professional florist for your event:
Pros
Looks (and smells) the best!
You’re working with an expert
If not splurging on floral for your wedding, when?!
Cons
Costs can add up
Tips & Tricks
Save on…. Centerpieces & boutonnieres
Splurge on… Florist delivery/set up, bridal bouquet & statement piece (arch, backdrop, etc.)
Work with your florist to pick the best blooms for your style AND budget
Repurpose statement pieces! (For example, move your arch from the ceremony to the head table)
Have a rag ready for drying bouquets after they are in a vase
Ask your florist how to hold your bouquet to best feature the flowers and your gown
While a florist may be the most expensive floral option, there are definitely ways to work within your budget! Save by skipping the centerpieces and boutonnieres and focus instead on the bridal bouquet and a killer statement piece, like an installation for an arch or a fun floral backdrop. These are the pieces that will be seen most in photos, and your florist can help you come up with clever ways to repurpose them! It’s also definitely worth splurging to have your florist deliver and set up if that is an option. You will have a peace of mind and know your space will look GREAT!
Honestly, nothing beats the look and smell of real flowers. Real flowers add so much beauty and class to an event. They are often one of the first things guests (and you!) will notice and love about your wedding day. A florist can take your Pinterest inspiration and help you bring your vision to life. They will know which blooms look best together, what will withstand the weather/temperature of your day and what will be available for the best price. Plus, once you’ve placed your final order you just get to sit back and relax until you are handed your flowers on your big day.
DIY Real Floral
Perhaps you really want the look of real flowers, but you don’t have the budget to hire a florist. There are several options out there for you, whether it be picking up flowers at Sam’s Club, growing your own blooms or working with a wholesaler like Flower Moxie.
Pros
Still get the look/smell of real flowers at a lower cost
If you’re into floral design, it can be a fun project
Cons
A TON of work the week of your wedding
Depending on your skill level, flowers may not hold up as well as if they were done by a professional
Tips & Tricks
Make sure to have a cool place to store the flowers until the big day (Florists usually store flowers at 38-40 degrees, but if you don’t have a space that cold, a cool basement will work for your larger arrangements)
Boutonnieres and corsages really must be done the day/night before (and stored in a refrigerator)
Make a backup boutonniere for the groom!
Bouquets and centerpieces could be prepped two days before
Collect cardboard boxes to use for transporting flowers
Get a team of friends or family to help you prep.
Find someone to help deliver and set up the flowers the day of the wedding.
Pack the spaces between arrangements with newspaper to keep them from tipping when transporting
This option allows for you to enjoy lots of fresh flowers at a much lower cost than hiring a florist. That being said, doing your own floral is not for the faint of heart! Centerpieces should be arranged within 2 days of the wedding and boutonnieres and corsages should be done no earlier than one day before. This means setting aside many hours (and working around other events like nail salon appointments and rehearsal dinners) in the last few days leading up to your wedding to put together your flowers. It also means lining up lots of help! Find friends or family members you trust who are willing to help you arrange, transport and set up your floral arrangements.
This option is great for brides who really love flowers and also have experience with design. Do your research, set aside more time than you think you’ll need, assemble your flower team and you may find this being one of the most fun parts of your wedding day!
DIY Fake Floral
The last option is another great one for the crafty bride, and that is using fake floral. There are several options for realistic looking fake flowers including silk flowers and wood flowers.
Pros
Most affordable option because you can sell back/return what you don’t use
Lasts forever if you want to save your bouquet
No need for water
Holds up in any weather
Full range of color options
Can prep way ahead of time
Fun for the crafty bride
Cons
It’s difficult to get the look of real flowers
Prep and set up is a lot of work.
Tips & Tricks
Decide if you want your bouquets on the head table during reception. In vases or laid on table?
Bouquets or centerpieces will look best if you use floral foam rather than just loosely throwing stems in
Find a team of friends and family to help assemble. Make a sample that you like and have them copy it.
Wood flowers can be dyed any color!
Don’t forget about greenery/filler. Perhaps the most important part
Another great (and budget-friendly) option for the crafty bride, fake floral comes with the advantage of time! Take advantage of those slow months of wedding planning, assemble a team of friends and family and set aside several days as a flower workshop to put your pieces together in advance. Keep in mind you’ll need help with delivery and set up on your wedding day with this option as well, although you won’t need to worry as much about your arrangements tipping or spilling!
That being said, if you are hoping your fake flowers will look like the real deal, you have a challenge ahead of you. Use photos of real flower arrangements as inspiration, don’t forget about fillers like greenery or grasses and be sure to look at your sample arrangement from all angles and in all sorts of lighting to make sure you’ve got it looking just right. When done right, fake floral can be a fun project and can look great in your photos and space!
So as you can see, there are lots of options to consider as you plan your wedding floral. My own personal opinion, is if you can afford it, go with a florist! They will be one of your favorite wedding vendors and will help take all the stress out of planning your wedding floral! Plus, it’s truly hard to beat the look and smell of real, fresh flowers. That being said, if you want to take on a DIY floral project for your wedding day, more power to you! If you are ambitious, creative and patient it can be done well and look great! Just be sure to know the work and time you’re getting yourself into and make sure the design and creation of your floral décor will bring more joy to your wedding planning process than stress.
Real Floral Fersk Floral Artistry DIY Real Floral Flower Moxie DIY Fake Floral Flowers Sola Wood Flowers DIY Fake Floral Filler Afloral
