HOW TO KEEP YOUR WEDDING OR EVENT FLOWERS LOOKING THEIR BEST

I just picked up my flowers. What’s the most important thing to know right now?

Keep them in water. Always.
Your flowers should remain in clean water from the moment you pick them up until the very last possible minute before use. You may need to top off water in buckets or vessels as flowers drink throughout the day—this is completely normal and expected.

If there’s one rule to remember, it’s this: flowers stay hydrated until the moment they’re needed.

Where should my flowers be stored before arranging or the ceremony?

Flowers prefer cool temperatures and shade. They do not need air conditioning, but they do need to be kept:

  • Out of direct sunlight

  • Away from heat sources

  • In the coolest indoor space available

A shaded room, basement, or cool garage can work well. Heat and sun are the fastest ways to shorten vase life, so think “cool, calm, and protected.”

AVOID putting them in a refrigerator. We have our walk-in cooler set to specific temperatures that fluctuate during the growing season, depending on the requirements of each type of flower we grow. Certain flowers, like dahlias, can be ruined by getting too cold. As a general rule to avoid this, just don’t put your flowers in the fridge or anywhere below 45 degrees!

How should flowers be transported in a vehicle?

Plan your flower pickup vehicle just as carefully as any other wedding detail.

Important considerations:

  • Make sure there is enough flat space for buckets and larger pieces

  • Five-gallon buckets can be tippy—secure them with seat belts or wedge them into corners

  • Some items (like large ceremony arrangements) take up significant room

Flowers should go straight from our cooler to a cool, shaded destination.
Do not run errands. Do not leave them in a hot car. Even short stops in heat can cause unnecessary stress and wilting.

What supplies do I actually need for DIY flowers?

You truly don’t need much. For most DIY centerpieces and arrangements, we recommend:

  • Floral snips (they cut stems cleanly and with less damage than regular scissors)

  • Vases or vessels (see below for sizing recommendations)

  • A clean table to work on

That’s it. Simple tools go a long way.

What type of vases work best for DIY centerpieces?

For easy, well-proportioned centerpieces, we highly recommend either mason jars or bud vases.

How should I approach arranging my bulk bucket flowers?

Before you start arranging, take a few minutes to make a plan.

Our favorite method:

  1. Gently lift all the flowers out of the bucket at once (a big “bear hug”)

  2. Lay them out on a clean table

  3. Take stock of what you have

This actually causes less breakage than pulling stems out one by one and allows you to see the full picture.

From there, you can decide:

  • How many centerpieces you’re making

  • How to pace yourself to make sure each arrangement has a focal flower

  • How much greenery, accent flowers, or textural components to use per arrangement

Planning first helps your designs feel intentional—and prevents running out of flowers at the end. Often, people discover they have more than they expected and can create fuller, more luxurious arrangements.

How will Bridal Bouquets & Bridesmaid Bouquets be packaged at pickup?

Bridal and bridesmaid bouquets are picked up in buckets of water, not vases.
Buckets are much more stable and far less likely to tip during transport.

Keep bouquets:

  • In water

  • In a cool, shady place

  • Undisturbed until just before the ceremony

When do I tie the ribbon on my bouquet?

Right before the ceremony.
Ribbon should be tied on at the very last minute so it doesn’t get wet or soggy while the bouquet is in water.

You’ll receive ribbon in a baggie along with a QR code linking to a quick, simple tutorial.

It’s a fast, easy process, nothing to stress about, and someone can easily help you do this moments before you walk down the aisle.

How do I prevent drooping or wilting before the ceremony?

The answer, again, is water—and timing.

  • Keep bouquets and arrangements in water until the very last minute

  • Do not leave flowers out for extended periods before the ceremony

  • Avoid taking hours of photos with flowers out of water

If flowers do come out of water for longer than a few minutes (example: for photos) and need to go back into water:

  • Give the stems a fresh, clean cut before returning them to water

Once stems have been out of water, they seal themselves off. A fresh cut reopens the stem so it can drink again and look its best for the ceremony.

A final note for best results
The secret to vibrantly beautiful flowers is thoughtful growing and harvesting (we’ve done that part) paired with careful handling (that part is up to you). Keeping stems hydrated and cool until the last possible moment allows your blooms to open fully and look their absolute best for your ceremony and photographs.