Ideas for Finding Cheap Wedding Flowers
How to Source Inexpensive Flowers for a Traditional Wedding
May 4, 2009
Most brides want fresh flowers on their wedding day but many desirable blooms like calla lilies can be hugely expensive. Whilst DIY wedding flowers are a cheap option, few brides have the time or skills to do things themselves so other ideas need to be considered.
Ideas for Inexpensive Wedding Flowers
- Choose a simple design to keep costs down. A posy style like the pink roses in the picture below will cost far less than a complex cascading bouquet, which takes far longer to put together with multiple pieces of wire.
- Only book a florist for the most important items like the bridal bouquet and perhaps the top table flower arrangement. Order flowers for boutonnieres and bridesmaid bouquets from the same supplier for color matching then arrange for a friend or amateur flower arranger to put them together.
- Consider using floristry students eager to add a wedding portfolio to their list of achievements. Always test their work first by giving them artificial flowers to work with, which can double for pre-wedding rehearsals.
- If time or DIY skills are nonexistent, find out prices of individual blooms before committing to a design suggested by a florist. With the base costs understood, it is far easier to negotiate a final price and expensive flowers can be replaced or reduced in number to save money.
- For walking down the aisle, try sweet-talking the church flower ladies who are often only too happy to show off their flower arranging skills. Just buy in the flowers and let them work their magic.
Choose Seasonal Wedding Flowers
Many brides become hooked on a particular type of flower without knowing whether they are in season for their chosen wedding date. Peonies, for instance, are gorgeous but are usually only in season in May. Ordering these for an autumn wedding will prove costly as they have to be imported.
It is also worth doing some homework on names of flowers and what substitutes may be available if they are not in season or they are just too expensive. Ranunculi, for instance, look very much like peonies and cost far less.
Popular flowers like roses are in season all year round. They stand for love and happiness and are a perfect, affordable choice for bouquets and table centerpieces, which don't cost a fortune.
Make your Own Table Centerpieces
Centerpieces can truly break the bank as they often cost far more than the bridal bouquet, especially when a florist tells a bride she ought to have the latest, most expensive blooms and accessories.
Simple affordable table decorations can be made by scouring internet sites for great ideas then copying them to suit your wedding theme, color and budget. An unusual glass, for example, can be filled with colored sand or hydrating foam and a single rose placed inside for a cheap yet stylish look.
Alternatives to Fresh Flowers for a Wedding
- Many brides are now opting for artificial wedding flowers made from silk. These can look almost as good as the real thing and their longevity is assured long after the celebrations are over.
- Forget flowers completely and consider carrying a bouquet of affordable, colorful feathers, a bunch of fragrant herbs or just a simple candle.
Keeping Within a Wedding Flower Budget
Stick with seasonal flowers, keep designs simple and be selective on using a professional for essential flower items only to minimize wedding flower costs. Consider less expensive alternatives to fresh flowers and try making items like table centerpieces yourself using cheap wedding flowers to save even more money.
Related Articles
You may be interested in our articles on Cheap Wedding Table Centerpieces, How to Make a Bridal Bouquet and Gerbera Daisy Bridal Bouquets.
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