Wedding Blog
As excited as I am to be getting married in Jamaica, I feel that having a destination wedding puts a serious damper on my DIY hopes and dreams. If we were getting married in Chicago, I’m afraid that I’d want to do everything from invitations to flowers to hanging lights to… you name it! Our Jamaican par-tay will streamline my potential projects. I tend to get ahead of myself when it comes to any type of project, so perhaps this is actually a GOOD thing.
One aspect that I want (and will try my hardest to achieve) to DIY are the flowers. A (singular) bouquet and boutonniere are included in our wedding package. And let me tell you – I don’t think they’re pretty.
For some reason, anthuriums creep. me. out.
(okay, so they may be pretty, but definitely NOT my style)
Did I mention that I have seven bridesmaids? Well, I do (and more on those lovely ladies later) and the prices from our venue’s “preferred” floral vendor are exorbitant. For example, on a DW blog that I follow, a new bride just returned from Coyaba and spent THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS on one, simple orchid bouquet.
Don’t get me wrong, it is beautiful, but seriously? $300? For a budget bride? I don’t think so.
I posted a question on that same blog, asking any Montego Bay brides if they knew of any local wholesale florists. Luckily, one gal wrote back that she DIY’d her DW flowers and found a wholesale vendor. They don’t have a website or anything, so it makes me a little nervous, but I do have their email address and plan on contacting them. Some friends (and Mr. Quiche) think I’m crazy for wanting to do this, but personally, I think it will help keep me busy and I know a few of them, my mom, and sisters won’t mind helping out. In their defense, they probably want to save me from a potential meltdown, should something not work out.
I stopped at the grocery on my walk home from the train the other night to pick up some roses, and below are the results. Keep in mind that I want something VERY simple, no greenery, no fluff, etc. Also, this entire process took me around 20 minutes—so they are by no means perfect and/or what they would look like on the wedding day—I’ll need to practice, people!
I started by gathering my supplies (scissors, rubber bands, ribbon), then stripping the roses of thorns and leaves.
I then simply gathered the heads of the roses (6 for bridesmaids) and secured them with a rubber band. I didn’t have floral tape, and feel this may have kept them together a little nicer.
After banding them, I took a length of my favorite wedding ribbon 
and wrapped it around the stem. The ribbon is 5/8″ and I definitely think that a wider ribbon would look nicer.
I want my girls to carry deep pink flowers, so I played around with the color a bit (I bought orange-y flowers since it was close to Thanksgiving).
I’d like to carry a slightly fuller bouquet, so here I added 6 roses to the bunch.
To save money, I also plan on using the bridesmaids’ bouquets as centerpieces after pictures are done. Just plop them into a waiting vase and voila! “Free” centerpiece!
What do you think? Am I crazy for attempting this myself? Should I just suck it up and buy bouquets from the florist?
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No way are you crazy. If you can save money, then I say go for it. I was just at the grocery store and I was looking at the flowers. A lot of brides do not like carnations, but they were simply beautiful sitting in the grocery store flower shop. I am definitely making my own bouquets. There were tons of color options and even more better was the price…3 whole bouquets for $12. Imagine what I could save and do with the extra money. I think your ideas are brilliant. At the end of the day, who is going to say, “Man, did you see that awful bouquet she was carrying?” Go for it!!
I love it- it’s what I would do if I were a destination bride too. Just make sure you bring several colours of ribbon w/ you since you’re kind of at the mercy of the wholesaler to have flowers in the colours you like.
@Keonte- I love carnations- esp. squished together!
I think it is a fabulous idea. i DIYed my own flowers the day before my wedding this summer with the help of my talented maid of honor. I can tell you that the floral tape does work much better than rubberbands from personal experiance. Everyone told me that i was really crazy to do my own floral arrangements the day before my wedding. They were wrong. It was amazingly relaxing. It was a great bonding experiance with my girls and they turned out amazing. I would secure the rubber bands around the stems of the flowers to use while winding the floral tape around them. IT is easier to keep everything secure that way. make sure you get extras in case heads break off the flowers. that will keep you sane.
