DIY Flowers! Faux or Real? Where did you get them?

Thanks for all your help ladies! All of your suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

View quoted message Beautiful bouquet 💐 I’m always hesitant to order on Ali express I ordered things in the past and never received it 😩

Hey I did a DIY bouquet recently and OMG did I save HUGE I made a bouquet that would normally cost about 200-300 in the floral shops for a total of 21.50 it's beautiful and I love how it turned out and I made it from dollar store flowers and fake gems. I'll leave the picture here.
this is just one view of it I also have a top view where you can see all the flowers. Highly recommend DIY bouquet.

I got fake flowers online from aliexpress.com my bouqet looks something like this and it was $25 with shipping

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32881374217.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.5fa12f0a4sqQkV&s=p&algo_pvid=0e10fa6f-9b64-4696-9fd2-d938ec6915c9&algo_expid=0e10fa6f-9b64-4696-9fd2-d938ec6915c9-19&btsid=fd926114-0aca-4fe0-914d-5b172d1b1d71&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_8,searchweb201603_52

I might be a little crazy, but I am doing my own real flowers. This will be my third wedding-for the first two I was a bridesmaid. For my cousins, I worked somewhere where I could order in wholesale flowers. I did 4 white hydrangea bouquets for the bridesmaids and 1 blue hydrangea bouquet for the bride, plus cala lily boutonnieres. Transportation (I was staying at a hotel so couldn't do assembly there) and keeping things cool were the biggest challenges, but things worked out well. Last year, I did my sisters- again 4 bridesmaid bouquets, plus 25 centre pieces and other elements for the church and reception. She was using sunflowers which her husband was able to order in. We picked up other bits and pieces at a flower stall at a farmers market. I opted out of the bridal bouquet and boutonnieres etc this time. Frankly it was too much work- another bridesmaid and my fiance helped me and we spent almost all of the day before arranging. It was the centre pieces that threw it over the top. They were simple but there was a lot of them!

For my wedding in February, I plan to order tulips and other elements through Sobeys (I have already talked to them). I will do 3 bridesmaid bouquets, my own bouquet and some decor elements the day before the wedding. I am going to use potted tulips as centre pieces and will have help to get them re-potted (someone with gardening skills rather than floral design skills can help, so it is easier to find assistance. I am going to get a florist to do the boutonnieres and corsages. My biggest concern is the temperature. I think the potted tulips in the garage will be ok unless it is really cold (which it usually isn't in SW Ontario in late Feb). I think that I will be able to do enough prep work ahead of time and haven't ruled out mixing in some artificials for ceremony decor so that I can keep them for the future, and work ahead. I have a decorator, so I am able to focus on this as my one big diy element.

Check out my trial run!

My demo

Basically- think about what flowers you would like- big ones like hydrangeas and sunflowers take less time to arrange, how much experience you have / have time to get, how much time you have and where the flowers would come from. I really thought about Costco- the reviews seem really good. Good luck!

We are doing fake for all ours except the four real flowers which I give to my dad, MIL, and two grandparents of my FH. It’s a family tradition my mom started when her and my dad married. But I having a hard time finding flowers to beguin with. Other than amazon. We are doing our own arrangements as a wine and diy night for the bridesmaids and my niece and daughter to hang out and bond. As my side of the bridal party has really became or already was my family.

Welcome to the WeddingWire community, Katelyn!

Have you priced how much the bouquets would be with a florist? This may be a good way to decide! You can weigh up the price saving versus the time spent and whether you feel it is worth your time

Fake flowers all they way. I helped my FSIL with her wedding and the night before all her flowers were dead very stressful for everyone

I had my Baba do my flowers - they were artificial and we got them from a wholesale store (she has an account there though as she is a florist). Here's a pic of my bouquet:

My BM's were the same but smaller/with less flowers and then my throw bouquet was even smaller. The men didn't have boutonnière's though as I think they are outdated and don't look good.

Im doing fake flowers. I got mine from Knot just a box In sylvan lake.My cascading bouquet boutineers and corsages for mom came to $300ish. She would show you how to DIY or do it for you with handmade handles to your colors/style.My two bridesmaid bouquets was micheals for $14 pre-made.

I'm going to do the fake flowers. I'm looking at the sola wood flowers. You can dye them yourself any colour you like and they are gorgeous. I've watched YouTube videos on it and it looks so easy. There are also a ton of YouTube videos on how to make a bouquet, boutineer and flower arrangements for tables. I have some crafty friends who I think I can get to help if it gets too much as well.

I'm in the same situation. I'm leaning towards faux because I'll spend about the same but I should be able to sell them after. Plus I'll have more time to perfect my floral arranging skills (or lack there of).


Afloral.com has awesome reviews from the US wedding wire brides. They sell some premade bouquets or you can look at their tutorials for inspiration. I've gone to Michael's and played in their floral department, but the quality on afloral looks better.