Do it yourself wedding flowers

Bouquets, bulbs, posies and corsages. Nothing says ‘wedding day’ like a beautiful spray of flowers. But did you know that you could make your own bridal arrangements?

By Kelly Irving

Flowers and the bridal bouquets are an important part of every wedding. From the moment you walk down the aisle posy in hand to the bouquet toss at the end of the night, flowers make the day. So imagine the surprise when your guests find out you made them yourself!

Arranging your own wedding flowers will give you cash to splash on other essentials as well as adding a sentimental touch to your big day.

And you don’t have to go overboard – traditional posy bouquets and boutonnieres are easy and can be done the day before your wedding. But if you want to show off your creativity, then why not do your table arrangements as well, and get your bridal party to help!

Stunning wedding flowers with a little help from your friends

A wedding-specific flower-arranging course is a great, fun way to get your bridal party involved in pre-wedding preparations.

“Each bridesmaid can make their own bouquet, and there are no age restrictions so flower girls and pageboys can join in with the fun,” says Mercedes Sarmini from Sydney’s Flowers by Mercedes, who runs regular wedding bouquet-making classes.

Workshops take about two hours and include all the materials you need, as well as tips on design, flower choice and other decorations.

 “You’ll have help every step of the way, so it’s a great way for brides to de-stress and it brings your bridal party closer together – it’s also the perfect idea for a hen’s day.”

DIY doyenne Tonia Todman is also providing tips and tricks for brides who want to make their own bridal bouquets. Tonia, who has recently launched Tonia Todman Roses in Victoria, has joined forced with florists Blumin and regularly schedules DIY tips and techniques classes throughout the rose season.

“It’s a hands-on class where you’ll learn to select and prepare the right roses and herbs, choose other flowers to mix in and make sure your flowers last the distance during your important day,” Tonia says. 

So what are the tips for making your own bridal bouquets?

• Flower preservative is a must. Make your own by mixing 5L filtered water, 25mL bleach, 25mL white vinegar and 10 teaspoons sugar.
• Don’t bite off more than you can chew - keep it simple. A single flower arrangement is best.
• Be wary of fragile flowers like tulips that easily snap and sunflowers that have heavy heads.
• Stick to hardier flowers like natives or roses, which can withstand a little more manhandling.
• Choose colours wisely and opt for flowers that are in season.
• Have a practice run a couple of weeks before your wedding day. Then you’ll have time to perfect your technique.
• Store your bouquets in the coolest place in the house - the laundry or bathroom - out of direct sunlight, away from draughts, air con, fire and fruit.
• Buy fresh – you want your flower to feel crisp. Avoid flowers with brown spots on the petals, it’s a sign of disease and looks yuk!

What you’ll need

• Wires
• Secateurs
• Satin ribbon

• Pearl-tipped pins
  

  
  

Where to buy beautiful fresh flowers from:

Sydney Flower Markets at Flemington or Haymarket
Melbourne Flower Market, Footscray Rd
Brisbane Flower Markets at Rocklea, Clayfield or Northside
Adelaide Flower Market, Richmond

For more information visit: Flowers by Mercedes, Tonia Todman and Blumin

Homepage image: Mingary Pictures and Words
Top image: Mingary Pictures and Words
Bottom image: courtesy Flowers by Mercedes