One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to elopements is that you have to miss out on traditional wedding elements like florals and table arrangements. As a Montana elopement photographer and full-service planner, I am here to tell you that not only can you have the florals of your dreams, but you can craft them yourself! Let’s be honest, flowers are expensive. While this guide is not tailored to florals on a budget, you can absolutely save yourself a buck or two by doing them yourself. If you’re ready to learn how to DIY your elopement florals and bring your vision to life, you’re in the right place. This is such a fun elopement planning resource, so break out your cute notebook, grab a fun drink, and let’s get into it!

DIY-Friendly Guide to Elopement Florals

As you buzz about planning your elopement, I sincerely hope that you’ve realized that there are (pretty much) no rules! One of the most beautiful aspects of an elopement is that you have the freedom to create your dream day. Your elopement flowers are included in this freedom and flexibility. If you’ve always imagined a corsage rather than holding a bouquet, you can absolutely do that! Or if a floral crown in lieu of a veil has always soared to the top of your Pinterest board or saved TikToks, you have the freedom to make that happen. 

Planning Your Floral Design

Before you get too far into selecting specific color palettes or designs, I would highly encourage you and your partner to narrow down your vision. It can be a bit overwhelming to go into any part of elopement planning without a vision, so take your time putting together a mood board and dreaming alongside your partner. Once you’ve narrowed down the overall vibe, start making a list of where you will want flowers. Here’s an example of what that list could look like:

1. Bouquet
2. Boutonnièrere
3. Floral Crown
4. Ceremony Arch
5. Table Arrangements 
6. Coursages
   1. Mom or Important figure
   2. Mom or Important figure
   3. Collar piece for Fido
7. Additional Boutonnières
   1. Dad or Important figure
   2. Dad or Important figure

Once you’ve put together a list of floral “pieces” needed for your vision to come to life, that’s where the real fun starts. This is a great step to refer back to your Pinterest board, note similarities in your style, and narrow down your inspiration. Maybe you’re noticing most of the florals on your board whimsical and colorful – this can help eliminate any outliers (and avoid decision fatigue). 

Consider the Logistics of Elopement Florals

While this isn’t the most exciting step in putting together your elopement flowers, it’s an important one. Logistics and restrictions absolutely need to be considered in order to have elopement florals – period. If you are planning on eloping in a desolate location, consider how you will source your flowers (we’ll tackle sourcing in the next section). Or maybe you’ve decided to elope in a national park or on federal land. Federal land has restrictions when it comes to flowers to avoid any harm to the ecosystem. 

Make sure you’re aware of your elopement location’s restrictions and remember to leave no trace! As cute and sentimental as a hand-picked wildflower bouquet may sound, it is illegal to pick plants on federal lands. Do plenty of research prior to your elopement to avoid fines or causing harm to the land. This is a great place to consult with your elopement photographer or planner if you have questions! 

Sourcing Elopement Florals

Like I mentioned above, knowing where to source your elopement florals is a huge part of the design process. One of the sweetest joys of DIYing your elopement flowers is having the freedom to hand select your blooms from local farmer’s markets, farms, or wholesalers. If having fresh florals is important to you, I would recommend researching where you will source your blooms. 

Depending on how much time you’ll need to put together your arrangements, you’ll also want to ensure you can keep them relatively cool to maintain their freshness. If you’re eloping in an unpredictable climate or a remote location, faux florals may be the way to go! 

Alternative Florals for Your Elopement

One of my biggest tips for keeping your flower budget in check is to consider opting for seasonal blooms. Depending where you plan to source your flowers from, out-of-season flowers can cost a ton. Perhaps the inspiration you’ve been referencing has peonies (which are typically in season in spring and part of summer). If you’re tying the knot in February, opt for a bouquet of ranunculus for a similar shape and feel. There are a plethora of “dupes” for flowers if you just do a bit of digging. Here’s a couple popular wedding bouquet alternatives:

• Peonies
  • Double Tulip
  • Ranunculus
  • Dahlia
• Roses
  • Ranunculus
  • Camellia
  • Lisianthus
  • Gardenia
• Sunflowers
  • Gerber Daisy
  • False Sunflower
  • Black-Eyed Susan

While elopements can certainly be more affordable than a traditional wedding, you can lower the cost even more by choosing alternative florals or mix in fillers. This is another area where research will become your best friend, but I’d even recommend chatting with a local florist to pick their brain.

