One of the best ways to save money for your wedding or major event is to save on flower arrangements by buying wholesale flowers and making the arrangements yourself. When you buy flowers from a florist, you have to pay for not only the florist’s marked-up costs for flowers but also for the fees that the florist will charge to actually put your arrangements together. Putting together an arrangement isn’t difficult if you choose the right type, but you need to know how to care for your DIY arrangements before you get started.
When you buy flowers from a wholesaler, you’ll have to have them shipped to you. You should arrange to have them delivered about two days before your event, since the flowers will have to be rehydrated and then arranged. Because flowers won’t be shipped in water, they’ll have to be hydrated as soon as possible when you get them.
As soon as you get the flowers, carefully remove them from their boxes, and use a sharp knife to diagonally cut their stems. Soak them in a few inches of water mixed with flower food, which you can buy from your local florist for a minimal fee. Eventually, your flowers will rehydrate and be ready to arrange.
After you arrange your flowers, you should keep them in water if at all possible. You’ll also want to keep them cool to avoid wilting. If the weather is cool, simply keep them in a shaded area, such as a garage. If you’re going to be keeping the flowers for more than a couple of days, though, you may need to actually keep them refrigerated. Don’t refrigerate them in a fridge that has food in it, though, since sometimes gas from foods can cause flowers to wilt or turn brown more quickly.