I think it’s a great idea… one thing to keep in mind, most things in nature come in odd numbers. So you might think about having an odd number of flowers in each bouquet. I think flowers often look better that way. Just an idea.
I think as long as it doesn’t stress you out, it’s a good idea. But if it’s gonna stress you even the littlest bit don’t do it!!
I think your flowers look great! It’s not like you are trying to make a really complicated bouquet here so I think you should be pretty stress free getting these together, especially if you have a few helpers. It sounds like a big savings for you, go for it!
I don’t think you’re crazy! In fact I LOVE they way your bouquet turned out.
I just hope you don’t stress yourself out
Roses will be nice and open, and you can use fewer in your bouquets, if they are delivered, cut and kept in water about 3 days before the event. Just ask the wholesalers when they recommend delivery of the flowers, the local temperature will affect it.
Go for it! I’m also making my bouquets myself–I’m actually even growing the flowers myself (but I live out in the country where there’s room for all that). Let me tell you, the amount of money that is being saved is INCREDIBLE and totally worth the effort. Plus, when people compliment your bouquet (which they definitely will), you’ll get to brag all you want because YOU made it!
Oh, and, I have seven bridesmaids as well. There was no way I was going to a florist. I’m using lillies.
oh, also, there is a Martha Stewart video on Youtube that is helpful about how to make your own bouquet.
Of course your not crazy! I plan on doing the same thing!! There are many helpful videos online that show you how. As a matter of fact, I’ve been to 4 weddings this year (well, technically it was last year but you know what I mean) and not a single one hired a florist. And they had $20,000 and $30,000 budgets.
I think it is perfectly fine to do your own flowers. I’m doing my own flowers. My best got married in June and I was shocked at the cost of flowers.
I found an online wholesaler that was highly recommended and ordered from them. I’m okay if they aren’t perfect. But I’m looking forward to spending a few hours with my best friend and sister putting them together.
@Keonte’: Actually, I love carnations!
@Mandy: Glad to hear it was relaxing for you! It should do the same for me. I burn really easily & am not going to want to be out in the sun all day the day before the wedding.
Thanks for the support, everyone! I think I’ll go for it It will be a good distraction!
I did it the morning of the wedding. Cranked out 5 bridesmaids bouquets and my own in under an hour with just my mom to help. If you get your roses a few days before, they’ll have a chance to open up — you can also use your fingers to push the petals out and kind of “expand” the flower — that way you’ll be able to get a fuller look with fewer flowers.
I hear you about the going over board on DIY - I was glad we had a destination wedding so I couldn’t get too crazy about doing everything on my own!
Your test run turned out great and I love that they double as a centerpieces! Just make sure you leave enough time and ask for help!! It seems pretty simple so you could always deligate one or two of your bridesmaids to do them as well!
The mock ups look great! I think your diy flowers will be totally worth it, and exactly how you want them, which should take the stress off.
orchids are always ridiculously expensive since they’re so fragile so that bouquet wouldn’t be too much cheaper in the states.
as for the DIY - go for it! we’re just DIYing the centerpieces since i can handle that. i’m going to spend a little money on the bouquets and bouts since i don’t think i’m nearly talented or patient enough to come up with something on my own. i definitely think it’s doable if you have the eye for it and the ones you already did look good… definitely a thicker ribbon though, something satin?
Go for it! You’re not crazy at all! I personally would feel crazy though if I spent $300 on a bought bouquet! One thing you might try is stem wire - you can buy it at any craft store and it helps to keep the shape of the stems so that the bouquet is more sturdy. I have helped two friends DIY their flowers for their weddings and both worked out great! And one of them was a DW. I am definitely DIYing my flowers!
The only think I haven’t seen mentioned here are a few more tips about wholesalers
1. Be flexible about colour. If you want deep pink, that’s fine. Just know that they go to market, and what is available is what they get. My friend wanted ivory gerber daisies for her BM bouquest, and they were a greeny-yellowy sort of colour, but that’s what the crop looked like and that was that.
