When do I order my flowers? When should I have them delivered? These are the most common questions we get about DIY flowers. It can be hard to figure out if you’ve never arranged flowers for an event before. We are here to help! Here is a wedding flower timeline to help you with when to do what. All of your questions are about to get answered!
Photo By: Rachel Rowland Photoghraphy
When to choose your blooms
While it’s never too early to shop around and see what you like, something to keep in mind is that your style and color choices may change over the course of say, a year. Once you have a venue, a theme, and your colors picked, it’s time to find your inspo! At about 1 year out to about 1 month out is the best time to choose your flowers. A month is definitely cutting it close but absolutely doable! Longer than a year and your taste may totally change as you get closer. Poke around on social media or Pinterest and feel free to use our resources such as shop by style, or shop by color, to find the perfect blooms for your big day.
When to order your blooms
For this, we recommend between 2 and 4 weeks before your event. The reason for the shorter timeline is that these are natural products and some flowers have limited availability. While we can source a lot of our items year-round, certain ones you may have ordered 3 months ago will be out of season by the time your wedding comes so within 2-4 weeks we are up to date with the most available products. Pricing is also a factor. If your event is in April and you order in February, you’ll be paying Valentine’s pricing for your flowers. We suggest waiting until a bit closer as the pricing tends to fluctuate.
When to have your blooms delivered
There are a few factors to take into consideration here but in general, we recommend 2 days before your event. This gives you enough time to prep, rehydrate, and design the flowers before your big day. If your wedding is around a holiday weekend, you may want to give yourself an extra day in case of a shipping delay. You can also do this if your have items with long vase lives or items that may take some time to open such as sunflowers or peonies. Giving yourself an extra day is perfectly fine as long as you care for your blooms properly and ensure they are always stored in cool water, out of direct sunlight, and in a cool, dry place.
When to Arrange
The best time to arrange your flowers for the wedding is the day before. As long as the flowers will be kept in water weather it’s in a vase filled with water, floral foam soaked with water, or a bouquet that has been wrapped but the stems are left in a few inches of water, they will hold up overnight without issue. You’ll want to ensure they are kept in a cool, dry place after being arranged. Always make sure they have enough water!!! This is the most important part of flower arranging. Some items can be done the morning of. Corsages and boutonnieres are tough to keep hydrated and can be done the morning of but in general these items hold up well if they are made the day prior as long as you use a hardy bloom.
Get Married!
Boast those beautiful self-made blooms on your big day and enjoy every last second of it!
Photo By: Rachel Rowland Photography
We hope you found this wedding flower timeline helpful and please feel free to contact us with any additional questions you may have about DIY flowers!
Derian has worked in many facets of the floral industry, with over 10 years experience in everything from flower arranging to wedding and party planning, She loves to experiment in elements of flower design, color, and texture and is always looking for the latest trends in wedding bouquets.
FAQs
The best time to arrange your flowers for the wedding is the day before. As long as the flowers will be kept in water weather it's in a vase filled with water, floral foam soaked with water, or a bouquet that has been wrapped but the stems are left in a few inches of water, they will hold up overnight without issue.
How far in advance can you make a flower arrangement? ›
Many floral arrangements can be made a day — or even a couple days — in advance if you have proper storage. Emily Mathison, U.S. creative director of McQueens Flowers, advises using durable fresh flowers and storing the finished product in cool temperatures to extend the life of the blooms.
How far in advance can I make a bridal bouquet? ›
If you're planning to make the bouquet a few days in advance, don't do it earlier than 1-2 days before the big day. You want your flowers to be as fresh as possible, and not all of them can last long.
How soon after wedding should you preserve flowers? ›
Answer: “The best plan is to get the bouquet to whoever is preserving it as soon as possible after the wedding—we recommend within about four days,” says Stefanie Kitcher, floral preserver and artist at Old City's Hana Willow Design.
What is the etiquette for wedding flowers? ›
Traditionally the Groom is expected to pay for the flowers in the church and for the wedding party With the bride's parents pay for the flowers at the reception venue. The men should be given buttonholes, bridesmaids require a bouquet and the respective mothers receive a corsage.
How long will flowers stay fresh for wedding? ›
How long do fresh flowers last? Most florists agree that flowers should last a good 7-10 days from purchase, depending on the individual variety. In extreme heat this reduces slightly but with a little extra care you should be able to enjoy them for at least a week.
Can you set up flowers day before wedding? ›
Flowers cannot be arranged too soon. Even if they are placed in water, somewhere relatively cool, your wedding flowers can't really be arranged until 3-4 days beforehand at the absolute earliest; and preferably the day beforehand.
How do I keep my wedding bouquet fresh overnight? ›
To keep your bouquet strong and healthy, try this super-simple flower tip: Store the flowers in the refrigerator overnight. It'll help slow down the process of water loss and keep your blooms looking crisp. To store the flowers properly, fill a vase about ¾ full with water, and then put the flowers in the vase.
Is it worth preserving a wedding bouquet? ›
However, these flowers remain on display for only a few hours on one day, and typically a bride only has a few photos of the flowers where the bouquet is simply an ornament, not the centerpiece. A professionally preserved bridal bouquet extends the memory, beauty, and especially the value of your flowers.
Can you pick up wedding flowers the day before? ›
Timing is everything when it comes to collecting your wedding flowers. With cool storage, you have the flexibility to pick up your blooms up to three days before the event, ensuring their freshness. For those without cool storage, the day before your wedding is the earliest we suggest for a pickup date.
Personal arrangements, like bouquets, boutonnières, and corsages almost always go home with their owners. Centerpieces, installations, and intricate floral arrangements are a bit tricker. Some floral designers will transport flowers back to their studios to upcycle arrangements for a different occasion.
How far in advance should you get flowers? ›
How Long Before an Event Do You Buy Flowers? We recommend getting your flowers 2-3 days before the big event. This time frame allows for ample prep, rehydration, and design work. Now, if the wedding or event coincides with a holiday weekend, play it safe and add an extra day to account for any shipping hiccups.
How long should you condition flowers before arranging? ›
Place prepared stems in a bucket of clean water and leave in a cool place for at least two to three hours or, ideally, overnight. This will allow the flowers to drink before being brought into a warmer environment. Some plants with soft stems and heavy flower head, such as tulips and gerberas, are prone to bending.
How long before the wedding should you start planning? ›
With that in mind, as wedding planners we do have some general advice to consider. Most of the weddings we plan start the process about 10-16 months in advance which tends to be a sweet spot! If you have another timeline in mind, we have some pros and cons below that you may want to consider!
When should you Organise a wedding florist? ›
Wedding Planning
If your wedding is 6-9 months away, it's time to book your florist. And, whilst you may have started to look at designs for florals (oh hello Pinterest board), have you drawn up a list of every type of arrangement you will need for your Wedding Day?
