8-Step DIY Wedding Flower Guide

Wedding planning can be... a lot. We know that. And if you don't know that yet, you'll find out soon enough. We also know that we have a lot of planning resources. The last thing we want is for our tidbits of help to be overwhelming. So, we created a comprehensive DIY Wedding flower guide to help you through an overview of the process with links to more in-depth information. It's supposed to be the best day of your life, not the most stressful. 

Never fear! Together, we got this!

DIY Wedding Flower Guide

Step One: Choose Your Wedding Theme and Colors

Choosing what your wedding will look like is a crucial part of the wedding planning. You can only go so far looking at flowers without this information. Stay true to yourself, and the rest will fall into place. 

This is where Pinterest comes into handy. Pin everything and get inspired! Click here to find our favorite looks. 

If you need help or inspiration on wedding colors, check out our article Best Wedding Colors: 25 Dreamy Color Palettes. 

Step Two: Decide on a Flower Budget

This is arguably the most difficult and confusing part of planning wedding flowers. Staring at averages and recommended percentages can only get you so far. There are so many factors that go into a flower budget. How many people are in the wedding party? How many tables will the reception have and what size are they? What kind of flowers do you absolutely love and what types do you want nowhere near your special day? You may have luxurious tastes without even knowing it!

Check out our article How Much Do Wedding Flowers Cost? to dive deeper into creating a flower budget. Click here to download a free wedding flower calculator. 

The most important part of creating a preliminary flower budget is remembering it's just that, preliminary. You won't be able to set anything in stone until you actually place your order, but you can have a general idea. Set an approximate amount you're comfortable with. As you go through the remaining steps, the hard lines of your budget will become clearer. 

Step Three: Finalize Counts

This step is really when the whole process starts coming together. Once you finalize the counts, you can solidify your budget and plan your order. It is also important to finalize your guests count and reception layout before trying to order your flowers. 10-foot long rectangular tables need a different centerpiece style than four-foot round tables. 

Need help figuring out who exactly needs flowers on the big day? Check out our Wedding Flower List.   

Step Four: Schedule a Flower Consultation

Did you know we have in-house floral specialist waiting to help you plan the flowers for your special day? Schedule a consultation and let us answer all your questions like, "What do I do if I love peonies but want an October wedding?" and "How many stems of Italian Ruscus will my bridal bouquet need?". By the end of the 45-minute call you'll even have an order created down to the details of stem count per arrangement. 

Click here to schedule. 

Step Five: Order Your Flowers!

You have all the details ironed out. You have your dream cart ready. It's time to order! Please take into consideration the recommended amount of days prior to your event each product should be scheduled to arrive.  

For more information about ordering: Countdown To The Wedding: Preparing To Order Wedding Flowers. 

Step Six: Get Ready to Arrange

Ahhhh! You're getting so close to the big day now. This time is all about preparation, preparation, preparation. Make sure you have all of your arrangement recipes, receiving and processing items, vessels, and arranging supplies ready to go. Find a detailed list of all the things you need for flowers during Wedding Week here. 

Study as many of our DIY guides as possible. Don't forget to check out our DIY videos too. 

Most Helpful DIY Flower articles:

• How To Make A DIY Wedding Bouquet
• Types Of Flowers: Focals, Fillers, And More!
• How To Make A Boutonniere And Corsage: A DIY Tutorial
• 12 Types Of Wedding Bouquets
• Top 10 Hardy Wedding Flowers: Heat Resistant & Easy To Arrange 

Step Seven: Arrange

Since you prepared so well in the steps above, the rest of the process should be a breeze! Sit back, relax, and get married!!

The hands-on experience of creating the arrangements for your wedding is unforgettable. It's a time to appreciate the beauty of such a special day. It's a time to bond with your close friends and family. Make memories of grandma wrapping your bridal bouquet while reminiscing about her wedding day all those years ago. Giggle as your flower girl spills water and your maid of honor dancing with the garland to "Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend" blasting on the speaker.

Yes, it can be a bit nerve-wracking to arrange flowers with little experience, especially for something as important as your wedding. We believe in you! You've done so much in your life up to this point. You've mastered hard things, smashed goals, and weathered brutal storms. You can take nature's gifts and enhance it with your personality and love. Gone are the days of perfectly round bouquets without a piece out of place. Meaningful experiences and authenticity are in. 

Step Eight: Transport Arrangements and Place Them for the Big Day

The last step is getting your flowers to the venue and placing the beautiful arrangements where they need to go. Then, let them shine! Make sure all of the arrangements have a good and full water source. Keep a bucket of the extra flowers somewhere handy to replace any sad or broken stems. 

Click to learn more: How To Keep Flowers Fresh: Care And Transportation Tips!

Bonus Step: Have the Best Wedding Ever!!

We hope this guide helps ease some of the wedding planning pains. We also hope your wedding flowers are everything you've dreamed of and more. You got this, girl. You can do anything you want! Including DIY wedding flowers.  

Are you ready to get started on your flower journey? We're here for you! Start shopping for wedding flowers by color or variety, or explore your style by following us on Pinterest or checking out our Make This Look page. 

We send fresh flowers straight from the farms to your arms, so you can design your dream look while saving money. If you need help designing, be sure to check out our YouTube for DIY tutorials, book a consultation, or read the blogs below for some more guidance! 

Read More Like This:

• You're Engaged! Create Your Wedding Flower Planner
• DIY Wedding Planning: A Stress-Free Flower Story
• Budget Saver: DIY Wedding Combo Packs

Credit:

Header Photo - Photographer: Yana Benjamin, Floral Design: MK Carroll Designs, Rentals: Ruby Slipper Design, Cake: Gwen's Cake Decorating, Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal, Groom Apparel: Zara

Photo 1 - Photographer: Jon Sharman Photography, Dress Designer: Martina Liana from Maggie Louise Bridal Shop, Caterer: Esplanade, Groom Attire: Jos A. Banks, Band: DNA Entertainment-Memphis

Photo 2 - Photographer: Ana Greene Photography, Event Venue: Fenimore Art Museum and Farmers' Museum

Photo 3 & 4 - FiftyFlowers

Photo 5 - Venue: Fourth Street Gardens, Emmett, ID, Photographer: Quincy's Photos, Flowers: FiftyFlowers, Dress: Kate's Bridal Cottage, Abella Bride, Allure Bridals, MUAH: BA Makeup Company, Chrischelle Hirano, Earrings: Untamed Petals, Veil: Lord and Grey Bridal, Men's Attire: Men's Wearhouse, Photo Backdrop: Hello Honey, Boise Catering: Luckyroot Tacos, Dessert: The STIL, Video: Adam Knowles, Audio Visual: Voltline Media, Reception DJ: DJ Meesh, Coordination: Maddy Bauserman, Vow Books: Lovely in Letters, Bride and Groom: Coen and Leah Jardine