How to Cut Costs of Wedding Flowers
Weddings are big business in the U.S. According to The Knot's 2008 Wedding Survey, couples spent an average of $29,334 on their wedding in 2008, with $1,924 of that for wedding and reception flowers.
There are many unique alternatives to traditional bouquets and centerpieces that are friendly to a wedding budget, but brides can also stay classic if they are willing to get creative and compromise.
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Instructions
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Do It Yourself
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1
Use a wedding website, such as The Knot or Martha Stewart Weddings (see Resources), to learn how to put together bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces.
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2
Purchase flowers from a wholesaler or flower shops. There are several wholesale flower companies online that sell flowers to the public, and some flower shops will sell stems in bulk or order them.
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3
Use organic material from your own property, or ask friends and family if they have any items. Branches, leaves, ferns, flowers, moss and pebbles can all be used in arrangements and won't cost anything.
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4
Purchase inexpensive garden plants from a nursery to use as centerpieces. Guests can take them when they leave and plant them as a reminder of the occasion, saving on wedding favors.
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5
Use silk flowers in arrangements. They can be purchased in many styles and colors from craft shops. They can also be reused or resold after the wedding.
Skip the Flowers Altogether
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6
Look at alternative wedding websites to get ideas of centerpieces that don't require flowers, such as The Offbeat Bride (see Resources).
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7
Create a concept that works for you. Consider using candles, vases, pictures, books, fruit or other elements as centerpieces that fit your personality and budget. Ask your guests to take the elements home with them so they can be repurposed.
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8
Browse thrift or discount stores to find elements for centerpieces that won't go over budget. Look for some of the items mentioned in Step 2, such as different vases, candle holders or picture frames.
Go Basic
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9
Talk to a florist and give them your budget, so they can show you options in your price range.
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10
Use flowers that are in season and are not exotic. The more common the flower, the more inexpensive it will be to purchase.
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11
Pick the floral items that are most important to you, such as the bride's bouquet, and spend your money there. Use less expensive flowers for the other arrangements.
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12
Give the bridesmaids a single flower instead of a full bouquet. The single flower can be accessorized with a ribbon or filler flowers and leaves and still be elegant.
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