Wedding Flowers On a Budget?

I’ve been working on this post for a while and last night I had the pleasure of sitting down with Julie McKenney of Bliss Elevated who told me she has tried DIY flowers and she says,  :::::drum roll please:::::: “They’re not that hard!”. Her words finally made me feel justified in getting this post up. When you’re done here go on over to Julie’s blog and check out her post about the subject.

So for those of you on a budget the internet is a wealth of information for DIY and affordable flower options. To be fair if you CAN afford a professional, they do incredible work and are able to help you make decisions you might not otherwise have considered, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about. So first things first. How many flowers do you need?

If you’re ceremony takes place somewhere that is already brilliantly and naturally decorated, say the local Botanic Gardens, you can probably forgo the flowers. Below, we’ve got natural beauty in spades (especially the bride) and a simple ceremony without a lot of frills. Sometimes the location can speak for itself.

And fancy florists might not be your thing. Guess where these flowers above came from? A local grocery store. No kidding. Affordable and lovely. I’ve had brides who’ve ordered their flowers at Costco and the flowers were delivered to their front door the morning of the wedding. Doesn’t get any easier than that!

Set a budget and stick to it. Typically flowers are 8-10% of the wedding budget, but by being a bit resourceful you could save yourself some cash. Check out this GREAT post by Meg at A Practical Wedding to learn more about DIY flowers. You can save money by choosing local blooms that are in season, visiting the local farmers market and getting in touch with a wholesaler.

Ways to Save on Wedding Flowers:

• Reduce the number of attendants in your wedding party. Less attendants means your florist will have to create fewer bouquets.
• Reduce the number of guests at your wedding. Fewer tables means fewer floral centerpieces.
• Choose in-season wedding flowers. They are often less expensive and easier to find. For a list of common flowers for each season, visit our wedding flowers by seasons guide.
• Choose less complicated flowers. Certain flowers will run up of the cost of your floral budget no matter what season. Ask your florist to review your options with you.

– Flowers that tend to be expensive: Lily of the Valley, Calla Lily, Orchids, Magnolias, Peonies, Gardenia and Hydrangea – Flowers that tend to be moderately priced: Orange Blossoms, Lavender, Daffodil, Daisies, Chrysanthemum, Carnations, Roses (due to huge variance in kind, quality, and color) and Greenery – such as ivy

• Consider options other than floral arrangements for table centerpieces. Ask your florist for ideas. Scattered flower petals surrounded by votive candles create an elegant effect that won’t maximize your floral budget. This list of unique wedding decorations offers even more ideas for alternative arrangements
• Choose a naturally beautiful location. A springtime wedding in a garden hardly needs additional floral arrangements, while an ornate church may be breathtaking on its own. Also consider that many facilities are decorated for the holidays, so holding a December wedding may provide you with gorgeous poinsettias and garland free of cost.