A few years ago, my best friend hosted a lot of girls at her house for a floral arranging class, and it was one of my favorite nights in Nashville. Her mom taught us about focal flowers in an arrangement, finding greenery and flowers in our own backyards, and how to prolong our arrangements. It felt like a little slice of heaven to laugh and enjoy fellowship with new and old friends, to use our hands to create, and to learn more about the intricate beauty of God’s creation. If you’re wanting to plan a fun event for your next women’s ministry gathering, small group get-together, or birthday party, I can’t recommend a floral arranging event enough!  

Without further ado, here are some tips and tricks for throwing your own: 

1. It really helps to have someone who knows a lot about flowers lead the floral arranging. You don’t have to hire a professional! Ask someone in your church or community who loves flowers to share their tips. 
2. Don’t spend an arm and a leg on the flowers! Trader Joe’s, Costco, local grocery stores, and your own backyards are cost-effective sources. Grab some greenery, some focal flowers like peonies, ranunculus, garden roses, secondary and filler flowers like hydrangeas (these are a must), spray roses, zinnias, snapdragons, or whatever else catches your eye! 
3. Ask the women attending to bring a vase or vessel for their arrangements or grab some butcher paper and ribbon so women can easily take them home.  
4. As far as other supplies, have some scissors, pruning shears, and trash cans handy. To hold the flowers before they’re grabbed for arrangements, use buckets! 
5. When it’s time to arrange the flowers, cut the flower stems at an angle for maximum hydration, use some of the flower food that comes with the flowers in the water, and remind everyone to change out the water every few days. This will help ensure a longer lifespan of the beautiful arrangements! And if you use hydrangeas in your arrangement, give them a cold face-down bath in the sink when they start to wilt. It works like a charm.  
6. Don’t forget to turn on some music and pass out some snacks and refreshments to make the night even more fun. 

If you host your own floral arranging party, tag @lifewaywomen on social media so we can see what you and your friends created! May we all use our gifts to help those around us delight in God’s goodness in creation and His goodness to us. Happy floral arranging, friends! 

ABOUT OLIVIA THAMES

Olivia Thames is a writer based in Nashville, Tennessee. She loves using words and humor to connect everyday experiences to the hope we have in Jesus. When she doesn’t have a pen in her hand, you can find her laughing with friends and loved ones, eating Mexican food with her husband, attempting to garden, and affirming her pit bull chihuahua, King Curtis. Follow along at @oliviawithapen and oliviathames.com. 

 

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