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Not Sure Which Homecoming Mum or Garter You Need?
You are in the right place. Two quick questions sort it out: is it worn on the front or on the arm, and how big do you want to go? Here is every option we make, what each one costs, and who it is usually for.
828 Mega Mums by Starla is a handmade homecoming mum and garter business in San Angelo, Texas, owned and operated by Starla.
Order early and it’s guaranteed ready for your homecoming. Early homecoming dates fill first, and custom shapes need the most lead time.
1 Front or arm?
Mum or garter?
Same Texas tradition, two versions. The only real difference is where it is worn and how big it gets. Mums are usually worn by girls and garters by guys.
Homecoming mum
Worn on the front · from $150
- Pinned to the shirt or hung from a ribbon around the neck
- The larger, showier piece — silk flowers, ribbon streamers, braids
- Name, class year, school, and activities all built in
- Sizes run from a single flower up to a full custom-cut shape
- Also called a homecoming corsage or a Texas mum
Homecoming garter
Worn on the arm · from $95
- Built on an armband, worn on the upper arm
- Smaller and lighter, with the same ribbons and braids
- Personalized the same way — name, year, activities
- Also called a guy mum, boy mum, arm mum, or garter mum
- can be paired with a mum for a matching set
2 How big?
Pick your size
Five ways in. Every one of these is handmade to order and can be personalized with names, class year, school colors, and activities.
Traditional Homecoming Mums
From $150
The classic round mum in four sizes, from a Single up to a full Triple.
Best for: a first mum, a classic look, or anyone who wants a clear price ladder.
Custom-Shape Mega Mums
From $650
Built on a custom-cut silhouette instead of a round backer — a Texas, a diamond, a paw, a heart, a boot, a crown, a megaphone.
Best for: seniors, drill team, cheer, and anyone who wants the showstopper.
Traditional Homecoming Garters
From $95
Three levels — Bronze, Silver, and Gold — each adding more ribbon, braids, and personalized detail.
Best for: guys, and for pairing with a mum as a set.
Custom-Shape Mega Garters
From $225
The garter version of a mega mum, with a shaped centerpiece and the same oversized detail on an armband.
Best for: matching a mega mum, or a senior guy who wants more than Gold.
Side by side
Compare every size
Grade level is a tradition, not a rule. Underclassmen often pick a Single or Super Single and seniors often go Triple or mega, but anyone can wear anything.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Package | Price | What you get | Usually for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Mum | $150 | One large flower, ribbon streamers, name and class year, school colors | A first mum, freshmen, budget-conscious |
| Super Single Mum | $215 | Single plus a boa, diamond-dust sparkle, and extra braids | Wanting more sparkle without going bigger |
| Double Mum | $230 | Two flowers, more streamers, more personalized cutouts | Sophomores and juniors, the popular middle |
| Triple Mum | $365 | Three flowers, lights, full braid work, maximum personalization | Seniors wanting the full traditional statement |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Package | Price | What you get | Usually for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Level | $95 | Armband, school-color ribbon, name and class year | A simple, classic garter |
| Silver Level | $115 | Bronze plus added braids and more ribbon layers | The middle choice, most popular |
| Gold Level | $175 | Fullest traditional garter — more braids, more cutouts, more detail | Seniors and anyone matching a Triple mum |
| Mega Garter | $225+ | Oversized garter with a shaped centerpiece, built to match a mega mum | Matching a Custom-Shape Mega Mum |
Straight talk
What this actually costs
Traditional mums run $150 to $365. Custom-shape Mega Mums start at $650 and go up past $1,000 depending on the shape. Garters run $95 to $175, and mega garters start at $225. Braids on their own start at $25.
- Size and flower countEvery added flower means more ribbon, more braids, and more hand-assembly time.
- Custom-cut shapeA shaped backer has to be designed and cut before decorating starts. That is the jump from traditional to mega.
- Braids and streamersBraid work is the most time-intensive part of a mum, and it is what people notice first.
- Personalized cutoutsNames, years, mascots, and activity letters are each cut and layered by hand.
