Click on the picture below to watch the HOW TO’s and don’t forget to grab your DIY guide below to make your wedding flowers flawless!
Here is your guide….
Step 1. Pick a color palate that you want to stay within. This can be the colors of your wedding or a color block (a few colors that go well together)
Step 2. Find a Flower Mart. We live in the Los Angeles area so we have a flower mart in L.A. that is open to the public. This is where most florists go to get their flowers! Flower marts sell flowers in bulk at a lower price point. Usually flower marts have an admission cost (ours is $2). You want to carry cash with you to buy your flowers because a lot of them don’t allow credit card purchasing or the minimum is around $50. You will also want to rent a cart to carry your flowers. Flowers get heavy and it is so much easier to see what you already have bought and what you still need if you aren’t carrying tons of flowers in your hands. You also may want to pack some large buckets in the car with some water to place your flowers in for the drive home. Just don’t fill it too full or you car interior will get a good washing.
Step 3. Know your containers. I have found so many beautiful and inexpensive containers and vases for my flowers over the years at the flower mart. I usually buy a bunch. If you have containers already, make sure you know how many you are trying to fill, that way you will know roughly how many flowers you will need. If your containers need floral foam make sure you account for that as well. I only use floral foam for my bowl shaped vessels. You don’t want to use floral foam for clear vases or you will see it through the vase.
Step 4. Know what you are buying flowers for. I usually write a list of all the different arrangements I will need. For example here is my list for a recent wedding.Flower Arrangements:
- 1 Brial Bouquet
- 1 Small Mother Bouquet
- 2 Boutonnieres
- 8 Table Centerpieces
- Flowers for Cake
- Loose Eyucaliptus for 4 Tables
- Loose Flowers for Buffet Table
- Loose Greenery + Flowers for 6 Flower Hoops
- Floral Arrangements for 3 Large Boxes
Step 5. Get a good pair of flower scissors, wire, and floral tape. You can buy amazing flower scissors here. I buy this wire and this floral tape. I have also found this setto be a great bargain. If you are making boutonnieres you will also need these. I also buy ribbon to cover the flower tape. You can use a neutral color like a cream color or go with a color from the wedding.
Step 6. Have a friend help you. It is so much fun to do arrangements with another person. Not to mention its easier and faster. So grab a friend and make it a fun day.
Step 8. Clean and cut your flowers and give them something to drink. When I get home from the flower mart, I immediately lay out all my different flowers, clean off excess leaves with flower sheers, cut them and place them in water before I even do my arrangements. This way they are getting something to drink and they are less likely to wilt. You never want to do this outside in the heat. Your flowers will wilt and you will be very sad!Step 9. Start your arrangements! This is the fun part. I like to add flowers in bunches in my hand first to see if I will like the arrangement. I love using a couple of techniques.
Part 1. Do an arrangement all in one color. For example I love when you have a couple arrangements full of different types of flowers but all in the same color palate.
Part 2. Add some greens. In almost every flower arrangement I do, I like to add some greenery to make the flowers stand out and to make it fuller. Fillers like greenery are less expensive so you won’t need as many flowers. They also add a more rustic look.Step 10. Flower storage….. Make sure all your flowers are full of water and store them in a cooler place. I like to keep my floral arrangements in a cool room where I know they wont get overheated or wilt.
If your flowers do wilt watch the video below for a great tip to bring them back to life.
Lastly have fun with it and be creative. All flowers are beautiful in my book so just go with what you think looks pretty.
