How to Design Your Own Wedding Flowers

Your wedding is an extension of you and your future mate's personalities. Each aspect of the celebration is as important as the next, from the invitations, to the music, to the wedding party attire. One of the final touches that ties your wedding theme or style together is the flowers. Whether you're looking for drama or whimsy, different flowers speak to different emotions and feelings. What if you meet with every florist on your list and nothing strikes your fancy? Design your own.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Scan magazines and go on-line for ideas. Exhaust as many resources as you can to get the best idea about the type of flowers and the style of bouquets, boutonniere, centerpieces and other wedding flowers you'll want for your wedding. Try stopping by a fancy hotel on a weekend afternoon, when it's most common for weddings to be happening, and take note of any arrangements that you might see and like.

2. Compile your ideas. It's crucial to make certain all those copious notes find the same home. Whether it's a binder, a simple notebook or a laptop computer, be sure you sort through your research, weed out the ideas that don't fit well, and save everything else.

3. Decide on a budget. Before you begin choosing actual flowers, or start designing arrangements, set a realistic budget for what you can spend on your flowers. It's tremendously important to be truthful and honest about this part of the planning process, because if you aim too low, you'll regret not spending just a bit more for what you really wanted. Aim too high and you'll end up sacrificing some other aspect of the wedding.

4. Choose a color scheme. Think about the season, the time of day or night that the wedding and reception are occurring and the feeling you're trying to portray on that day and select a color scheme for your flowers based on these considerations.

5. Choose your flowers. Once the above steps are in place, it's time to choose the actual flowers. Several different types of flowers will be available in the same color. However, if your wedding is happening in December, it's next to impossible to obtain hydrangeas. You want a flower that is available in the particular season your wedding is taking place. It saves money. Once you've chosen the flowers, you'll be able to place an order, usually with a flower wholesaler.

6. Recruit help and make space. When your flower order arrives, a day or two before the wedding, be sure there is enough cool space to store the flowers in. Also, depending on how many bouquets and other arrangements need to be made, it's probably a good idea to recruit some help from bridesmaids, groomsmen or other family and friends to assist in the design of your flowers.