If you’re on social media, you may have seen the term “bloom bar” going around, accompanied by pictures of buckets of flowers and cute bouquets. Videos show women with big smiles on their faces creating DIY arrangements that they get to take home.
But what is a bloom bar? And how can you make one for your next event?
You’ll find the answers to both of those questions in this post. By the end, you’ll be ready to make a DIY bloom bar for the next birthday party, baby shower, or wedding you plan.
What is a bloom bar?
A bloom bar is a station at an event where guests can make and take their own bouquet. You may also see them called flower bars or bouquet bars. It’s an activity that doubles as a party favor your friends will find irresistible.
What You Need for a Bloom Bar
Flowers
The first thing you need for a bloom bar is the blossoms themselves. These are the centerpieces for your bouquets, so pick big, hardy flowers that look amazing without any help.
Filler
Fillers are the smaller, cheaper flowers and occasional berries that you use to bulk up your arrangement. They add more color to your bouquet without using extra (more expensive) focal blossoms.
Greenery
Greenery is the last element of a good bouquet. This helps fill any gaps in your flowers and makes your arrangement look bountiful. It’s also the cheapest element to acquire.
Snips
Your guests will want to trim the ends of their flowers and possibly remove extra leaves, so having flower snips at the ready is a handy touch. If you have the budget, you can even let guests take them home.
A Stand
After the flowers, the most important part of a bloom bar is something to display the flowers in. This can be as simple as buckets on your kitchen table or as fancy as a dedicated flower cart.
Bloom Bar Sign
A bloom bar sign is a great way to attract attention to the station, especially if you have a large space or lots of guests. You could hand-letter one yourself, or find a cute option from Etsy.
Instructions
Another helpful touch is a set of instructions on building a bouquet. Tell guests how many stems to use (so you don’t run out) and give tips for creating a beautiful arrangement.
Vases
Vases are a stunning way to let guests take their bouquets home. This helps keep their flowers fresh, but it can also be a bit more expensive depending on where you get the containers.
Wrapping
An alternative to vases is simply having paper for guests to wrap their bouquets in. You can match the type of paper to the party, such as pink paper for a baby shower or newspaper for a rustic wedding.
Ribbons and String
Finally, it’s nice to include a selection of ribbons, twine, or thick string for guests to add a finishing touch to their arrangement. Michaels or another craft store should have plenty of options for you.
How to Assemble a DIY Bloom Bar
Choose a Color Palette
A color palette makes your bloom bar look cohesive. It’ll also ensure your guests can build stunning bouquets with ease, as all the flowers match one another. You can align the colors with your event theme, or choose classics like:
- Monochromatic
- Pastels
- Jewel tones
- Wildflowers
- Complimentary colors
Buy Your Flowers
Before going out shopping, make sure to calculate how many flowers you’re going to need. A good rule of thumb is 3 focal flowers, 5 pieces of greenery, and 8 fillers per bouquet, multiplied by the number of guests. Once you know that number, you can order your flowers online or purchase them from a local shop.
Prep the Flowers
Once you have the flowers, you’ll want to prep them so they’re ready for your guests. Start by cutting the stems at an angle and putting them in water to stay fresh. You can also strip the leaves, or you can leave that up to your guests. Repeat this process for your filler and greenery.
Arrange the Station
Put all your flowers, filler, and greenery in their containers and arrange them so they can be easily accessed. This might mean lining them up across a table or setting them up on a tiered stand. Hang your sign above the station and make sure the instructions are in plain view.
Create a Wrapping Zone
If you have the space, creating a separate wrapping zone beside the bloom bar can help reduce traffic while people choose their flowers. Lay out all your vases, ribbons, and wrapping paper, and invite guests to help themselves.
Bonus: Make an Example Bouquet
Having a bouquet already made and set out with the bloom bar to give guests an idea of what to do can be handy. Plus, you can keep this bouquet for yourself once the party’s over.
Tips for Tight Budgets
A bloom bar like this might seem too expensive for a low to mid-budget event. But there are a few things you can do to reduce the cost without losing the fun.
Order Flowers in Bulk
While you can go to the grocery store or local florist shop and get flowers there, it’s often more affordable to order in bulk. You might even be able to find a coupon or get them on sale this way.
Shop Around
Bulk flowers can be the cheapest option, but that’s not always the case, so shop around before committing. Maybe you buy the flowers from a bulk supplier, but decide to go with greens from a local florist because they have a better deal.
Thrift Vases
If you like the look of vases for your bouquets, try thrifting them. Thrift stores always have a selection of beautiful vases for only a few dollars, making them far more affordable than buying new ones. Plus, your options will be more unique!
Use What You Have
You will have to buy some items for your bloom bar. But if you look around your home, you may find you have plenty of items you can repurpose for it.
- Rather than buy flowers or greenery, see if you have wildflowers or plants on your property that you can use.
- Reuse old newspapers, twine, or ribbon to wrap bouquets instead of buying new.
- Put flowers in five-gallon buckets or other containers you already have.
- Use your sideboard or kitchen table instead of making or renting a fancy cart.
- Make your own bloom bar sign and instructions in Canva and print it out yourself.
A bloom bar is a fun way to entertain your guests and provide them with unique favors. Will you try one for your next event?
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