Category: DIY

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Different Types of Greenery to Make Your Bouquet Complete

Green Mix of florals

Oftentimes the greenery used in an arrangement of flowers gets overlooked, taking a back seat to the stars of the show – the beautiful and colorful blooms. But it’s time to show these green accents some love! Yes, they are often supporting characters to the main attraction, but without them, bouquets of flowers just wouldn’t be the same – they would be lacking. 

Greenery is essential to floral arrangements because they provide a soothing, neutral backdrop for the robust flowers to shine. They also do so much more, though, like provide interesting shapes and textures that add to the overall look of the arrangement. Below, we list some of the greenery typically used in flower arranging and why they are so special.   

Myrtle

With long stems lined with glossy leaves in a pretty, mid-tone green, myrtle is a popular choice for many floral designers. Using multiple stems together creates lush, thick foliage that looks great in centerpieces. It’s also a wonderful addition to any decor piece for the home as it exudes a sweet fragrance. Myrtle symbolizes love, luck, and prosperity which is why it is often used in weddings. 

Ivy

Ivy has unique, triangular-shaped leaves that fall elegantly from the main stem, making it perfect for creating flow and wrapping around headdresses, wreaths, or centerpieces Ivy has a long lifespan making it ideal for holiday decor. Ivy symbolizes fidelity and eternal life. 

Leatherleaf Fern

Thicker and more lush-looking than other types of greenery, the leatherleaf fern branches out to create a wide triangular shape made up of many small leaflets. This particular greenery is great for adding body to a floral arrangement as well as a tropical vibe. During the Victorian era, leatherleaf fern symbolized humility and sincerity. 

Dusty Miller

Dusty miller is unique due to its “frosted”, silvery-pale shade of green. A popular choice in many winter weddings and fall arrangements, dusty miller’s subdued color also pairs well with pastel-colored blooms. The soft and interesting texture of dusty miller help gives bouquets a chic, quiet beauty.

Silver Dollar Eucalyptus

So named for its round leaves that look silver dollars, and the silver dollar eucalyptus adds interest and circular shapes to arrangements. With its’ matte, bluish-gray color, it pairs nicely with whites and pastels. The long, thin stems allow for the silver dollar eucalyptus to bend and wrap easily making it ideal for decorating wreaths and centerpieces. 

Spiral Eucalyptus

Spiral eucalyptus has a vertical stem with many, smaller circular leaves growing off of it creating a denser look than the silver dollar eucalyptus. As it grows it changes colors from a greyish-blue to a rich green. Perfect for adding a vertical element as well as a garden look, this greenery pairs well with most flowers and even looks great in a vase on its own. 

Tree Fern

With a tuft of plumage sprouting from its top, tree fern adds a touch of softness, wispiness, and fun to any arrangement. Often used in boutonnieres and corsages, this easy and adaptable greenery also works well in floral arrangements providing texture and allure. 

Try your hand at any of the above beautiful greenery, or additional types of greenery to experiment with. Adding the right type of greenery to a vase of flowers enhances beyond compare. For all DIY floral needs, Cascade Floral Wholesale is here to help. 

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Gender Neutral Flowers for New Moms

Flowers are a great way to welcome someone into the world! Plus, a wonderful gift to the mom who worked hard to get the baby into the world safely. When choosing flowers to send to a new mom or for a baby shower, the traditional pink or blue bouquet to celebrate a girl or boy is fine. However, if the mom is keeping the gender a secret, or if you just want to go for something more unique, then keep reading for inspiration in selecting stunning gender-neutral arrangements or creating one yourself with gender-neutral flowers. 

Gender Neutral Flowers for Baby Shower

If you are hosting a baby shower or looking to send flowers to a soon-to-mom and don’t know the gender of the baby, then use the below guide to select the perfect blooms for stunning decor. 

Yellow

Bright yellow blooms are full of joy which makes them perfect for events celebrating new babies. Popular yellow flowers include sunflowers, daisies, mums, and roses. A touch of green foliage and white accent flowers make for a lovely, charming, and happy look. 

