Doing my own wedding flowers......a first attempt

Oh my gosh, I can't believe you did them yourself! They're brilliant. (But you will tidy the ends of the bouquet up wont you!?)

ETA - sorry I should have read what you'd written under the photos. (Re ribbon!) I just saw the photos, got excited and posted a reply!

Blimey, well done, they look gorgeous.

Really like the pots (without the ribbon), too

I think they look great. Well done!

I like the idea of jazzing up the pots a bit more.

I think they look fab ?

Hi ya,

Not bad for a first attempt...but just a couple of things... you need to make sure your flowers are all the same height in the same area some are quiet far back compared to others.

Maybe reduce the amount of flowers in the arrangements as some look a little squashed and if your having large folded leaves you won't need all those flowers.

If your not adverse to foliage maybe add some greenery inbetween the flowers - rose leaves are good for this.. or you could add beargrass loops (you can get this in brown too) to give them some contrast or peals/ crystals or gold wire twisted etc the pictures below show the beargrass , diamantes and wires and how they enhance the bouquets

To tidy up the handle you need to wrap the stems in florists tape(best to do them a few flowers at a time to ensure they are in the right place) then bind in ribbons (after shortening the stems) starting from the bottom fold the ribon and then twist towards the top of the stems fold the edge under and pin with either crystal or peal headed pins as third pic

HTH XX

Thank you all very much for your kind comments! x

Nicki your hints and tips are so so helpful, I'm not much of a blinger but love the idea of the beargrass, will defo try and have a go adding it. Found it really hard to get the heads the same height in the hand ties, bit easier in the pots coz I could move them about in the oasis without distrupting the others but will defo invest in some floristry tape should help me out.

Just spoke to the 'rents about my brainwave.......they think I'm mental for even considering it....??! oops!

Oh well done!! very similar to my bridesmaids bouquets.... love the sound of the oranges, tangy and fresh!

I think ur REALLY brave AnotherMrsSmith2!

Id end up with a Daisy chain if I was lucky!

Loving the pots though! *With & Without the ribbon!*

Well done, I think they look great! Nicki is right that you need to make sure the faces of your flowers are all at the same level when you put them in to the handtie, but I don't agree that you necessarily need to add foliage in amongst the carnations (sorry Nicki!). You'll lose the effect of massing the flowers together if you do, and that's where the simplicity of the arrangement lies.

What time of year are you getting married? It might be worth having a look into the cost of white hydrangeas...they are a more expensive flower but if you can get them from a wholesalers they might work out more cost effective. You get the same look, but only need roughly 3 heads to get the same sized bouquet as you get with 30-40 carnations.

Being REALLY pernickety, on your 2nd pic, it does look ever so slightly uneven - but that's probably because the level of the flowerheads is ever so slightly uneven. but i would NEVER have guessed it was your first go - that is well impressive! much better than anything i could have done.

georgie is right - hydrangeas look gorgeous, why don't you have a look into them too? lisaloulou had all white hydrangeas and they looked lovely.

Hello there!

Thanks again for the replies had considered white hydragea but most of the ones I've seen are kinda greeny/white and ideally I need more of an ivory colour......does anyone know if these are available in August?

x x x x

When i went for a nose around covent garden flower market last august, they seemed to be everywhere. you can get pure white hydrangeas which are gorgeous.

White hydrangeas and carnations are exactly what I'm having so I obviously love them!!

I wouldn't have noticed that they were uneven if the pros hadn't pointed it out.... they look very professional imo. I think they will look stunning with the orange ribbon too.

Excellent news bluewater! I think I'll be going to New Covent Garden Market to get the flowers and the weddings in August!! Woo hoo! Thats it sold....I'm doing my own!

Few tips - don't think that going along at 7am is ok, it's not, it's too late! you need to be there much earlier. i'd go down a few weeks beforehand, see which wholesalers are helpful and willing to offer advice, and then speak to them about ordering your flowers. they probably won't give you great deals as you're (relatively speaking) not buying loads, but it's definitely worth doing.

(you probably know all the above, and the florist HIBs on here will probably be able to give you some better advice too!)

btw when in august are you getting married?

oooh yes buttonholes are fiddly! me, my mum, and her friend went on a wedding flower arranging day long course where we did buttonholes - they will certainly take a few practices! i can recommend a short course though, if only for fun! i had a great time.

I think they look fab esp the table centres they look really good - well done you !!

I think they almost look like peony's which I love !!

x

Just bookmarked that hydrangea tutorial, that's brilliant!

I don't really like carnations as a rule but I am impressed with these!! Infact I had to look twice before I realised they were carnations. Anyway back to the point, I really like them. I also wouldn't have noticed they were uneven until pointed out by the pro's. I especially like the centre pieces. How about alterante pots, some with orange carnations in and some with white? I quite like the ribbon round the pots, it gives it a bit more of a coutnry feel but I suppose it depends what look you are going for.

May have to come to you for a centre piece tutorial! ?

These flowers look amazing - some very talented ladies out there with excellent ideas!

The flowers look fab- well done