Flower Care 101: Keeping Your DIY Wedding Flowers Fresh

Planning a DIY wedding can be incredibly rewarding, especially when it comes to arranging your own flowers.

However, ensuring that your blooms look fresh and vibrant on your big day requires some essential care and preparation.

Here are some tips to help you keep your DIY wedding flowers fresh and beautiful from the moment you receive them until you walk down the aisle.

1. Proper Flower Preparation

Hydration

The moment you receive your flowers, hydration is key. Follow these steps to prepare your blooms:

• Unpack Immediately: Carefully unpack your flowers as soon as they arrive. Remove any packaging materials, but keep the protective netting around the heads of delicate flowers until you’re ready to arrange them.

• Trim the Stems: Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle under running water. This allows for better water absorption. Use sharp floral scissors or pruners to avoid crushing the stems.

• Remove Lower Leaves: Strip any leaves that will be below the waterline in your vases. This helps prevent bacteria growth, which can shorten the lifespan of your flowers.

• Place in Water: Immediately place the flowers in clean, room-temperature water with floral preservative. If you don’t have preservative, you can make a homemade solution using a few drops of bleach, a teaspoon of sugar, and a few drops of lemon juice.

2. Optimal Storage Conditions

Temperature and Light

Flowers thrive in cool, dark environments. Follow these storage tips to keep your flowers fresh:

• Cool Storage: Store your flowers in a cool room, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and drafts. Ideal temperatures range between 34-38°F (1-3°C). If you don’t have access to a refrigerator, a cool basement or garage can be a good alternative.

• Avoid Ethylene Gas: Keep your flowers away from ripening fruits and vegetables, which emit ethylene gas. This gas can cause flowers to wilt prematurely.

3. Daily Flower Maintenance

Water and Refresh

To keep your flowers at their best, change the water daily and re-cut the stems:

• Change the Water: Refresh the water in your vases daily to prevent bacterial growth. Use room-temperature water and add floral preservative if available.

• Re-cut the Stems: Trim a small portion off the stems each day to keep the water uptake channels open.

Check for Wilting

Inspect your flowers daily for any signs of wilting or browning. Remove any damaged or wilted blooms to prevent them from affecting the surrounding flowers.

4. Arranging Tips

Timing

Timing is crucial when arranging your DIY wedding flowers:

• Create Arrangements Close to the Event: Aim to create your arrangements no more than one to two days before your wedding. This ensures they stay fresh and vibrant.

• Hydrate Arrangements: After arranging, place the bouquets and centerpieces in clean water and store them in a cool, dark place.

Use Floral Foam Sparingly

While floral foam can help with arranging, it can also shorten the lifespan of your flowers if not used properly:

• Soak Floral Foam: If you’re using floral foam, make sure to soak it thoroughly in water with floral preservative before use.

• Avoid Overhandling: Limit the time your flowers spend out of water while arranging to prevent dehydration.

5. Transporting Your Flowers

Pack Carefully

Transporting your flowers to the venue requires careful packing:

• Secure Arrangements: Use boxes or containers with compartments to keep arrangements from shifting during transport.

• Hydrate on the Go: Keep a spray bottle of water handy to mist the flowers lightly during transport, especially if you have a long journey to the venue.

6. Final Touches

At the Venue

Once at the venue, give your flowers a final refresh:

• Rehydrate: Place the arrangements in fresh water and mist them lightly.

• Final Check: Remove any wilted petals or leaves and make any last-minute adjustments.

Conclusion

Caring for your DIY wedding flowers requires a bit of effort, but the results are well worth it. With proper preparation, optimal storage, and daily maintenance, your flowers will look fresh and beautiful on your big day. Embrace the process, enjoy the creativity, and take pride in the personal touch you’ve added to your wedding through your floral arrangements.

Ready to get started?

Choose your wedding vibe below