We all know that going DIY is a great way to save when you’re planning out the details for your wedding. But remember, there can be some drawbacks. DIY projects typically take more time and energy than hiring a professional, so you should always consider whether saving the money is really worth your time. If the answer is yes, then go for it! If you’re already feeling overloaded and stressed, it might be worth your sanity to hire a professional (If you’re still curious about which route you should take, read our recent blog post on DIY Reality Checks).
Step 1: Pick your flower. Often, for DIY bouquets it’s easiest to work with a single type of flower for your bouquet, or to go with a “wildflower” look rather than a formal arrangement. Try roses, posies, peonies, hydrangeas or other types with large blooms. You can also save by choosing flowers that are in season for the time of year you’re getting married.
Step 2: Trim away anything that looks subpar. If a flower has more than one blossom per stem, clip off anything that doesn’t look perfect. Trim away browning, wilting leaves, thorns, and pluck off the petals that don’t have perfect edges.
Step 3: Keep some leaves on the stems to add greenery to your arrangement and frame the exterior of the bouquet.
Step 4: If you’ve chosen a flower with a particularly weak stem (like Gerbera daisies), consider reinforcing the stem with floral wire. Use about four inches of floral wire and insert it at the point where the flower meets the stem, hiding it neatly under some petals. This will keep the bloom standing upright and offer it extra protection in case you accidentally drop the bouquet before you make it to the aisle. Repeat this process with the floral wire for any blooms that are top-heavy or extra fragile.
Step 5: Now, gather some of the stems in your hand, adding one or two at a time at different levels as you go.
Step 6: Tie off your bouquet with some twine or string. Cover the stems with floral wire, wrapping tightly as you go so the flowers won’t shift from their set position. Use ribbon in a color of your choice to wrap around the floral wire down the stems of the flowers. For an extra touch, you can also purchase white pins from a craft store and stick them into the ribbon forming a straight line down the stems of the bouquet.
Viola! You’ve made a pro-looking bouquet in no time!
Want more great DIY wedding ideas? Check out our blog at MyDIYWeddingDay.com
Apr 01, 2010
See More: Flowers