Orange

Orange is a happy warm color that spreads joy. Paired with yellow flowers creates a wonderful and happy atmosphere — a terrific way to celebrate bringing a new life into the world. 

Green Hydrangea

Green

Green represents nature, new beginnings, growth, and energy. It’s the color of life! Besides foliage, there are also green flowers you can put in an arrangement such as carnations, mums, roses, calla lilies, orchids, hydrangea, and zinnia. Green flowers paired with white accent florals are a wonderful delight. 

Peach

If you prefer pastel shades, choose peach-colored blooms. Daisies, roses, carnations, ranunculus, lilies, and dahlias are all great options. Peach is a soft color that represents happiness and tenderness and is a great choice for baby showers. 

White Calla Lily

White

White flowers are beautifully versatile. They can make up an entire bouquet on their own and are excellent for adding to other color-filled bouquets.  The best thing about white flowers is that they can be paired with any other color! They make colorful blooms stand out while at the same time keep the colors from becoming too overwhelming. 

If you’re a DIYer then Cascade Floral Wholesale has color combos perfect for creating stunning gender-neutral arrangements. These combos are super versatile perfect for soon-to-be moms or hosts who want to customize the flowers themselves.

Party planning or picking out the perfect gift can be a little stressful, particularly when it is as special as a baby shower, but choosing flowers doesn’t have to be! Contact Cascade Floral Wholesale for all your floral needs. We are here to help!

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Tips for Creating Pretty Floral Arrangements

Decorating your home with fresh flowers is perfect for adding instant style and a pleasant refresh that brings beauty, fragrance, and other benefits flowers provide to your life. Plus, it’s easy! All it takes is some gorgeous fresh-cut stems from your florist and a variety of containers. The following tips will get you started in creating your prettiest arrangements ever. 

  1. Select in-season blooms to save money and celebrate that particular time of year. Some varieties, such as orchids and roses, are available all year round. 
  2. Decide on your theme: either a mix of complementary colors and types, shades of one color and different types, or all the same type in a variety of colors or the same color. Select some greenery for color and texture.  Bulk Wholesale Summer Flowers Combo
  3. Before placing a single stem into a vase, cut at least 1/2 an inch off of the bottom at a 45-degree angle. This increases the surface area so the floral can get plenty of water. Re-cutting the stems every 2-3 days will prevent bacteria from growing and make the flowers last longer. 
  4. Choose interesting containers for your flowers such as a teapot, pitcher, mason jar, wine glass, teacup, etc. Smaller vases allow you to display 2 or 3 striking blooms while shallow containers give you a way to display florals with very short stems. (To keep the stems from separating, bind them together with an elastic hairband).
  5. If you want to open closed buds quickly, place them in warm water for about a minute and then in color water. Leave for 15-20 minutes and the flowers will open to their maximum size. 
  6. The best way to preserve your flowers to look fresh for the longest amount of time is to use a commercial flower preservative that florists typically provide. You can also keep your bouquets in the fridge overnight if you have the room. Beautiful Flower Arrangement with Succulent
  7. To keep flowers in place, particularly in shallow vases, make a grid using clear floral tape (or thin strips of transparent Scotch tape). Insert fullest flowers first at an angle to cover the rim/sides of the bowl. Next, fill in the remaining holes with medium-sized flowers, and use the smallest flowers as accent florals to complete the design. 
  8. Place a vase within a vase to hide the stems with pieces of fruit or broad leaves. 
  9. To create a fuller arrangement, use filler flowers. Place them in gaps to create a more lush and full look.
  10. Create an interesting floral tablescape by placing single blooms in vintage glass bottles.
  11. When designing your arrangement, keep in mind balance, which does not necessarily mean everything has to be perfectly symmetrical. Play with different heights, lengths, and volume to create a visually balanced piece. 

