To D-I-Y or Don’t-I-Y

To D-I-Y or Don’t-I-Y

June 26th, 2009 @ 2:11 pm by Mrs. Mascara

I am still debating whether or not to make the boutonnieres for the groomsmen or just get fresh ones from the florist. It’s not really about the cost; our quote is for $10 each, which is pretty reasonable. I’m just worried that I’ll make them and then regret it when I see the pictures. I don’t intend on making one for the groom—his will have dahlias to match my bouquet and will be made by the florist. Of course I can give her matching ribbon to tie them all together, but I’m worried they won’t look right with a mixture of fresh and fake flowers.

To refresh your memory, here’s trial #1:

Here is a look at trial #2:

I may or may not add a fresh button mum or two to the real deal (much like the first trial), I just didn’t have any when I put this one together. I’m unsure about the little berry-like things. I tried to add them for some extra color, but they look weird to me.

This is the picture I gave the florist for the groom’s boutonniere. It will have hypericum berries instead of the stringy green things in the picture (not sure what they’re called). I’d have her add the same purple ribbon and the flower will be purple, as well.

(Photo by Sarah K Chen)

So what do you think? Should I scrap the idea and just have the florist use fresh flowers for the groomsmen’s bouts? Or should I stop over-analyzing things and make them myself? With or without the colored berry things? With real berries instead? Do tell!

Tags: diy, flowers |

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21 Responses to “To D-I-Y or Don’t-I-Y”

Bee

Mrs. Peep Toe (message) 1,610 posts, Bumble bee

Your bouts look great, but use fresh flowers!! They’re just so great!! We got our mum bouts for $8 a piece- well worth it!

6/26/09 @ 2:13 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Joey (message) 822 posts, Busy bee

Have you considered dried berries? I know pepperberries come in your colors. I have a resouce if you want it.

6/26/09 @ 2:14 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Dew Drop (message) 247 posts, Helper bee

If you’re worried about the fresh and fake flowers matching, go with all fresh flowers. There’s no need to give yourself something extra and unnecessary to worry about on your wedding day!

6/26/09 @ 2:23 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Bruschetta (message) 5,553 posts, Bee Keeper

Trial two looks really cute! Would you consider trying to find fake flowers that resemble the dahlia your florist will be using for the groom’s bout?

6/26/09 @ 2:25 pm (reply)

Guest

Laura

For such a small cost I’d just trust the professionals! One less thing for you to have to worry/coordinate is good!

6/26/09 @ 2:26 pm (reply)

Member

AmberWaves (message) 227 posts, Helper bee

I’d go with the florist for the real deal. Something about the pic of those dahlias just looks so amazing.

6/26/09 @ 2:37 pm (reply)

Member

backyardwed (message) 62 posts, Worker bee

yeah, if your not worried about the cost of the professional ones, and you want all the flowers to match the just go with them.

6/26/09 @ 2:37 pm (reply)

Guest

elissa

I debated the same thing..just because the guys normally take there jackets off anyway. I got these really cute bouts. from etsy.com..they were felt that was stitched into a flower..super cute, and the cost was around 2.75 a piece.

6/26/09 @ 2:42 pm (reply)

Guest

Lauren

To be perfectly hones, the DIYs look really “homemade” (and oh my gosh, I would not be able to do better either, so I’m not putting you down!). I think fresh flowers is the way to go!

6/26/09 @ 2:44 pm (reply)

10.

Member

Champagne Wishes (message) 456 posts, Helper bee

I think fresh is best. I like your first trail run. The spring green mums are perfect! maybe just a pop of white somewhere in there and you are good to go.

6/26/09 @ 2:53 pm (reply)

11.

Bee

Mrs. Perfume (message) 1,572 posts, Bumble bee

The fresh ones. At first, I thought the fake ones were succulents. Anyhoo, I think you’ve got the skills to make them for sure! The materials will be the test.

6/26/09 @ 2:55 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

Andrea

I’d go with the florist ones. I like them better and they look more vibrant!

6/26/09 @ 3:48 pm (reply)

13.

Bee

Miss French Bulldog (message) 5,956 posts, Bee Keeper

I vote for the fresh ones too. Your bout look great, but I just LOVE fresh flowers and think you’ll be happy w/ the color.

6/26/09 @ 4:05 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Mrs. Kitten (message) 690 posts, Busy bee

I love the style of the fresh ones the best! They are really reasonably priced too!

6/26/09 @ 4:30 pm (reply)

15.

Guest

Mireya

I think you should make them yourself - that way you know EXACTLY what you are getting! I delegated this project to one of my crafty bridesmaids and they turned out great; I’m planning on gluing a magnet to the back to stick on the fridge or on my craft cabinet

6/26/09 @ 6:47 pm (reply)

16.

Member

willow (message) 53 posts, Worker bee

I agree with Mireya. Make them yourself! This way you’ll get what you want. You can mess around with them until they’re absolutely perfect and matching everything. Then you can head into the wedding knowing you’ll be happy with the bouts. Besides, nobody is going to take a close-up picture of the groomsmens’ bouts anyway! From far away, you DEFINITELY won’t be able to tell real from fake.

6/26/09 @ 7:10 pm (reply)

17.

Bee

Miss Mouse (message) 2,915 posts, Sugar bee

I vote for the fresh ones, if only for uniformity’s sake!

6/26/09 @ 7:57 pm (reply)

18.

Bee

Miss Star (message) 1,230 posts, Bumble bee

Well, I might be a little biased here, but I think anything that you’re crafty enough to make for yourself is well worth the time and effort. Yeah, like some people have said, they might look a little homemade (although I don’t personally think yours do), but I just love that we’re going to be surrounded by details that I’ve spent months lovingly crafting with my own hands. Maybe that makes me cheesy, but I like the bouts you made a lot, especially something like the first one, but with added berries. I probably wouldn’t mix fresh and fake, though, if it were my call. I’d be worried about the contrast, but that’s just me.

6/27/09 @ 12:06 am (reply)

19.

Guest

Lindsay

Who says you can’t make your own FRESH bouts? I work in a flowershop and they’re incredibly easy to make! Here is one web site that describes pretty well how to make one with fresh flowers. If you want to make sure you get what you want and can tweek them the way you want, DIY!

http://www.bridesofaustralia.com/Diy_Boutonniere.html

Best of luck!

6/27/09 @ 10:03 am (reply)

20.

Member

eileen marie (message) 370 posts, Helper bee

Well, they are not EASY to make, but Lindsay is right. With roses (and 1 other random bouquet) from Costco, some ribbon, floral tape & guinea feathers, my best friend put together all of our boutonnieres (corsages & bouquets) and they were GORGEOUS and cheap! My toss bouquet looked way better than my REAL bouquet which consisted of 20 stems of lily of the valley that I paid a fortune for! (PM me for pics.)

6/29/09 @ 1:08 pm (reply)

21.

Guest

crash

I think they are actually EASY to make with real flowers. Especially something resilient like a button mum. I did a trial run a couple months ago and was surprised at how easy it was to get them practically perfect on the first try.

7/1/09 @ 2:33 pm (reply)