Flowers & Decor: A DIY Wedding Reality Check
About this Series: The Summit & Ivy Wedding Journey
Planning a wedding in Toronto is a big deal—we get it. To bring our professional advice to life, we're inviting you to follow along with "Jessica's Journey."
In this special series, we'll be sharing the story of Jessica and Mark, a fictional Toronto couple who are a composite of the many amazing clients we've worked with. Their mission is to create a dream wedding for 100 guests on a $35,000 budget.
As we guide them through every decision, from the venue hunt to the final toast, we’ll be sharing our pro tips, planning tools, and honest advice that you can steal for your own wedding. Let's get them to the altar!
From Jessica's Journal December 13, 2025
With our save-the-dates sent, I fell deep into a Pinterest spiral. Our brewery venue is a beautiful "blank canvas," and I started dreaming of transforming it with lush flowers, custom signs, and romantic table settings. I saw all these gorgeous DIY projects and thought, "I can totally do that! We'll save a fortune!"
I decided to start with the centerpieces. My vision was for 15 tables to have beautiful, garden-style floral arrangements. I watched a few tutorials, then headed to a local flower market to do a "trial run."
That's when I got my DIY reality check.
First, the cost of the fresh flowers, foam, vases, and tools for just one centerpiece was way more than I expected. Second, it took me nearly two hours to create something that looked... well, like an amateur made it. And third, a logistical nightmare dawned on me: where would I store 15 of these? How would we transport them to the venue? And who would set them all up on the morning of the wedding? It wouldn't be me, because I’d be getting my hair and makeup done.
That messy, expensive trial run was the best thing that could have happened. It led Mark and me to a much smarter, more realistic "hybrid" plan.
What we’re hiring a pro for: The important, high-pressure flowers. We're hiring a professional florist to create my bouquet, the bridesmaids' bouquets, and the boutonnières. These are in tons of photos and need to be perfect and stress-free.
What we’re doing ourselves (the actual DIY projects):
Centerpieces: We scrapped the complex arrangements. Instead, we're collecting mismatched bud vases from thrift stores and will have simple stems of greenery and a single bloom in each. It's affordable, easy to transport, and something our coordinator or a helpful aunt can easily set up in minutes.
Signage: I'm designing our Welcome sign, seating chart, and table numbers on Canva using beautiful templates, and we'll get them printed at a local print shop for a fraction of the cost of custom signage.
Candles: You can never have too much romantic lighting! We're buying pillar and votive candles in bulk online to scatter everywhere.
This hybrid approach feels perfect. We’re saving a ton of money and adding personal touches without adding a ton of stress.
Summit & Ivy Planner's Note: Jessica’s "DIY reality check" is a story we hear all the time. A hybrid approach is often the perfect solution! Here’s our guide to help you decide what to tackle yourself.
What to DIY vs. What to Buy
Good to DIY: Signage, table numbers, card boxes, simple centerpieces (like bud vases or candles), and party favors. These are things that can be done well in advance and don't require complicated setup on the day.
Better to Hire a Pro for: Personal flowers (your bouquet!), complex floral arrangements or installations, and anything that requires significant, stressful setup on the morning of your wedding. Your peace of mind on your wedding day is priceless.
Pro-Tips for Your Decor Budget
Reuse & Repurpose: Use your ceremony arrangements or bridesmaids' bouquets as decor for your head table or cake table during the reception.
Go Green: Greenery like eucalyptus, ruscus, and ferns is generally much more affordable than flowers and can make a huge, lush impact.
Think Non-Floral: Don't forget the power of lighting! Candles, string lights, and uplighting can transform a space for a fraction of the cost of elaborate floral arrangements.
Your Top Decor Questions, Answered
Q: How much of my total budget should go to flowers and decor? A: A good starting point is 8-15% of your total budget. If you have a simple venue that needs a lot of decor, you might be on the higher end. If you have a naturally beautiful venue, you can be on the lower end.
Q: What are the most budget-friendly flowers? A: Carnations, baby's breath, daisies, and chrysanthemums are beautiful and famously budget-friendly. Most importantly, choosing flowers that are in-season locally will always be your most affordable option.
Q: Is it okay to use fake (silk or high-quality artificial) flowers? A: Absolutely! Modern artificial flowers can be stunningly realistic. They're a great option for arches or installations that you want to prepare far in advance, and you can resell them after the wedding to recoup some of the cost.
Ready to plan your decor? Our Ultimate Wedding Planner on Etsy includes a detailed decor checklist and budget tracker to keep all your creative ideas organized and on-budget.
With our decor plan sorted, it was time for something I've been dreaming about since I was little: finding the dress.
Next up: I say 'yes' and share my top tips for finding a dream dress without a designer price tag!
Are you planning any DIY projects for your wedding? Share your ideas and experiences in the comments!
Cheers,
Please check out my Etsy page for more amazing wedding tips and journals
