Top Tips for Couples Wanting to DIY Their Wedding Flowers
So, you’ve decided to create your own wedding flowers — how exciting!
Whether you’re dreaming of wild, hand-tied bouquets or a few simple table posies, going DIY can be a lovely way to bring a personal touch to your day. With a bit of planning (and a few buckets of blooms), you can absolutely make it work.
Here are my top tips to help you get started — drawn from years of seasonal floristry here at Bride & Bloom.
Start with a Clear Vision
Before ordering a single stem, spend time exploring your style. Pinterest is a creative’s heaven — but remember, not every “floral look” you find online is logistically achievable in real life. Gather inspiration, but focus on what’s truly you.
It’s also helpful to collect a few images you don’t like and note why — this makes defining your taste much easier.
Once you’ve got a feel for your aesthetic, take time to work out what floral elements you actually want to include in your day. Do you dream of simple, paired back tablescapes, over-spilling, rustic milk churns, or just a few beautifully placed bud vases?
Make a simple list of the arrangements you’d love to have — for example:
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Bridal and bridesmaid bouquets
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Buttonholes or corsages
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Ceremony flowers or aisle decorations
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Table centrepieces or bud vases
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Statement pieces for your entrance, signage, or bar area
Then ask yourself:
? Do you want to make everything yourselves, from bouquets to buttonholes to table flowers and more?
? Or would you prefer to just DIY some pieces, like table flowers, and leave the more technical designs to a florist?
There’s no right or wrong approach — it’s all about balancing your time, budget, and confidence level. Many couples find that combining professional floristry for key items with DIY arrangements for the venue gives them the best of both worlds.
Be Realistic About Logistics
If you’re thinking of DIYing every floral element, take some time to plan out the practicalities.
You’ll need:
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Space – somewhere cool, shaded, and big enough for buckets of flowers, table top space, tools, and people moving around.
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Time – flowers need conditioning, arranging, and setting up — it all takes longer than you might imagine.
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Helpers – even simple bud vases can become a big job if you’ve got 20 tables. Have a team (and a kettle!) ready.
And be honest with yourself — if you’re very particular about how you want everything to look, then full DIY might not be the best route. The last thing you want is to spend the day before your wedding feeling stressed because Aunty Maureen’s interpretation of “natural and wild” isn’t quite what you had in mind… and it’s too late to fix it.
It’s also important to check in with your venue early on.
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Can you access the space the day before to set up?
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If not, where will you arrange your flowers?
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Is there storage or refrigeration on-site?
DIYing, even if it’s “just” table flowers, is messy and time-consuming — there’ll be leaves, offcuts, puddles, and a fair bit of tidying up. Think carefully about how you want to spend your final pre-wedding day:
Would you be happiest surrounded by flowers and friends, creating something beautiful?
Or would you rather have your nails done and enjoy a peaceful spa day with your partner before the celebrations begin?
Again, there is no one-size fits all — but it’s worth being honest with yourself early on, so you can plan accordingly and enjoy every moment of your wedding week.
? Reality Check: The Practical Side of DIY Flowers
DIYing your wedding flowers can be joyful, creative, and beautifully personal — but it’s not a small task.
Before you dive in, remember:
? You’ll need space. Buckets, blooms, tools, and water take up far more room than you’d expect.
⏰ You’ll need time. Conditioning, arranging, and setting up can take a full day (or two).
? You’ll need people. Enlist a small, reliable team — and maybe reward them with cake!
?️ Check your venue access. Can you set up the day before? If not, where will you work instead?
? Be honest about control. If you’re particular about how things look, consider letting a florist handle the key designs.
? Think about your priorities. Would you rather be arranging flowers… or relaxing with your partner at the spa, nails freshly done?
The key is to plan early, be realistic, and create space for calm and joy in those precious pre-wedding days.
Think Seasonally and Time it Right
When it comes to planning your wedding flowers, timing and seasonality go hand in hand. Start looking around about a year before your wedding — notice what’s growing locally outside and what colours the landscape offers at that time of year. The hedgerows, gardens, and fields can be wonderful indicators of what might be naturally available for your date.
Working with the seasons is one of the best decisions you can make for your wedding flowers. British-grown blooms are not only fresher and more sustainable, but they bring a wonderful sense of place and time to your day. I wholeheartedly recommend using them — it’s something I truly love doing myself. By choosing local flowers, you’ll enjoy more variety, beautiful textures, and a natural flow that reflects the moment you’re getting married.
