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The harvest season provides a golden opportunity to use vibrant colors and unique textures in floral designs. It is absolutely the most ideal time of year for rustic weddings with natural, austere color palettes.

Putting together flower centerpieces and bouquets has proven to be a wedding budget saving hero. Many couples decide that they want to splurge on other items, like the venue or honeymoon with the cash they save on flower arrangements.  Making DIY flower arrangements can save up to $2,000 – $3,000! Although, many times that means scaling down the size and amount of arrangements to make it do-able. This arrangement in particular is very affordable. We selected spray chrysanthemums in bright colors to create high impact at a low cost. The key to DIY flowers on a low budget is to select a focal flower and affordable secondary flowers that create impact through color and texture.

How to make a Rustic DIY Fall Centerpiece

What you’ll need:

FLOWERS: Rose circus (40 cm), yellow cushion mums, red cushion mums, red pompon daisies, yellow button mums, green button mums, orange safflower, brunia, and isreali ruscus.
SUPPLIES: Rustic willow rectangle vase, floral scissors, 1 block floral foam.

How to Put Together the Arrangement

1. First, once you receive your wholesale flowers, you will need to re-hydrate them. Cut the stems under warm running water on a 45 degree angle using your floral scissors. Place the flowers in room temperature water with flower food and let them hydrate for 6-12 hours before arranging. During hydration store the flowers in a room temperature area out of direct sunlight or any direct hot/cold draft.

2. Cut down your floral foam block using a knife. Make the cut so the foam it will fit in the liner of the vase as pictured below. Then, soak the floral foam in water with flower food. Place the foam in water and remove it when the foam is fully submerged and no longer releases air bubbles. Return the floral foam to the vase.

3. Adding greenery to the foam first will allow you to create a general arrangement shape. More importantly, it will enable you to use less flowers while covering mechanics like floral foam.

4. Add the roses (the focal flower) down the center of the arrangement.

5. Take 1-2 stems of the red pompon cushion, which has multiple blooms per stem, and cut each individual flower. Insert each small bloom into the foam so they surround the roses and greens. Repeat these stems with your other red spray mum, the red daisies.

6. Repeat step 5 with the yellow cushion mums, the green button mums, the yellow button mums, the brunia, and orange safflower. As the foam fills up, turn the arrangement to make sure there is an even spread of flowers. It is important that when using this many colors and textures that there is balance. Each flower should be evenly spread throughout the arrangement.

DIY Flower Arranging Tips

1. Create your arrangements the day before the wedding so the flowers are in peak for the ceremony and reception.
2. Make sure the flowers have constant hydration. Whether you plan on making an arrangement in a glass vase or container with floral foam, it is important to provide flowers with a constant source of water. (Using floral foam and steady vases like these make floral transportation extremely easy).
3. Flower selection is a big part of reducing your budget. If you want high end flowers like calla lilies, orchids, peonies, succulents, or garden roses, pick one and then pair it with affordable secondary flowers. The secondary flowers can make up the majority of arrangements while featuring just a few of the higher ticket flowers. Keep in mind you can make beautiful arrangements with the most affordable flowers by creating impact with color and texture variation.
4. Ask questions. Post your questions about do-it-yourself flowers in the comments, BloomsByTheBox will make sure to answer all the questions you may have.