When you envision your wedding day, perhaps you and your partner are standing under a gorgeous floral arch, covered in cascading vines and bright blooms. Or maybe the head table of your dreams includes a garland of greens laced with baby’s breath and roses. You meet with a florist who can bring your beautiful vision to life, they send over a proposal, and then reality hits!
Flowers are one of the easiest ways to breathe life into your ceremony or reception space, but they are also one of easiest ways to go over budget. Depending on the number of arrangements, size, and type of blooms, you can easily find yourself with a bill that is double the amount you planned to spend. The alternative of silk flowers does not always bring the same element of freshness to the space that real flowers do.
Your wedding flowers have the potential to take your ceremony and reception space from ordinary to extraordinary. Floral arrangements and bouquets are a fabulous way to tie in your wedding color palette by selecting a variety of blooms that feature your light, medium, and dark colors. Haven’t picked a color palette? Check out this post for our tips!
If you don’t want to sacrifice style, but still want the flowers to be a standout feature of your special day, keep reading for five tips to save money on your wedding florals.
1. Use seasonal blooms
By selecting flowers that are in season, flowers will be much easier for your florist to find - and therefore more affordable for you. Below are some examples of potentials flowers you could utilize based on your wedding season:
Spring: daffodils, irises, lilacs
Summer: roses, hydrangeas, dahlias
Fall: chrysanthemums, sunflowers, geraniums
Winter: gardenias, winter jasmine, camellias
2. Do a mix of tall and short centerpieces
When planning your tablescapes, varying the height of your centerpieces is not only aesthetically appealing, but cost effective as well. Taller centerpieces are eye-catching, but are generally more expensive. Mixing in short centerpieces will save you money and add visual interest to the reception space.
3. Skip the boutonnieres and do stylish pocket squares instead
Pocket squares are a simple but effective way to tie in the wedding color palette to the wedding party’s look. Grooms may consider gifting their groomsmen fun patterned socks (this makes for a great photo op!) and a stylish pocket square in their wedding colors.
4. Consider lanterns or candles for some tables
We’ve talked before about how lighting is one of the most effective ways to transform a space. Soft lighting, like lanterns and candles, create a romantic, warm ambiance that welcomes your guests into the reception. Experiment with different elements, like fire and water, by adding floating votive candles of varying heights.
5. Choose cost effective filler flowers such as hydrangea
By choosing lower cost flowers that also add volume and height, like hydrangeas, you can fill the gaps in your arrangements without going over budget. These “filler flowers” are great for adding drama and visual interest in bouquets, and centerpieces, and also work wonderfully as aisle flowers on the backs of your chairs or pews.
After 15 years in the events industry, we know how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to florals. As your wedding planner, we will work with you to bring your decor dreams to life - without going over budget. Schedule a one-on-one consultation with us today!