DIY: Wedding Flower Bouquets
Flowers help create the atmosphere you want at your wedding, but hiring a florist can wreak havoc with your budget. You will still have to pay for flowers, but if you make the bouquets yourself, you can save money and add a personal touch to your wedding bouquets. All it takes is preparation and creativity.
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Instructions
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Preparation
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Choose flowers for your wedding. Keep your wedding colors and style in mind. Your flowers can help you emphasize your theme. Order flowers that match your colors, but remember to use accent colors as well. If your flowers, dresses and tablecloths are all the same color, your wedding can seem boring. Choose flowers in season at the time of your wedding so that your blooms are fresh and readily available.
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Order your flowers at least six weeks in advance. Purchase the flowers from a wholesale flower shop to save money. Give the store plenty of time to locate and order the flowers for you. This gives you time to make new arrangements if certain blooms aren't available -- and ensures your flowers will arrive when you need them. Remember to confirm your order a week or two before the wedding.
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Enlist family, friends or bridesmaids to help. You might get overwhelmed if you have to make your bridal bouquet, your bridesmaids' bouquets and centerpieces by yourself. Plan a bouquet-making party the day before your wedding and assign each volunteer a bouquet or two.
Assembly
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Remove dead or excess leaves and petals from each stem. This will help your bouquets look healthy. Consider removing thorns from rose stems as well, to keep yourself and others from being stabbed by them throughout the wedding.
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Divide the flowers for each bouquet. Plan to include 30 to 60 stems in the bridal bouquet and 10 to 20 in each smaller bouquet. Set aside large leaves, grasses or other items you plan to use to accent and fill out your bouquets.
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Pick two or three flowers for the middle of the bouquet. Add stems one at a time until your bouquet is the desired size. Rearrange stems as you see fit to create the look you want.
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Wrap a rubber band just below the blooms to secure the bouquet. Add a second rubber band about two fist-widths below the first. Starting at the first band, wrap a ribbon that matches your wedding colors around the stems. Stop at the second rubber band and wind the ribbon back to the top. Secure the ribbon with straight pins. You can use pearled pins to add elegance to your bouquets. You can also embellish with bows or jewels.
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Trim the ends of the stems 1 or 2 inches below the handle (ribbon) of each bouquet. Cut each stem at an angle to allow them to absorb more water and stay fresh longer.
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Tips & Warnings
Preserve the bouquets by storing them in shallow cups of water and placing them in the refrigerator. The cool air keeps petals from withering, and the water keeps them fresh. Don't fill the cups too full or your ribbons will get wet.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