If you’re drawn to particular tones — for example, the toffee and antique rose shades that are currently so popular — it’s worth knowing that these varieties are often only available to professional florists through Dutch flower auctions online. You may not be able to source them easily as a DIY couple, so if you’ve fallen in love with a trending colour palette, like Mocha, one of Pantone’s Colours of the Year for 2025, you can absolutely weave it into your styling in creative ways. Think table linens, candles, ribbons, or even the ties and pocket squares for the groomsmen — subtle touches that tie everything together beautifully without relying solely on the flowers.
Finally, remember that flowers are living things — they have rhythms and needs. Whether you’re ordering from Bride and Bloom, direct from a grower or a wholesaler, plan for your blooms to arrive 2 days before the wedding, giving you time to condition and arrange them calmly.
? Florist’s Insight: Why British Blooms Shine
There’s something truly special about using British-grown flowers for your wedding. They’re full of life, texture, and character — often with little quirks that make them feel all the more romantic.
Here’s why I love them:
? They reflect the season. Each month brings new colour palettes and shapes — from spring tulips to late-summer dahlias.
? They’re fresher and longer-lasting. Local blooms spend less time in transit, so they arrive vibrant and full of energy.
? They’re sustainable. Supporting local growers means fewer air miles and a lighter environmental footprint.
? They feel authentic. Your flowers will naturally complement the landscape and setting of your wedding day.
British blooms have a beauty that can’t be replicated by imported stems — they tell the story of when and where you got married, and that’s what makes them so special.
Conditioning & Flower Care
for DIY Brides and Grooms
Conditioning is the term given to the “pre care” of your wedding flowers before you even start arranging them. This step is crucial and often overlooked as it takes time but is critical to ensure your Flowers are in tip top condition for your wedding day.
The 5 simple (but critical steps below) apply to homegrown and imported flowers alike. If you are working with home-grown flowers – pick them early in the morning or last thing in the evening when the temperatures are cooler. If buying from a local flower farmer your flowers should be pre conditioned- ask them- it may be that flowers were picked that morning and need longer to drink. If you have chosen DIY buckets from myself, your flowers will be pre-conditioned and ready for you to arrange with – easy !
Flower Power
Beautiful blooms begin with good conditioning — it’s what keeps them looking fresh all day. When your flowers arrive:
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Unpack them straight away and remove all packaging.
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Trim each stem at a diagonal angle (about 2–3 cm from the bottom) using clean, sharp scissors or secateurs — this helps them drink more easily.
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Strip away any leaves below the water line to prevent rot and bacteria.
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Place them in deep, clean buckets of fresh, cool water with a little flower food, and leave them to hydrate for several hours (or overnight if possible).
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Keep them cool and out of direct sunlight — a garage, utility room, or shaded corner works perfectly.
When arranging, refresh water regularly and re-cut stems if they’ve been out for a while. Mist delicate petals lightly on the morning of the wedding for that just-picked glow.
A little care goes a long way — your flowers will thank you!
DIY with a Florist’s Touch
I have to be honest, many florists aren’t keen on creating for DIY weddings — obviously they’re not getting that work, they may lose out on bigger contracts and there’s the chance that DIY arrangements look unprofessional & effect long established reputations.
A Happy Medium
Having been a DIY Bride myself but now a professional florist, I can understand both sides of the coin so here at Bride & Bloom, I believe there can be a happy middle ground which is why I devised two ways of working together.
With my Curated Floral Service, you can choose me to create your essential wedding pieces — your bridal bouquet, buttonholes, or ceremony arrangements — and then add on buckets of seasonal DIY blooms for you to arrange in bud vases or key statement areas around your venue.
It’s the perfect hybrid: you get professional floristry where it matters most, while still enjoying the creative satisfaction (and budget flexibility) of DIY.
Learn with Hannah — Organise a Private Floral Workshop
I have to be honest, many florists aren’t keen on creating for DIY weddings — obviously they’re not getting that work, they may lose out on bigger contracts and there’s the chance that DIY arrangements look unprofessional & effect long established reputations.
Floral Workshops
If you’re serious about DIYing your wedding flowers from start to finish, why not plan ahead and book a floral workshop with me – ideally a year before your big day.
It’s a relaxed, hands-on session where I’ll guide you through everything from conditioning and arranging to colour theory and mechanics — all tailored to your style and skill level. Workshops can take place in my home studio for up to 2 people or you are welcome to host me and I’ll bring everything along that we need to get creative with flowers.
Your workshop session with me will leave you feeling confident, inspired, and ready to bring your floral vision to life with ease and joy. It’s also a lovely excuse to spend a creative day together — perhaps with your bridesmaids, mum, or friends who will be helping you on the day.
PHOTO CREDITS
