A little preparation goes a long way when your flowers arrive. Gathering your supplies in advance means you can dive straight into arranging — no last-minute scrambles, no discovering the hardware store is sold out of buckets the night before your wedding. We’ve pulled together everything you’ll need for a smooth, stress-free floral experience.
Bonus tip: rope in a friend or two. Many hands make light work, and it’s way more fun.
Time
Time is the most valuable thing you can give your DIY florals. Block off dedicated time for both conditioning your flowers when they arrive and for the actual arranging. Don’t underestimate how long it takes — give yourself a generous buffer, especially the day before your event.
Work space
You don’t need a fancy studio — just enough room to spread out comfortably. A folding table is a great investment if your kitchen table doesn’t give you and your helpers enough elbow room. Work somewhere cool and shaded, away from direct sunlight and heat.
Fridge Space
Important: Do not store completed bouquets in the fridge — the cold and ethylene gases from produce can actually damage your blooms.
However, if you’re making boutonnieres, you can pop those in the fridge overnight (away from fruits and vegetables) to keep them looking fresh and crisp.
Vases/Mason Jars
Once your arrangements are complete, they’ll need a place to rest in water until your big day. Pull together any vases, mason jars, or pitchers you have on hand and give them a good clean before your flowers arrive.
Buckets
You’ll need water-holding containers for conditioning your flowers when they arrive. Tupperware bins, buckets from the hardware store, or bathroom trash cans all work perfectly. A few things to keep in mind:
- Don’t crowd your flowers — bruised stems won’t recover. A good rule of thumb is no more than 3 bunches per standard trash can.
- Keep short-stemmed flowers in separate buckets from your greenery — they’ll get lost and squished otherwise.
Waste bins
Floral work generates a surprising amount of stems, leaves, and trimmings. Keep a dedicated waste bin right at your workspace — a tidy space means a clearer head and a faster workflow.
Floral Snippers
Kitchen scissors aren’t sharp enough and garden shears are too bulky. Proper floral snippers make clean cuts that help your stems drink properly — and clean cuts mean longer-lasting blooms. Pick up a few pairs so your helpers aren’t waiting around for their turn.
Floral tape
Floral tape is the backbone of bouquet and boutonniere making. It stretches and bonds to itself as you wrap, creating a secure, seamless hold. Grab a couple of rolls — it’s inexpensive and you’ll go through more than you expect.
Boutstix (For Boutonnieres)
If you’re making boutonnieres, Boutstix magnetic fasteners are a game-changer. They attach cleanly with no pin holes in the suit jacket — and honestly, they just look more polished. Highly recommended.
Ribbon
Ribbon is a beautiful finishing touch for bouquets, and a great way to weave in your wedding colour palette. Satin, velvet, and raw-edge silk all give different vibes — pick what feels right for your aesthetic.
Hot Glue Gun
A hot glue gun is handy for securing ribbon neatly — you can also use floral pins if you prefer. One important note:
Never use hot glue directly on flowers. If you need to glue blooms, use proper floral glue — hot glue will damage delicate petals instantly.
Transport Boxes & Padding
Getting your arrangements to the venue safely takes a bit of planning. Cardboard boxes or plastic storage totes work well — just make sure there’s enough room that nothing gets crushed. Crumpled newspaper, tissue paper, or old towels are great for filling gaps and keeping things stable on the drive over.
Tip: do a test pack the day before so you’re not figuring out the Tetris puzzle on the morning of your event.
That’s everything you need to set yourself up for a beautiful, stress-free floral experience. Have questions or need some guidance as your flower day approaches? We’d love to hear from you — reach out anytime at hello@youfloral.ca
xoxo, Sarah 🌸
Credit:
Photography by https://www.whitneyearl.com/
Florals by https://www.youfloral.ca/
