Arranging your own wedding flowers is a wonderful way to personalize your ceremony, make sure you get exactly the flowers you want, and to save money. It can be a fun activity to share with your bridesmaids, and a great way to give friends a sense of hands-on involvement in your wedding. That doesn’t mean it’s not a challenge! I answer a lot of questions from all of you, but the most common question is "how do I arrange my flowers?"

An earlier issue of our wedding newsletter included some ideas specifically for centerpieces, and you can find that in our online archive. Centerpieces aren’t the only arrangements you’ll have, though, so I thought I’d offer some more general tips in this month’s newsletter.

Many of you begin the process with specific flowers already chosen. You’ll want to keep a few characteristics of the flowers in mind as you start thinking about how to arrange them. The look of each flower is important, and you’ll want to consider size, color, and if the flower has a strong scent.

Once you’ve chosen your flowers, you’ll need to find vases. Bear in mind the fact that all of your arrangements will probably not be the same size, and plan accordingly. A centerpiece should be much smaller than an altar arrangement, so they will need different-sized vases. For a bit of variety, try vases that go together, but aren’t identical. For a bit more variety, try using containers that weren’t designed to be vases; you might try Mason Jars, fishbowls, martini glasses, votive cups, antique bottles or anything that’s watertight and appeals to you!

Ideally, you should choose the vase and flowers so that the vase comes 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up the stems. Don’t be afraid to cut quite a bit off taller flowers, especially if you’re using them as centerpieces. Arrangements should be proportional to tables, and not overwhelming if they’re close. Oriental Lilies look amazing from a few feet away, but might be a little too dramatic up close!

Of course, what’s most important is that you love the look of your flowers, whether you fill the room with bright tulips in unusual vases or use more traditional arrangements in shades of white and cream. I hope these tips are helpful, and please don’t hesitate to email or call me if you have any further questions about flower arranging, or wedding flowers in general! You can also find lots of information and ideas in Flowerbud’s DIY Wedding section.

As always, thanks for your interest in Flowerbud.com, and have a wonderful Autumn.

Best Wishes,
Erin Freed
Erin@flowerbud.com
Event Flower Specialist