Affordable DIY Centerpiece
As the cost of hosting a wedding increases year over year, couples are looking for ways to save money. Florals are one of the most common DIY projects for people looking to cut expenses and reduce their budget. Since we’re a faux floral designer, we’ve written a few articles on the topic - check those out here.
High-quality artificial flowers aren’t cheap. We’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars building our inventory of faux florals, so we know first-hand how expensive they can be. If you’re looking for a low-cost alternative to the pricey faux florals you see online and in major craft supply stores, you might be considering Dollar Tree.
This US discount store is controversial when it comes to artificial flowers. Many people would argue that the quality of their faux florals and artificial greenery is very low. When you think cheap, obviously fake florals, you probably think of stores like Dollar Tree.
We decided to challenge ourselves to see what type of floral centerpiece we could make using only supplies from Dollar Tree. That means vase, foam, greenery, and florals. The only exception was a pair of wire cutters. We already had these in our toolkit, so we didn’t need to purchase these. To make sure our experiment was realistic, we only sourced items from one single Dollar Tree in our area (Las Vegas, NV). We didn’t shop multiple stores or online to access above-average inventory or special finds. We only purchased what was available that day.
Here's the final centerpiece that we made. Total cost of everything was $22.50 (not including sales tax).
In summary, yes, you can make a beautiful faux floral arrangement using flowers from Dollar Tree. You’ll be restricted to seasonal styles, so make sure you shop when you can source items that match your wedding theme. We shopped in mid-July, and the florals and greenery available in-store were already mostly fall-themed colors and stems. Another issue you may encounter if you’re making multiple centerpieces or arrangements is the volume available in-store. Here’s our advice for sourcing in bulk:
Find something you like in-store and inspect the quality and color in person. This is important with discount florals. No one wants surprises after they’ve already purchased 50 units of something.
Look to see if the same item is available online. Be aware that not everything available at the store can be purchased online.
If you can find it online, Dollar Tree offers free ship-to-store options. Otherwise, you’ll likely have to pay for shipping. Ship-to-store options can take longer and you can’t control the timeline the same way you can with paid shipping. Only select this option if you’re able to wait a few weeks before your shipment arrives.
If you can’t find an item online, try other stores in your area. Larger stores in the suburbs often have the biggest faux floral selection. Small stores or those located in the urban city-center or rural areas are going to carry less craft supplies and more essential items like household goods, food, etc.
Remember, the most important element for successful floral design is practice and finding stems that complement each other. If you can’t afford expensive real or faux florals, discount stores are an option. Take your time to find good pieces and feel confident that with enough practice, you’ll be able to make beautiful DIY floral arrangements for your wedding.
WANT MORE FAUX FLORAL TIPS & ADVICE?
If you’re looking for more advice on purchasing artificial flowers, read our other article that includes more information, tips, and tricks for buying faux florals here. For more faux floral design inspo, follow us on Instagram.
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