 

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Discover the Charming Scabiosa (Pincushion) Flower

The Scabiosa flower, also known as the Pincushion flower, is a small but mighty bloom that stands out due to its spiky ball-like center and skinny yet sturdy stem. Growing in a wide array of bright and dramatic hues, they add interest, whimsy, fun, and a pop of color to mixed bouquets. A gathering of pincushion flowers only, though, is absolutely charming! We love this interesting little bloom here at Cascade Flowers! Read to find out why!

There are over 1000 species of Scabiosa florals, a herbaceous perennial that belongs to the honeysuckle family.  This sweetly scented, non-toxic bloom grows in white, lavender, pink, cream, red, and burgundy. Scabiosa make wonderful garden flowers for their unique look and because they attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. 

The word “Scabiosa” comes from Latin and means “to scratch.” In medieval times, Scabiosa blooms were used in herbal remedies to relieve the itch of scabies. African tribes also used to use this flower for treating coughs, fever, and internal inflammation. 

Scabiosa Description

The Scabiosa flower is frequently called a “pincushion” flower because of its round head studded with numerous, long needle-like stamens which resemble pins on a pincushion. This characteristic creates a wonderful contrast with the wispy, delicate petals surrounding it. 

Scabiosa Flower Symbolism

Certain species of Scabiosa flowers feature dark petals representing death or widowhood, which has contributed to this floral also being called mourning bride and mourning widow. In this context, the symbolism of the scabiosa flower is unfortunate love. In another context, though, due to its sweet fragrance and overall charming radiance, the Scabiosa also symbolizes pure love and peace. 

Scabiosa Design Uses

As a cut flower, the Scabiosa bloom is very versatile and works well as a filler flower as well as a focal point. Its light texture, spiky look, and rich color pack a perfectly charming punch. This is a terrific bloom to add to floral arrangements, either fresh or dried. Scabiosa brings an ethereal, delicate, and intriguing flavor to your home. 

Popular Scabiosa Varieties

Butterfly Blue – A popular flower for gardeners and for brides due to its lovely deep lavender color.

Black Knight – A bloom with burgundy flowers surrounding prominent white stamens.

Fama White – A varietal that produces larger,  white flowers and thrives in cooler weather.

Pink Mist – A delicate blossom with pink flowers that are nearly translucent.

Creative Ways to Use Scabiosa Blooms in Your Wedding

  • Use as decoration on the place setting. Tied together with some lavender and a touch of foliage and you’ve got a creative and unique statement piece. 
  • These button-like flowers make great boutonnieres. They will hold their shape and color throughout the day and offer a wonderfully unique design alone or paired with other florals. 
  • Scabiosa pods (the seeds of the plant) are wonderful textured round balls formed by many circles with small flowers within. These pods are great for using in wedding cake decoration or other floral arrangements for texture and intrigue.
  • Add pincushion flowers to the bridal bouquet for a texture, color, contrast, and a pop of color. 

This little flower has a big personality! Include Scabiosa booms in your floral arrangements and you’ll see what we’re talking about. View some of our Scabiosa blooms now.

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How to Create a Beautiful Flower Arrangement in 7 Steps

Having fresh flowers in the home is a wonderful treat and adds joy to our everyday lives. If you are a DIY person and want to create a beautiful floral arrangement with some fresh cut stems you just picked up, then the experts at Cascade Flowers can help. Below are the top design tips you need to make your own gorgeous arrangement of fresh flowers.  

Bulk Wholesale Summer Flowers Combo

1. Color Contrast

Before selecting the flowers you want to use, think about the color palette of your design. Do you want a monochromatic color scheme or something with a variety of colors? Whichever you decide, you will still some contrasting colors for depth and balance. If you are going monochromatic, choose flowers in various shades of your color. Also, select in-season blooms as they will be cheaper, and don’t forget to pick up a variety of greenery for texture and color.

2. Select Your Container

The size of your arrangement is based on the size of the container. Whether tall or short, your design should be around 1 1/2 times taller than its vessel. 

