Every Sunday, I will post one or more DIY projects or other important items for special events and include a breakdown on cost. Some of them will be from my own wedding and some will be influenced from other ideas I have found.
This week...
Sunday Saver: Winter Bouquets and Boutonnieres
Supplies needed:
Silk Amaryllis: Dozen stems with 3 flowers each, total $56.24 on Amazon.com (V-max Floral Décor)
Feathers: Pack of white feathers at local wholesale flower shop $12
Pine Cones: Bag of medium pine cones with "snow" and wire attached at local wholesale flower shop $10; To save even more, pick your own and paint them (if there are any in your area)
Florist Tape: A roll of this costs only a dollar or two at any craft store or floral dealer. Need 1" and 1/2" rolls
Gold Baby's Breath: one full pack/bouquet (which will be broken up into pieces)- $5!
Pearled Stephanotis and leaves: one bouquet with many flowers at Hobby Lobby $8
Pins: one box at any store or dollar store $1
Gold Sheer Ribbon: $5 big roll from local wholesale flower shop
1/4" White Ribbon: $3 roll from local wholesale flower shop
*You may also need a hot glue gun and glue sticks. Any big DIY fan should have one of these handy!
*Keep in mind, prices will vary depending on your location and where you can buy the supplies. My advice is to check online (specifically Amazon.com) and local wholesale floral shops first for the best deals.
Bride's Bouquet: Total $22 (approximately)
How: Use 1" Floral tape to tie two of the amaryllis stems together. Stick in a few pine cones (use hot glue at the end of the wire for extra security) between the flowers and into the middle of the arrangement and under the tape. Cut chunks of the feathers and use 1/2" floral tape to stick them together. Stick those between the flowers, same way as the pine cones. Make sure everything is wrapped in tight and will stay in place. Use more tape and glue as needed. Tie a very long piece of the gold ribbon around it, wrap it around the stem, make some loops for the top and leave a few long ends hanging down. This part can be very tricky so if you have never done it before, find someone crafty to help or show you how to do it. Some craft stores hold classes for free or very cheap for this sort of stuff. Bridesmaids Bouquet: Total $12 each (approximately)
How: Same as the Bride's Bouquet except just use chunks of gold baby's breath instead of pine cones and feathers. So simple but very pretty.Boutonnieres: Total $2 each! (approximately)
My handsome groom!
How: These are small and only use small fractions of the supplies so that is why the cost is so low. Cut off 3 leaves and 3 stephanotis flowers (make sure they have a good inch or more of stem attached for both). Tie together with the small floral tape. You may need to use the hot glue to make everything stay in place. The 3 leaves should be behind the flowers and in a fanned out position. The flowers should be at 3 different heights, the middle one being the highest. Stick a small chunk (taped together) into the tiny arrangement between the flowers and leaves. Fan those out too, behind the flowers or have it sticking out of one side. Use the white ribbon to wrap around the bottom and tie a little bow in the front. Stick a pin in the back through the tape.
With the bride's bouquet, five bridesmaid's bouquets and nine boutonnieres, the total cost here is $100!
Beats paying hundreds to thousands of dollars on a florist!
These examples were from my own wedding. I did it this way because I could not afford a professional and my mom was a big help. She is very crafty and makes flower arrangements as her hobby and side business and I am very lucky for that. Plus we did have fun making everything and it gave it a personal touch. If I could have hired a professional and saved my mother the trouble I would have, but some of us just aren't that blessed. Not trying to put any florists out of business here!
*All photos by WishTree Photography www.wishtreestudio.com
