Wedding Flower Arrangements
The cost of weddings nowadays are sky rocketing. From the bride's gown, the reception, the catering, the entourage's attire, the limo services, and of course the fresh cut flowers for the wedding's flower arrangements. But for a savvy and imaginative bride, the cost can be reduced if you make your own wedding flower arrangements.
The process is a bit complex especially if you do not follow careful planning and a little research. From the moment you start to plan a wedding, decide right away whether to buy and commission a florist for your wedding flower arrangements, or you do it yourself with the help of your relatives and friends. It is actually a great way to cut the budget if you make your own flower arrangements.
First thing's first, do some research. You could check the local florist in your area and ask for some advice on how to prep and arrange flowers. You can check out magazines and the internet for the latest wedding flower arrangements, tips and how to's. Make print outs of your research and study how you can do the arrangements yourself.
Secondly, learn the art and craft of flower arranging. You need to know the wedding flower arrangements that your wedding calls for. If you truly want to cut the budget by doing all the flower arrangements, you need extra hands to help you out. If you have ample time researching and experimenting prior to your wedding, you may want to prepare a diagram and a step-by-step procedure for your team.
Decide on the type of flowers you want and make sure they are in season. The most popular flowers that brides love to have during their wedding day are roses, tulips, lilies and other scented flowers with beautiful blooms. No matter what type of flowers you want, just always make sure they are available at the time of your wedding. You may want to use additional materials to further beautify your wedding flower arrangements such as greens, vines, fruits, beads and bows.
It is a good idea to make samples ahead of the wedding. Make samples of your bouquet, bouquet for bridesmaids, boutonnières for the groomsmen and your dads, centerpieces and swags. Make sure to use the flower of choice so you can immediately see how the wedding flower arrangement will look like on the day itself. Also record the time of preparation so you can estimate how many pairs of hands you need on the actual preparation of the wedding flower arrangements.
It is also great to prepare a sample bouquet for your fitting day. This is one way to see if your choice of flowers is well coordinated with your gown's design and if the size of the bouquet is appropriate. Check to see if your flowers are well-coordinated in terms of color, type and arrangement. If it doesn't, you can alter whatever that needs to be altered. Same goes for the other arrangements, especially for the bridesmaids' bouquet and centerpieces. Make sure that the colors are well-coordinated.
Preparation is important and crucial to make your wedding flower arrangement project a success. Make sure you have many extra pair of hands and gadgets. If you have five people to help you out, make sure to have 5 sets of gadgetry. You can check out and decide what gadgets you need when you do your research. You may just rent these gadgets instead of buying them, since you only need them once.
When you buy flowers, make sure to buy them in bulk and make sure they are in season. You need containers for the flowers such as buckets to keep the stems immersed in water. Have a dedicated area in your home that you can use in preparing your wedding flower arrangements. If you have air conditioning, make sure to turn it on when working on your flower arrangements to keep the flowers fresh. You need to make room in your chiller or if you have an extra fridge in your house, you can use that in keeping the flowers fresh.
Purchase your flowers only a few days before the wedding because they are highly perishable. Immerse them in buckets of water to keep them fresh. Prepare sponges and preservatives to help keep the flowers last. And make sure you and your team are ready and well-equipped for the project.
Making your own wedding flower arrangements could really take a lot of time especially when they are not arranged by a professional. But planning, practice and keen eye are the most important keys to succeeding through this project.
It is a joyful experience when you and your family and friends are involved in preparing your wedding flower arrangements. It may be a little different from what professional florists do, but with a lot of love and practice, you'll get the hang of it. And of course, it is your pride and joy especially on your wedding day.