3. Determine Shape

Think about whether you want your arrangement to symmetrical or asymmetrical. Symmetrical designs are equal in shape on both sides of a center part. This style is used in formal and traditional arrangements. Asymmetrical designs are unequal on either side. This style is seen in more modern and trendy arrangements. 

Georgeous flower Arrangement in Pink and Purple

4. Include Statement Flowers

A statement flower is a necessary component of arrangements. This flower is a large, striking, and showy bloom such are dahlias, peonies, protea, or garden roses. Any bloom that commands attention will do.

5. Incorporate a Variety of Textures

Add interest to your arrangement by mingling together flowers that have different textures. For example, ruffled and frilly versus smooth, shiny versus matte, structured and hard versus soft. 

Beautiful Flower Arrangement with Succulent

6. Think About Movement

The movement of your eye, that it. Your arrangement should have a visual flow where the eye travels from one side to the other, up and down. Create movement by disbursing similar colors, textures, and shapes throughout your arrangement instead of bunching them together.

7. Start with Greenery 

When starting to arrange your flowers, create a base of greenery first, such as fern frogs, ivy, or eucalyptus. Place the stems in the vase and create a shape that resembles an inverted triangle. This will ensure your arrangement will have both a vertical and horizontal presence. Next, add your statement blooms followed by filler flowers. Finish off your piece by adding floaters – delicate smaller blooms that grow in clusters such as baby’s breath, yarrow, and sedum. Lightly mist your bouquet with some water and voila! Your masterpiece is complete. 

To maintain your arrangement, be sure to change the water every day, remove any foliage that dips below the waterline, use flower food, and trim the stems at a 45-degree angle every few days. The more arrangements you create, the better you will get as well as discover your own design techniques and style preferences. Creating beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers for your home is a great hobby to have! For any of your floral needs, Cascade Flowers is here to help.  

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7 Flower Arranging Mistakes to Avoid

peach violet and pink assorted flowers in vase

Arranging your own florals of fresh-cut stems from the florist, or from your garden, is a great way to decorate your home or make an event go from ordinary to extraordinary. Unless you are a retired floral designer, though, you may need a few helpful tips on how to create a beautiful arrangement sure to stun and please. Here at Cascade Flower Shop, we’ve got a few tips for you to follow and mistakes to avoid when designing your floral bouquet. 

Flower Vase

  1. Using too many different types of flowers. We get it – there are so many beautiful flowers! It’s hard to choose just a few to work with. But try to focus on those few blooms which really speak to you. When choosing lush, showstoppers like roses, dahlias, and peonies, be sure to combine these bigger blooms with a few additional varieties that will complement them. 
  2. Using too many different colors. Who doesn’t love bright colors? Yellows, oranges, reds, blues, purples…. they are all wonderful! But, if you’re trying to create a pleasing and cohesive arrangement, stick with shades that complement rather than compete with each other. Successful floral arrangements have some sort of transition bringing colors, shapes, and textures together. Keep your bouquet interesting by incorporating shades of one color as well as a variety of blooms with different shapes and textures. 
  3. Not cutting the stems at an angle. Cutting stems at a 45-degree angle allows for the maximum amount of area in which they can drink up water. Do this before you place them in a vase of water as well as every few days to avoid the growth of bacteria.  
  4. Perfect Symmetry. For a more natural and wild vibe, create an asymmetrical design instead of a perfectly symmetrical one. Place seasonal branches, foliage, and sprigs at different angles to create an interesting and eye-catching asymmetrical arrangement. 
  5. Loosely arranged blooms. Having “clusters” of blooms in your arrangement makes it more interesting. For some, the magic number is three. Having elements pulled together in clusters of three naturally draws your eye to it. Creating clusters at the edge of your vase creates an extra wow factor.
  6. Forgetting to remove the leaves. Any leaves or foliage that fall below the water line of the vase need to be removed. Otherwise, they will cause bacterial growth that can damage the blooms. 
  7. Not changing the water. Don’t make it and then forget it. Your gorgeous arrangement of blooms needs regular care to stay vibrant, fresh-looking, and beautiful. Change the water in the vase every other day and nourish them with a little flower food to keep them happy. 

