Flower Moxie Review: Laura's DIY Wedding Flower Experience
Meet Laura & Alejandro
Photo by: Fredericks Photo and Films
As soon as we peeped on Laura & Alejandro’s wedding photos we were oo-ing and aahh-ing! They had so many many wonderful details that really spoke to their love. From their venue, to the music they incorporated, to their fun guest snacks- they completely made their day 100% them!
The same can be said for their flowers! The couple created their own flower cart to uniquely suit their vibe and it did not disappoint! Citrusy tones of yellow and peach (Peach Tiffany Rose, Yellow Solidago) were perfectly paired with soft touches of cream (Creamy Vendela Rose, Feverfew, White Cushion Pom) to create a fun and cheerful palette that really popped against their lush, gardeny venue. With a nod to the Fall season they balanced a springy palette with rust orange by using Copper Cushion Flowers and Terracotta Fancy Carnations!
Our very own Amy McCord Jones sat down with Laura to chat about her wedding. Watch our vlog below, then keep reading to hear more about all their special details from their gorgeous wedding!
What was your favorite part
about DIYing?
Arranging flowers has always brought me so much joy, and I absolutely loved the creative process as a whole. From choosing the color palette to getting my hands dirty practicing to sharing the memories with my mom, sister, and aunts. Amidst the stress of wedding planning, working with the flowers brought me some calm!
Photo by: Fredericks Photo and Films
Photo by: Fredericks Photo and Films
Why did you choose to DIY
your flowers?
I've taken a few floral arranging classes in the past that have brought me immense joy. As soon as I realized you could DIY your own wedding florals, I knew that's what I wanted to do! My very creative mom & sister were willing to help, which sealed the deal. And it allowed us to expand our photo/video budget to hire the perfect people for the job.
Who did you have help from?
My mom, sister, and my two aunts.
Photo by: Fredericks Photo and Films
Where did you get married and why did you choose this location?
The Hendry House in Arlington, Virginia was the perfect venue. It sat perfectly in our venue while also being a dream location! Our goal was to find a venue that made it feel like an at-home backyard wedding without actually being at our home, and this space was perfect. The ceremony space covered in greenery and the gorgeous fall colors were also big selling points, and we were blessed with the perfect October weather!
Was it a destination wedding?
Nope, this is about 20 minutes from our home! A hidden gem, as most of our local guests had never heard of this park!
Photo by: Fredericks Photo and Films
Photo by: Fredericks Photo and Films
Photo by: Fredericks Photo and Films
What was your favorite part of your wedding day?
It's so hard to choose! I loved our ceremony so much! Our officiant was perfection, and we tried very hard to be present in the moment. I can still feel my husband's hands in mine as we geared up to exchange rings. I also loved our first dance! We spent a few months practicing and while my husband was super nervous, it was flawless! I also loved having Doritos as our wedding favor, watching our guests munch on the bags of chips was such a highlight. We chose to do a morning wedding, which was the perfect choice for our introverted selves! It allowed us to get the best of the fall weather, have our ceremony with the best lighting, serve a scrumptious wedding parrilla lunch, and decompress at home for a few hours after the wedding before our family's after-party.
Photo by: Fredericks Photo and Films
In hindsight, is there anything you would have done differently?
I would've ordered more flowers and chosen larger centerpiece vases to create fuller arrangements. I also would've prioritized my flower order to ensure I had extras of my favorite blooms on hand. I also would've spent less money on silk ribbon for the bouquets, as the colors were very muted and that money would've been put to better use elsewhere.
Tips for future DIYers?
Chicken wire is the best system for arrangements, go no foam! Assign your helper's specific tasks that you feel comfortable handing off! I let my sister be fully in charge of bud vases (something I don't enjoy and she loved), and my aunt with the arrangements (modeled after a sample I made), which left me free to focus on the bouquets, especially mine! The boxes your flowers come in are great for transportation, just be sure to double-box or reinforce them to ensure they stay sturdy. Make sure you carefully measure the suit jacket pockets for pocket square boutonnieres so they fit and don't have to be cut the day of! PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!! It is hard at first but with time and effort, you'll get more confident! Participating in the Flower Moxie challenge was so helpful, as I was practicing floral design at least once a month before my wedding. Getting comfortable with the mechanics as well as deciding what you do and don't like is the key to success.
How did you add personalized touches to your day?
- I walked down the aisle to "Jane's Love Song", the romantic theme from Jane The Virgin.
- We wrote our own ceremony script, infusing nods to our hobbies and interests throughout
- We incorporated Bad Bunny lyrics into our ring exchange: "y si el dia se pone feo, tu me lo haces bonito. ya no pido mas deseos, tengo todo lo que necesito" (which translates to "and if the day gets ugly, you make it beautiful. I don't make wishes anymore, I have everything I need")
- We had our miniature Dachshund Deetolai there with us! & Ale wore wiener dog socks
- Our caterer served Venezuelan food (that's where Laura's family is from), including empanadas and tequeños
- We choreographed our first dance to the song "Do You Want to do Nothing with Me" by Lawrence the Band. The lyrics perfectly describe the homebody essence of our relationship
- Our seating chart was displayed on a painting done by Ale's sister
- Our tables were named after our favorite TV couples and what they've taught us about love, like Michael & Holly (from the Office) and Leslie & Ben (from Parks & Rec)
- We skipped the cake and served quesillo (Venezuelan flan) and cinnamon rolls for dessert instead!
- We sprinkled disposable cameras throughout the venue which let us see the day from our guest's perspective
- We gave out mini Doritos bags as favors! Doritos are our favorite snack (it even inspired our dog's name!)
Which part of your wedding are you most proud of?
I'm so proud of the atmosphere we created for our favorite people to celebrate our special day! Our small guest list and intentional choices made it so this day was wholly ours, and the love shared between everyone there completely filled us up.
Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for making DIY wedding flowers possible! This was one of my favorite parts of the wedding experience and I'm so grateful for your help in making it happen!
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About the Author
Jessica has a BFA in Art Education/Printmaking and her MFA in Studio Art with a focus in Non-Toxic printmaking. She brings 10 years of floral experience to her roles at Flower Moxie, having worked in Boston, NYC, and Newport, RI. We still don't know if she's a real person or a hologram but work keeps getting done.