One item on my to-do list for this month was to decide on a florist. After suffering sticker shock from the estimate we received from the most affordable florist on our vendor list and a successful attempt at DIY bouquet-making, Mr. T and I have decided not to hire a florist for our wedding.
Photo via Brides.com / Flowers by Kloeckner Preferred Flowers / Photo by Orange2 Photography
I promise we’re not crazy! We’ve eliminated boutonnieres and will be having non-floral centerpieces, so all we have to do is make bouquets.* During my trial run with my sister, it only took us about 20 minutes to make one bouquet, so this should be easy to do the morning of the wedding.
Because flowers were such a low priority for us, eliminating a professional florist was a good way for us to save a lot of money and make up for places where we’ve gone over budget.
Would you ever go florist free?
*If you want to do all your own flowers, check out this tutorial from Meg at A Practical Wedding who DIY’ed all her wedding flowers.
Yes! We’re using a florist only for the bouquets, boutenieres, and coursages. We’re doing a whole bunch of DIY stuff (and am amazed at my craftiness! Who knew?! 
, but I am only comfortable with DIY stuff that can be done in advance, and don’t want to have to do anything the day of (as it is, we’ll be assembling LED lights for the lanterns the day before, so that’s close enough for me!). We’ll probably just go to the grocery store and get some flowers for the small vases we’ll have on the tables. But our main centerpiece are Moroccan lanterns, rather than florals. What are your centerpieces?
I am! After sticker shock and a 60% off sale at Michaels, I DIY’d fake flowers. They are about -10 on my priority list, so spending a several hundred for three bouquets and 3 bouts seemed insane.
How long did your bouquets live/look fresh after you made them?
I am sure you will do great! I am going with a florist because I want a very ornate bouquet but was surprised at her prices! 1/2 the price of the other florist I checked out and she does just as nice of work!
I guess I must have lucked out with my florist!!! For my bouquet, 4 BM bouquets, 6 boutonniers, 2 corsages, 2 extra roses and an estimate on reception… I’m only paying about $450…
I was going to do fake but my mom convinced me that I should have real flowers. I have to agree; it would be nice to have the fake bouquet for all my life, and fake flowers nowadays actually look quite real, but IMO one real rose in a vase just seems to look so much more elegant than a whole bunch of fake ones….
I’m going florist free and I am not worried about it at all! I’m making all my centerpieces, bouquets and boutenieres. For the bouquets and bouts, I’ll be making feather flowers
We did! It worked out really nicely. Especially with everyone helping get the flowers ready (pulling off the unwated leaves was the most time consuming part!) there was more than enough time. I can’t wait to see how yours turned out!
Miss Treasure,
I feel ya. I am also a Chicago bride and finding reasonable flower prices here is near impossible. I ended up going with Addison Ashland because of their customer service, and while they were less expensive, they were definitely not a bargain.
What sorts of flowers are you going for, who is doing the night before/morning pickup and where are you getting your flowers from?
@Mila: We used hydrangeas, and they lasted about 3 days. They would’ve lasted longer, but they were in direct sunlight a lot, so they wilted. Oops!
@paut0012: We’ll be getting our flowers (hydrangeas) from the Gold Coast Whole Foods probably the afternoon/night before.
I’m exactly the opposite! I had planned on doing my own centerpieces and arrangements for the reception, but just got a quote from the florist to have her do it all. I LOVE flowers and want tons of them but don’t want to worry about it!
way to go, Miss T! we had a florist do our bouquets, corsages and bouts but ordered an army of loose stemmed blooms to fill our many many vases we saved a ton going the semi DIY route!
I am doing the flowers at my wedding. I am a tad nervous about it, but the fact is, no one is really going to remember the flowers…RIGHT??
We are having a country chic barn wedding so that makes centerpieces a little easier. A mis-matched light arrangement of flowers in a mason jar.
Bridesmaids bouquets will be simple hand tied.
I made a brooch bouquet for myself, and silk flower and feather boutineers for the guys.
I ordered my FMIL a corsage yesterday and just about died when they told me the total was $59! FOR THREE ROSE CORSAGE! I mean seriously people…that is just insane!
I intend on going to the local Central Market and getting flowers 2 days before the wedding. Doing centerpieces 1 day before and bouquets the morning of. My budget is roughly $200 and after a trip to the store last week I know that is a totally doable budget for 20 centerpieces and 4 bouquets.
oh..and I am getting married THIS SATURDAY!!!
My mom is doing ours, which is awesome and I’m sure I’ll be helping because we’ll be there! I also eliminated centerpieces but she insisted on doing bouts and corsages along with bouquets.
Yes! I am thinking of a similar plan as you (non-floral centerpieces), though I think I want to do bouts. Can’t wait to hear how it goes for the big event!
@Amy: That florist ought to be arrested for that price! Congrats and have fun this weekend.
I would have loved to do all ours, but I would have been doing them by myself and I would have gone insane. Based on your mockup, yours are going to be beautiful!
Wish I had done this… We also had non-floral centerpieces.
Awesome! I am contemplating going florist free but I know I want boutonnieres for all the groomsmen, dads and grandpas, and corsages for the moms and grandmas.
I may just go to the florist for those and diy my floral centerpieces
A friend is helping me DYI my flowers, we aren’t even using real flowers, or in essence, fake flowers, He and I are making all my flowers out of paper *with the exception of babys breath, which will be fake*.. *does a happy dance* yippee!
I’m going to get all my flowers wholesale and do the bouquets myself.
Mrs. Treasure, Chicago Age and Occupation: 24, Law Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Equity Analyst Engagement Date: July 30, 2011 Wedding Date: September 2012 Venue: Saint James Chapel at Quigley Prep/Murphy Auditorium About Me: I was born and raised in Indiana, but now live in sweet home Chicago. I'm a third-year law student and aspiring trial lawyer, which means Mr. T never wins an argument. Other than Mr. T, I love singing, exploring the Chicago restaurant scene, and Notre Dame football. We met in a musical (just like my parents!) and after 4 years together, we are excited to be planning our urban "destination" wedding.
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