Vase on desk

Follow the above tips for designing a floral masterpiece sure to stun and impress your friends and family. And, for a great selection of fresh, high-quality blooms, be sure to check out Cascade’s catalog of flowers to get you started on creating your very own beautiful arrangement. 

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Upgrade Your Patio with Container Planters

Making a container garden is a simple and easy way to incorporate beautiful plants and flowers in your limited space. Whether you’re decorating a front porch, back lanai, or small indoor apartment space, you can absolutely have beautiful greenery and colorful flowers all around you. At Cascade Floral Wholesale, we have everything you need to create container gardens of various sizes, shapes and colors. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when designing your own balanced container garden. 

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How to Create a Meditation Garden

For thousands of years and in many different cultures around the world, the practice of meditation has been used to promote peace, still the mind and soul, and find balance. And who doesn’t need a bit of peace and balance these days? At Cascade Floral Wholesale, we have many of the materials you’ll need to design your own meditation garden, either within your home or outdoors. Having the right surroundings for meditative practice is not required, but certainly helps to bring your senses into alignment with your meditative state. Here are a few pointers for getting started and to inspire you as you create your own meditation garden.

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Floral Design Bars

By now, you and your besties have tried the holiday cookie exchange, makeover nights and the painting-and-wine classes. You’re looking for a fresh spin on the girls’ night out, or a theme for your next event that will bring a flair of inspiration to the group. The newest trend we at Cascade Floral Wholesale are seeing is floral design bars. Bring your closest friends together along with a basic variety of flowers, floral design materials, and a how-to video to follow. Throw in some champagne and brunch-type snacks and you have a fun afternoon of girl time with a great take-away: beautiful floral bouquets and a new skill! 

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Keep Your Flowers Fresh and Pretty Longer

Every florist knows the challenges of creating gorgeous floral arrangements and keeping them fresh for as long as possible. The way you cut, hydrate, style and arrange your blooms all make a difference in how long they will stay fresh and beautiful. Here, the experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale offer some of our best florists’ hacks for keeping your floral arrangements looking good as long as possible. Try a few of these tricks the next time you design beautiful floral arrangements for your home or office and see if they don’t create long-lasting blooms you’ll love.

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5 Easy-to-Keep New Year’s Resolutions

Moving into the New Year often means making a few positive changes in your life. Many people focus on their health, finances or relationships. But have you considered focusing on the plants in your life as a means of self-care? Plants and flowers can be a source of great joy and personal satisfaction, plus sharing the fruits of your labors can be a great way to reinforce relationships. Here, the experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale offer some great ideas about how to include plants and flowers in your New Year’s Resolutions. We have ideas that are long-lasting and easy to fulfill from Day 1. 

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Holiday DIY Decor- Beyond Centerpieces

red flowers, red roses, mixed whole sale flowers and eucalyptus on a table

Decorating for the holidays can be a cheerful, satisfying endeavor that brightens everyone’s spirits during this season. While there’s no end to the creativity and style you can include in your holiday decor, the expense of buying these items can add up quickly. However, making your own beautiful and unique designs is not just less expensive; it’s also fun, easy and so personal that your creations can quickly become holiday family heirlooms. The design experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale have some great DIY decor ideas that you’re sure to love. 

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💐 Cool Tricks for Creating Gorgeous Bouquets

Georgeous flower Arrangement in Pink and Purple

Creating gorgeous floral arrangements for your home or office can be a truly satisfying endeavor. You’re cutting, trimming, arranging and placing the perfectly shaped blooms in the right color patterns that brighten every room in your home. However, that satisfaction will fizzle quickly if your blooms don’t turn out like you’d hoped, or if they wilt and die too quickly. Here, the floral experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale offer some really cool tricks you probably haven’t tried yet. Check them out, try a few, and see what exciting new twists you can add to your floral design repertoire! 

