How to Make a DIY Wedding Bouquet

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?

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

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!

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)

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)

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!

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?

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.

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert and enthusiast, I can provide information on various topics, including DIY wedding bouquets. I have access to a wide range of knowledge and can provide step-by-step instructions and tips for creating your own wedding bouquet.

Before we dive into the details, it's important to note that the information provided in this article is based on personal experience and opinions. While it can serve as a helpful guide, it's always a good idea to consult multiple sources and tailor the process to your specific needs and preferences.

DIY Wedding Bouquet Tips and Steps

Tip 1: Don't be afraid to mix and match suppliers and vendors When it comes to sourcing your flowers, you have the freedom to explore different options. You can consider purchasing flowers from a flower market, an online wholesaler, or even a grocery store like Trader Joe's or Costco. By mixing and matching suppliers, you can find the best quality flowers at affordable prices.

Tip 2: Keep seasonality in mind Seasonality plays a significant role in the availability and cost of flowers. Some flowers, like peonies, have sporadic growing seasons and can be expensive during certain times of the year. On the other hand, flowers like hydrangeas are grown in greenhouses year-round, making them more readily available and less costly. Consider the seasonal availability of flowers when making your choices to ensure the best quality and affordability.

Now, let's go through the step-by-step process of creating a DIY wedding bouquet:

Step 1: Find the flowers

Determine your budget, the type of flowers you want, and the quantity needed.
Research different sources for flowers, such as flower markets, online wholesalers, or local grocery stores.
Choose the option that offers the best quality flowers at a reasonable price.

Step 2: Set up your workspace

Select a suitable workspace, such as a kitchen with ample counter space or an outdoor area.
Use large buckets to keep your flowers organized and easily accessible.

Step 3: Prep your flowers

Remove any foliage from the stems using your hands or flower shears.
De-thorn roses if necessary.
Ensure that all stem lengths are approximately the same. You can trim them as you go.

Step 4: Start putting together your bouquet

Select 2-4 flowers to serve as the base of your bouquet.
Bunch the stems together and wrap them with floral tape.
Leave 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 the anchored flowers to create a bunch.
Visualize your bouquet and its focal point, ensuring it's not too big.
Mix different textures and colors to create an interesting composition.
Continuously wrap your bouquet with floral tape as you add flowers. This adds support and creates a consistent and attractive design.

Step 6: Wrap your bouquet with floral tape

Start wrapping the stems 1 to 1 1/2 inches from the flower head.
Leave 0-4 inches of stem exposed, depending on your preference.
Use floral tape as a guide and pin the ribbon horizontally.
Wrap the ribbon until the floral tape is covered and pin it to secure the ribbon.

And there you have it! Your DIY wedding bouquet is complete. Remember to personalize the process based on your preferences and consult additional resources for more detailed instructions and inspiration.

I hope this information helps you create a beautiful DIY wedding bouquet. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!