| A wedding takes an enormous amount of time | | | | before tackling the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets. |
| and money. From the hall to the dress, the | | | | These also typically take the most time to do. |
| flowers, the cake, invitations, food etc., it is wise | | | | There are two ways you can go. You can go to |
| to save where you can. You may not want to | | | | a craft store and buy ready made floral foam |
| cut corners with your dress but you can save a | | | | with a handle and lace skirt that you will soak with |
| lot of money doing your own flowers. | | | | water to insert your flowers into or you put |
| A florist needs to make money and in order for | | | | freshly cut stems together and bind them with |
| them to this they need to spike up cost | | | | floral tape and then ribbon. |
| tremendously. What you are paying for is not | | | | 4) A simple but beautiful bouquet can be made by |
| only the flowers but you are paying for the cost | | | | taking roses that have been cleaned of most of |
| of the flowers, vases and containers (which they | | | | their leaves and thorns. In one hand hold the first |
| buy wholesale and mark up 50% to 75%), the | | | | few roses and keep adding a rose one at a time |
| salaries of the people making the arrangements, | | | | until you have the desired amount of roses. Make |
| paying for the driver and gas and other incidentals. | | | | sure they are not all flat at the top. You want |
| This is their business and they need to do this in | | | | your bouquet to be rounded. You do this by |
| order to be successful. | | | | carefully taking the outer roses and pulling them |
| But if you are somewhat artistic and want to | | | | down gently all around until you have the desired |
| save some money, you can do your own flowers. | | | | effect. The center of your roses will be the |
| Here are some basic things you need to do: | | | | highest roses while the rest of the roses will |
| 1) Look through bridal magazines or online to get | | | | gently slope downward. |
| an idea of what kind of arrangements you are | | | | 5) When you have decided what you want then |
| interested in. Having pictures of what you like can | | | | gather up your bridesmaids or whom ever you |
| help you decide the colors and styles. Investing in | | | | think could best help you and well before the |
| a flower arranging book can be of enormous | | | | wedding, do a test run and make one of each |
| value to you as it gives you the complete how | | | | arrangement you would like to do. This will give |
| too and what tools you need and lots and lots of | | | | you an idea of how it is going to look and how |
| pictures. | | | | long it takes to do each one. Take a close up |
| 2) Without having experience in floral design, | | | | picture of each arrangement once you are |
| simple may be a better choice but that does not | | | | satisfied. Doing a run through also lets you |
| mean it's less effective. Something like a tall vase | | | | determine the cost. Just multiply by the number |
| with white gladiolas in them placed on each table | | | | of arrangements you need to do. If you are |
| looks incredible and is about the easiest | | | | happy about your work and you really want to |
| arrangement you can put together. This also | | | | know what your savings will be, then take your |
| works very well as altar pieces. If you want a | | | | pictures to a flower shop and get them to give |
| low arrangement you can do something like a low | | | | an estimate for making the same arrangements. |
| vase with just roses of your color choice and | | | | You will know what you paid, now compare that |
| sprinkle rose petals around it on each table. If | | | | to the florists quote. |
| roses are too expensive you can do the same | | | | Doing your own flowers will take more of your |
| with cheaper flowers such as carnations, daisies, | | | | time but if you have a good support system |
| Gerber daisies or mums. Whatever you like that | | | | helping you, (which can be a really fun time) you |
| fits your budget. | | | | can take pride in your accomplishments and save |
| 3) Do the table arrangements and altar pieces | | | | a lot of money. |