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Create Stunning Fall Floral Arrangements

Georgeous flower Arrangement in Pink and Purple

As summer fades into cooler weather, shorter days and fewer leaves on the trees, we start to notice the subtle changes nature brings. Beyond our own obsessions with scarves, boots and pumpkin spice lattes, the world around us transforms. Leaves change from bright greens to yellows, oranges and reds. The rich texture of tree branches, pine cones and seeds are exposed. Fruit and fall vegetables are harvested in abundance. And those bright summer hues that indicate fun and warmth fade to deeper, muted tones that makes us want to crawl under a blanket. Autumn is arriving, and the floral experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale have some great floral designs to surround yourself with the essence of fall in your own space this season. 

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Create Gorgeous DIY Centerpieces

Centerpiece

Adding flowers to any room can bring fresh color, texture and natural beauty to the atmosphere. But professional floral arrangements can become pricey, especially if you’d love to keep fresh flowers in every room. A great alternative is to purchase your own flowers from a provider like Cascade Floral Wholesale and design your own centerpieces for each room of your home. Creating your own floral arrangements can be simple and fun if you just remember a few tricks of the trade. Think about the vibe you want emanating from each space in your home and match your containers and colors to go with it. It’s also important to consider what surfaces you’re working with in terms of size, shape and height. Here are some great tips for creating your own gorgeous do-it-yourself centerpieces.

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Projects Guaranteed to Get Kids Outside

Whether you have kids around for the summer or full-time, it’s always smart to have a few projects on the back burner to stave off boredom. Creating projects that take you outside and teach children about nature are great ways to encourage a love for flowers, gardens and the great (backyard) outdoors. These backyard and garden-friendly projects from Cascade Floral Wholesale are all things you can do together, getting you and your kids outside and working with your hands. 

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How to Create Beautiful Hand-Wrapped Bouquets

Bulk Wholesale Flowers Combo showing what can be done to for DIY projects, weddings, event

These days, DIY is everywhere. If you have the time to learn a new skill or craft, it can be very exciting to put your new trade to use. For those who love growing, sending, or decorating with flowers, this piece is for you! Being able to grow your own flowers is one thing, but can you present them in a beautiful, stylish way that will make your friends and family swoon? Here, the professionals at Cascade Floral Wholesale will walk you through the basic steps of arranging a bouquet of flowers and include several great ideas for wrapping your blooms in a stylish and personal way. Take a look!

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Tips for Creating DIY Flowers for a Small Wedding

If you’re planning a small, intimate affair for your wedding, it’s fun to explore the possibility of creating some of your food, decor, or floral arrangements yourself. Not only does this help you stretch your wedding budget significantly, but it also adds a personal touch to your event that creates a unique vibe. For DIY wedding flowers, there are several things to keep in mind. The floral experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale have some great tips for making your DIY florals look amazing.

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Make Homemade Gifts for Mother’s Day

Mixed Bouquet of Blooms

One thing all moms tend to have in common when it comes to gifts: homemade is best. Moms love gifts from the heart, so this Mother’s Day, Cascade Floral Wholesale has put together some fabulous Do-It-Yourself gift ideas for moms. Simple enough for even the craft-challenged and too cute to pass up, you’ll love creating these gifts almost as much as mom will love receiving them. Your thoughtful time and effort will bring a huge smile to her face and give her a beautiful keepsake that shows how much you love her. Take a look at some of these great ideas, then get busy! You may even tuck a few ideas away for mom’s birthday, as well!

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Tips for DIY Wedding Bouquets

Creating your own wedding bouquet can be a daunting thought, but it doesn’t have to be! With a few simple tips to keep in mind, you can create a beautiful bouquet that reflects the beauty of your special day. What a great way to add your own special touch to your ceremony while saving quite a bit of money, as well! Whether you make this a get-together with your bridesmaids or simply take a little time to make a bouquet for yourself (or a friend), the steps are simple and can add so much meaning to an already-wonderful day. Here are some important tips that the professionals at Cascade Floral Wholesale hope you keep in mind as you plan and create your beautiful bouquet. 

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