- Lights and extrasLED lights, boas, bells, and specialty trinkets each add to the total.
- Matching setsOrdering a mum and garter together keeps colors and lettering consistent across both.
Timing
When to order
Plan around the day it will actually be worn. Mums and garters are worn during homecoming week — at school, at the pep rally, and especially at the Friday night game. They are generally too big to wear to the dance itself.
Order early and it’s guaranteed ready for your homecoming. Early homecoming dates fill first, and custom shapes need the most lead time.
- Traditional gartersThe quickest turnaround. Good option if you are getting close to the date.
- Traditional mumsStraightforward to build, but the bigger packages need more braid time.
- Matching setsAllow extra time so the mum and garter are designed together.
- Custom-shape mega piecesNeed the most lead time — the shaped backer is designed and cut before decorating begins.
Still not sure? Just ask Starla.
Tell me the school, the grade, and roughly what you want to spend, and I will tell you exactly which one to get. No pressure, no sales pitch.
Handmade to order in San Angelo, Texas.
Homecoming Mum & Garter FAQs
Mum vs. garter, which package to pick, grade traditions, pricing, who buys what, when it is worn, and when to order.
What is the difference between a homecoming mum and a homecoming garter?
They are the same Texas homecoming tradition in two versions. A homecoming mum is the larger piece worn on the front, pinned to the shirt or hung from a ribbon around the neck, with school-color flowers, ribbon streamers, braids, the wearer’s name, class year, and activities. A homecoming garter is the smaller version, built on an armband and worn on the upper arm, with the same ribbons, braids, and personalization. Mums are usually worn by girls and garters by guys, and a garter is also called a guy mum, boy mum, arm mum, or garter mum. At 828 Mega Mums by Starla in San Angelo, Texas, both are handmade to order and can be designed as a matching set.
Which homecoming mum should I get?
Start with two questions: is it worn on the front or the arm, and how big do you want to go? A mum goes on the front and a garter goes on the arm. From there, a Traditional Single at $150 is a beautiful classic first mum, a Super Single at $215 or a Double at $230 adds a boa and diamond-dust sparkle, a Traditional Triple at $365 is the full three-flower Texas statement with lights, and a Custom-Shape Mega Mum from $650 is built on a custom-cut silhouette like a Texas, diamond, paw, heart, or mascot shape. Pick the size the wearer will comfortably enjoy all day, then compare the ribbon, braids, and centerpiece details.
Does the size of a homecoming mum depend on what grade you are in?
No — grade level is a tradition, not a rule. Underclassmen often choose a Single or Super Single and seniors often go with a Triple or a custom-shape Mega Mum in white and gold, but any student can wear any package. Choose based on the size the wearer will enjoy wearing all day, the level of detail you want, and your budget rather than an unwritten grade rule.
Do you need a date to wear a homecoming mum or garter?
No. Dates traditionally exchange a mum and a garter, but a date is not required. Parents, grandparents, and friends regularly buy them, friend groups order together, and students buy their own. A mum or garter celebrates the school, the class year, and the wearer’s activities, with or without a date.
Who buys the homecoming mum and who buys the garter?
Traditionally the guy buys the girl’s mum and the girl buys the guy’s garter, but there is no firm rule anymore. Parents commonly buy them for their own students, friends order them together, and plenty of students buy their own. The one practical tip is to confirm with each other first so two people do not order the same piece.
Are homecoming mums worn to the game or to the dance?
Homecoming mums and garters are worn during homecoming week — at school, at the pep rally, on spirit days, and especially at the Friday night football game. They are generally too large to wear to the dance itself, so plan the size around the day it will actually be worn.
How far in advance should I order a homecoming mum?
Plan around the day the mum will actually be worn, which is usually the game or spirit week rather than the dance. Order as early as you can, because early homecoming dates fill first. Custom-shape Mega Mums and matching mum-and-garter sets need the most lead time, since the shaped backer has to be designed and cut before decorating begins. Rush orders are sometimes possible depending on remaining capacity, so it is always worth asking.