Tools and Supplies for Designing Your Elopement Bouquet

Designing both faux and fresh floral arrangements requires having a few essentials to make your life (and elopement) much easier. Please note: ceremony pieces or large centerpieces may require supplies beyond what I’ve included below. For those arrangements in particular, I’d recommend utilizing tutorials and YouTube! However, here’s a list to get you started with basic floral arrangement supplies:

Tips for Caring for Fresh Flowers 

1. If ordering flowers online, rehydrate them as soon as you receive them.
2. Cut about 1 inch of stem off at a 45° angle.
3. Prep buckets with warm water and flower food.
4. Strip all leaves from longer stems and blooms. For filler florals, try to remove any leaves that may be submerged in water.  
5. Allow flowers to open before creating arrangements (generally, 1 day is suitable). If sitting longer than 1 day, trim the stems by 1/4 inch. 
6. Lightly mist petals with a spray bottle. 
7. Keep florals from direct sunlight. 
8. Create boutonnieres and corsages last. If necessary to store overnight, keep the florals moist and cool; wrap in damp paper towels or place in a box and mist with water. Store in the fridge, but keep away from the fridge walls.

Designing Your Elopement Bouquet

Now, finally onto the fun part: designing your flower arrangements! This is another great place to utilize your inspiration, Pinterest boards, and tutorials. Once you’ve prepped your stems and greenery, grab those tools and get started! I’ve found it easiest to assemble bouquets by arranging them in front of a mirror and holding the bouquet in my hands. Start by assembling your base flowers; these will be florals with dimension and varying heights. After your base is formed, start placing your statement florals. These will likely be your most unique or largest blooms. 

Once you have your base and statement florals, start adding in greenery and smaller blooms. Think: baby’s breath, eucalyptus, dianthus, carnations, etc. This is your opportunity to replace all the foliage that you stripped from the stems during the floral prep. The greenery and filler florals truly bring together your bouquet. 

Continue to adjust your bouquet in the mirror, while remembering to maintain some depth with varying heights and textures. *Pro tip: use an odd number of stems for each type of bloom for a more luxury look- I use the rule of threes and fives* Once you’re happy with the shape of your bouquet, either wrap the stems with an elastic or secure with piece of twine. After trimming the stems to your desired length, you can either wrap your bouquet with floral tape and a full ribbon OR secure the stems with a bow. 

How to DIY a Centerpieces

When it comes to designing centerpieces and ceremony decor, let your creativity shine! Because elopements are a great opportunity to use creative freedom, don’t be afraid to do things a little bit differently. Use mason jar arrangements, wildflower bouquets, or floral wreaths to adorn your elopement venue. Consider the size of your elopement space, and design arrangements to fill the space properly. Just as you want a variety of heights in your bridal bouquet, add visual interest to your centerpieces in a similar way. If your elopement location is large and has a ton of blank space, incorporate natural elements or native greenery, like twigs, grasses, and moss. 

Designing Elopement Boutonnières

Once your bridal bouquet is complete, you can start working on boutonnières, corsages, and table arrangements. When selecting flowers for boutonnières and corsages, choose smaller blooms that mimic the bridal bouquet. A good rule of thumb for a boutonnière is to 1 piece of greenery, 1-2 accent florals, 1-2 statement blooms (depending on size), and 1-2 base stems. 

Northwest Montana Florists | Glacier National Park Wedding Vendors

Now you already know I can’t leave you hanging if you’re planning a Glacier National Park elopement! Here’s a roundup of the best florists in Northwest Montana if you aren’t too sure about the whole DIY thing:

• Flower Child Florals
• Wilde Floral
• Fieldfiveflowers
• Two Kay’s Flower Farm
• Flathead Farmworks
• Rose Mountain Floral
• Blume Hill
• Mum’s
• Forage and Floral

Now that you know how to DIY your elopement florals, you’re ready to tie the knot. But in case you’re still searching for more elopement planning tips, I’ve gotcha covered below with some additional resources. And of course, be sure to follow along on the ‘Gram (@sydneybreannphoto) for the latest florals featuring my beautiful couples! Until next time, are you ready to wander?

Elopement Planning Blogs:

How to Elevate Your Elopement
How to Find the Perfect Elopement Location
Splurge vs. Save: Elopement Edition
What to Include in Your Elopement Details
How to Include Your Dog in Your Elopement