2. Helpful for any bride DIY’ing her own flowers to save money is to research what is in season, and what grows abundantly where you’re getting married. Orchids for example are NOT expensive in Hawaii….My sister had a thick ivory and purple orchid aisle at her wedding in Hawaii last week, and it only cost $100. Using flowers that are in season and easily available in Jamaica will bring your cost down even more.
Also, if you’re doing your flowers more than few hours in advance (like the day or night before) make sure you have a cool, dark place for them to hang out, and that you have filled your bouquets with enough “almiost bloomed” flowers. Too many full blooms in there, and your bouquets will be past their prime before dinner time!
Oh yeah, and have fun with it!
YOU ARE NOT CRAZY! DO IT!!!! Oh Miss Quiche… do I ever have a flower story for you. I will be writing about it soon (I hope) but suffice to say, my DW flowers were disastrous. Make your own - unless you can guarantee that what you ask for is what you will get. Trust me. 
I’m looking forward to doing ours for our wedding– well, most of them, anyway!
One tip I’ve heard is to use cable zip ties to help hold the flowers together as you’re working, underneath all the ribbon. Seems quicker and easier than rubber bands.
There are a couple of great DIY flower threads on indiebride, as well as on weddingbee, of course!
Good luck!
I think the bouquets look great! If I had the skill to DIY like you do, I would. And $300 for that bouquet? Really? I’m speechless.
@West Coast bride: Thanks for the tips! You are right - I will HAVE to go into it being flexible on the color.
@Mrs. Sea Breeze: AH! I need to hear this story - & now!!
@Mrs. Pinot Noir: Thanks Pinot
i just got married in Jamaica and I was one of those brides that spent way too much on her bouquet. I used orchids and to be honest, I liked it but didn’t love it. So I say your way is much smarter!
I am getting married at the same resort and have the same problem. I have no clue yet what I am going to do. The DIY idea does sound good, it’s just a matter of getting it all together and then storing the flowers. I contacted the florist for pricing and was shocked by the prices. I was getting charged $125 for a bridesmaid bouquet! I am going to try and contact alternative florists and see what their prices look like. Good luck with your DIY.
My darling you know I will help you with those fab bouquets on the day of. I’ve done flowers for two other weddings I was in/attended, so we’re golden. After all, what’s a best friend/bridesmaid for?
XOXO
Yay Andrea, I mean Bridesmaid A! You are the sweetest
One thing that really helped me with making bouquets was purchasing a bunch of pins with teardrop-shaped “pearl-like” heads. I used the pins to secure the ends of the ribbons, and inserted them down the length of the ribbon to make what looked like a line of pearls. This helps to keep the arrangement tighter, hold the ribbon, and give you a line that you can feel in your hand to let you know which side of the bouquet is the back. Really helpful, easy, and pretty! DIY flowers are a great idea.
Hi, I’m getting married in Jamaica too and want to DIY some of my flowers, as Tai flora flowers are SOOOO expensive.
What is the name of the Wholesaler you found in Jamaica?
[...] did a little research in Weddingbee’s DIY section, taking advice from the posts of Mrs. Quiche and Mrs. Champagne (great video link!). Then I set out to get my [...]
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Mrs. Quiche, Chicago/Montego Bay
Age and Occupation: 28, Interior Designer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 42, Telecom Guru
Engagement Date: July 2, 2008
Wedding Date: May, 2009
Venue: Coyaba Resort, Montego Bay
About Me: I love Chicago and can’t imagine living anywhere else (Well, except Paris. Or anywhere in France, for that matter!). I’m a full-time worker, part-time student, soon-to-be-step-mom, indie music lovin’, architecture and design fanatic, macaroni and cheese addict, vegetarian, Francophile, Ohio State football obsessed, wedding planning girl. Mr. Quiche and I are “Partners-in-Crime” and cannot wait to celebrate our marriage surrounded by our family and closest friends. I plan on DIYing my little heart out (or as much as a suitcase to Jamaica will hold).
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