Where do you buy a homecoming mum?
Before we get into where you can buy a homecoming mum, let’s touch on what happens before that.
Do I have to have a date to go to homecoming?
Traditionally, a boy asks a girl to homecoming. It’s understood that “going” to homecoming together includes a homecoming mum and garter exchange a day or two before homecoming day, because at many schools, mums and garters are worn to school on homecoming day as well as to the game at night.
Side note: “The Ask” is usually done in a clever or funny way, ideally weeks before the homecoming game. Click here for an example.
Two El Paso seniors wearing a sash-style mum and complementary garter
Going with a date to homecoming implies that the couple will provide EACH OTHER’S homecoming mum and garter. This is important detail can be lost on Texas newcomers. Another important detail is that oftentimes parents buy or make homecoming mums for their sons and daughter’s dates.
But, here’s the most important thing I can say about the homecoming mum tradition today: You DON’T need a date to attend homecoming or to wear a mum or garter!
Today, there are so many ways to get a homecoming mum. Friends get together to make their own mums or exchange them with each other. Students make their own mum/garter with help from mom, dad, or other relative. Oftentimes students receive a mum/garter as a gift from their parents, especially in their senior year.
There is no wrong way to get a mum.
How to get a mum or garter
Now that your homecoming plans have been made, how are you going to get the mum you’re either going to give to someone else or wear yourself? There are three ways: make one yourself (or together with your date, your friends, or a crafty family member), buy one ready-made, or order a custom mum. Whatever you do, don’t wait until homecoming week to get started.
PRO TIP: If you’re buying or making a mum or garter for someone else, get together with the other person in advance to brainstorm ideas and talk about expectations.
Before you buy a mum…
Take a few minutes to visit this page and see a photogallery of 15 different types of homecoming mums. and visit this page to see What goes on a homecoming mum.
Where can I buy a ready-made or custom homecoming mum?
A senior and his garter attending an early morning homecoming breakfast. Photo by Amy J. Schultz
The simple answer is, buy local.
Most florists aren’t in the homecoming mum business any more, so ask around. Teachers, students, and parents will know if any retailers in your community sell mums. In fact, student organizations and booster clubs at some schools sell mums as annual fundraisers.
Sometimes grocery stores, craft stores, and specialty shops carry ready-made mums. There might even be a mum store in or near your town.
But I promise you this. There is always at least one local mum-maker in every community who makes and sells homecoming mums. I call them “mumtrepreneurs.” Some mumtrepreneurs are moms (mum-makers are almost always a woman) who run a small business and only promote through word-or-mouth; others are entrepreneurs who have been in the homecoming mum business for years.
If you’ve asked around and can’t find a local mum-maker, visit the “Find a Mum” page on the Mums Inc. website at mums-inc.com/find-a--mum.
Another great place to find mumtrepreneurs is on social media. There are many public Facebook groups of mum-makers and fans, and some are even limited by area (such as Houston, DFW, and San Antonio). Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube can also good places to find mum makers.
How much does a homecoming mum cost?
In 2025, the average cost for a homecoming mum was between $75 and $500. This doesn’t even begin to tell the whole story. Highly customized mums can be priced at $500 or more. You can go on TikTok and find interviews with students claiming a sticker price of $1000+ for a high end mum.
DIY vs ready-made vs custom mums
This huge variation in cost depends on the style, size, and complexity of the mum, who’s making it, and the availability of supplies.
The Lavish Line mum promotional photo, DK Florals Inc.
DIY mums are, by nature, have the potential to be the least expensive because you’re not paying for somebody else’s time and expertise. I’ve met students whose mums cost almost nothing because they repurposed a mum (last year’s mum, their brother’s old garter, someone else’s they got on Facebook Marketplace, etc.). Picking up supplies out of season, at thrift stores, from your mom’s crafting supply pile, and other discounters are other ways to save on cost.
The cost of ready-made mums varies depending on how many materials went into the mum, but they tend to be less expensive than custom mums of the same size. Many mumtrepreneurs offer ready-made mums through their online shops. I’ve seen some on Etsy, too, but I’m not a big fan of buying mums online unless you know the mum-maker is local.
Custom mums made by a mumtrepreneur are typically the most expensive option. Factors that go into determining price include the cost of materials, expertise, profit margin, and labor.
When working with a mumtrepreneur, be up-front about your budget. Most mum-makers offer a wide variety of prices and styles that you may or may not see on their websites.
Keep in mind that a custom mum takes time to make, so order early, especially if you have your eye on a large senior mum. In-demand mumtrepreneurs in Texas start taking orders for fall as early as March and April.
Prefer to make your own mum?
Check out this step-by-step guide: mumentousbook.com/blog/diy-how-to-make-a-homecoming-mum
Learn More
Shameless Plug for MUMENTOUS
If you enjoyed reading this, check out my book: Mumentous: Original Photos and Mostly-True Stories about Football, Glue Guns, Moms, and a Supersized High School Tradition that was Born Deep in the Heart of Texas. It’s available in hardcover, ebook, and a podcast-like audiobook!
“MUMENTOUS is a rich and complex narrative that is more than a look into a homecoming tradition. It’s a tribute to legacies that connect generations, and an ode to mothers and daughters. Written with compassion and curiosity with rich photography, Schultz gets past the glitter and ribbon to what matters most. Community.”
— Kimberly Packard, award-winning author
