DIY Wedding Flowers: Your July Survival Guide
Planning a wedding in July? You are in for a treat. July is honestly one of the best months to get married, especially if you are brave enough to DIY your own flowers.
When you do your own wedding flowers, you get to put your own personal touch on every bouquet, and let us be honest, it is a great way to save some money too. But I know it can feel a bit overwhelming. The secret? You do not need to be a professional florist to get a stunning result. You just need to know which flowers to pick and how to look after them.
The Pros and Cons of Using Seasonal Flowers
Before you start ordering buckets of blooms, here is a quick look at the reality of using seasonal flowers.
The Good Bits
They are better value. Because these flowers are in their natural season, they are usually much more affordable and easier to get your hands on.
They look incredible. Flowers are always at their happiest and healthiest when they are in season, meaning they look fresher and last longer.
They are kinder to nature. Choosing seasonal blooms helps keep your wedding a bit more eco friendly.
The Things to Watch Out For
Nature can be a bit unpredictable. Even in July, weather can sometimes play tricks on us. It is always smart to have a backup plan just in case.
It is a bit of work. You will need to set aside time in the days leading up to the big day to collect, trim, and arrange your flowers. Make sure you have a pair of helping hands to make the process easier and more fun.
Your July Flower Shopping List
To keep things simple, I like to group flowers into four categories. If you have a mix of these, your arrangements will look balanced and professional without much effort.
1. The Stars of the Show (Focal Flowers)
These are your big, beautiful blooms that fill up your bouquets.
Hydrangeas: These look like huge, soft clouds. One stem is often enough to fill a vase on its own.
Roses and Carnations: These are classic, tough, and very forgiving for anyone starting out.
2. Adding Height (Line Flowers)
Use these to add some elegance and height to your table centres or jars.
Delphiniums: Beautiful tall spikes that give you gorgeous shades of blue and purple.
Gladiolus: Sturdy, long stems that look lovely in taller glass jars.
Lysimachia: These add a lovely, soft, and slightly wild feeling.
3. Texture and Fillers
These are the bits that hide any gaps and give your arrangements a bit of character.
Eryngium (Thistle): These have a cool, blue, star like shape that feels modern and rustic.
Scabiosa: Also known as the pincushion flower, these are just beautiful and delicate.
Allium: These look like tiny fireworks and add a fun, structural shape to your displays.
4. Scent and Movement
Sweet Pea: These are ruffled, delicate, and smell amazing. They add a lovely, romantic, loose feel.
Freesia: These smell lovely and add a sweet fragrance to your day.
A Few Tips from the School
Keep them cool. July can be a scorcher! Keep your stems in clean water in a cool, dark place, like a garage or a basement, right up until the wedding.
Do not aim for perfection. July flowers look best when they feel a bit wild and natural. Do not worry if things are not perfectly symmetrical; that loose, just picked look is very in right now.
Mix your sizes. Always put your big focal flowers together with the smaller textures and foliage. That mix is the real trick to making it look like a pro did it.
If you love the idea of working with flowers and want to turn this into a new career, we would love to see you at our school. We have some brilliant courses designed to help you get started.
Are you feeling ready to take on the challenge for your big day?