Are you ready to save money on your wedding flowers? Without compromising the look and quality of the florals? If so, read on!
Almost every wedding will have flowers of some sort. And while every couple has varying priorities when it comes to what they spend on their wedding flowers, most will agree that flowers can get very expensive. For some couples, this is okay. They are willing to spend a lot for the right wedding flowers. And, for others, the goal is to spend as little as possible while still having great flowers at their wedding.
If you follow the tips in this post, I promise you will save money on your wedding flowers. You have to be reasonable, though. Is it possible to have a ballroom filled with pink and white peonies, and save money? Maybe. Or, maybe not. The more specific your vision is for your wedding flowers, the harder it will be for you to save. If you’re open to compromise, I promise your budget will benefit.
How To Save Money On Your Wedding Flowers
This post is going to walk you through how to save money on your wedding flowers. As already mentioned, it’s about being realistic in what you can afford and what is out there. In some cases, you may need to deviate from your first choice, in order to save mega bucks. In other cases, the choices you make for your wedding flowers may be easy, with huge benefits. Every wedding is different, but the tips in this post remain the same for everyone if you want to save.
Let’s get into it!
DIY YOUR OWN WEDDING FLOWERS (AND BUY WHOLESALE)
We saved a ton of money at our wedding by going the DIY route.
To properly DIY your own wedding flowers, you need to shop for them ahead of your wedding. You can do this at a wholesale flower market or even local store. Plan ahead if you go this route, understanding what you’re looking for color-wise, or floral type. It helps to have a set budget, and certain non-negotiables.
For example, for our wedding, I brought $400 to a flower market. The goal was to buy some beautiful sunflowers, and then lots of colorful flowers and some leafy filler. A friend and I grabbed big carts and went to town. We toured the market, collecting what we could, monitoring our overall budget as we went. In the end, we ended up with more than enough flowers.
Luckily, my friend was able to properly store the flowers in a cool room for a few days. She was also able to create bouquets, centerpieces, decorations, and vases from the supply. She had a plan for transportation, and some help from others. It was a big undertaking, with big savings.
USE FLOWERS THAT YOU GATHER FROM YOUR OWN GARDEN
If you want to go the DIY flowers route, but don’t want to spend money at a wholesale market, perhaps you can look at your own garden.
Obviously, this option won’t work for everyone. Not everyone has a flourishing garden filled with flowers useful for a wedding. However, if you, or someone you’re close to, does, this can be a huge money-saving route. The great thing about this, is with it, you have options. You may find a florist who is willing to work with the flowers you provide, saving on the actual costs of flowers. Or, you could recruit a friend to help make the flower arrangements.
SAVE MONEY ON YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS BY USING FAKE FLOWERS
Okay, okay, okay, I know. For some of you, it’s not worth it to save money on your wedding flowers if it means that the flowers will be fake.
However, remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
It’s totally okay to use fake flowers strategically. For places that aren’t seen up close, fake flowers can be a fantastic option. Far away, there’s no way anyone can tell that a flower isn’t real. And, fake flowers can save a lot of money and reduce trying to keep fresh flowers from wilting. Plus, you can donate or sell them after your wedding.
ONLY HAVE FLOWERS AT ESSENTIAL LOCATIONS
Many people planning weddings have visions of flowers everywhere. And, I mean, everywhere.
However, if you want to save money on your wedding flowers, consider just having them in the high-ticket areas. For example, the bride’s bouquet. Or, at an entrance. Maybe centerpieces, though you can look at flower-less alternatives there. If you get creative, in most instances it’s easy to replace flowers with other types of décor.
SAVE MONEY ON YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS BY MAKING YOUR FLOWERS WORK DOUBLE-DUTY (BUT BEWARE)
Because weddings have several parts to them, it is possible to have your flowers work double duty.
What I mean by this is that you have your flowers in one spot during your ceremony, and another during the reception. For example, bridesmaid bouquets can become lovely decoration at a head table. Flowers that are found at a ceremony entrance can be moved to the guest book table. Things like that.
Of course, with this, there is a caveat. If you ask a florist to undo, or redo, flowers, and move them around your wedding, real-time, the costs can add up. The right way to do this, if you want to save money on your wedding flowers, is to make it easy. So easy that anyone can help move the flowers, if they know about the plan.
USE FLOWERS THAT ARE IN SEASON
Flowers are at their best price when they are in season. And for good reason.
Flowers are tricky. They don’t last long once they are cut. Many of them need specific climates to survive, too. Because of this, if you can, order or use flowers that are in season for your wedding. I promise the costs will be more effective because seasonal flowers have a higher supply and likely less transportation and storage costs associated with them.
SAVE MONEY ON YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS BY BEING FLEXIBLE WITH LOOK AND COLOR OF THE FLORALS
Flowers vary in costs for a variety of reasons, more than just what’s in season.
If you are flexible about the look and color of your florals, it can help you save money on your wedding flowers. The more specific you are about the exact shades you need, and the types of flowers you’d like at your wedding, the more narrow your options will be. A range in what you’d use at your wedding means a range of prices. It’s as simple as that.
MAKE THE MOST OF GREENERY
Greenery is your friend when it comes to saving money on your wedding flowers.
Greenery, or the leaves and stems and all the green that comes with flowers, is pretty inexpensive. It’s a great way to fill out a bouquet or centerpiece without breaking the bank. Plus, green will help the colors of your flowers pop so you can use less of them. It’s a win-win situation when you go with green.
BEWARE OF VASE SIZE
The bigger the vase, the bigger the amount of flower you’ll need to fill it up. Beware of using vases that are very big.
Smaller vases can seem fuller, with less flowers, than big vases with more flowers. By having a smaller vessel, you’ll inevitably need less flowers, and it will cost you less money. If you find that you want to add a little extra to your small vases, never fear. It’s okay to embellish them with charms, necklaces, candles, dried flowers, or jewelry.
SAVE MONEY ON YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS BY USING A LOCAL FLORIST AND LOCAL FLOWERS
Last tip! Be sure to use a local florist who has access to local flowers, if at all possible.
By hiring a florist who is close to your wedding, you’ll save on travel time and effort they will put into putting together your flowers. And, the same logic applies to local flowers. Less travel, less storage, and more accessibility equals savings for you. Keep these simple tips in mind when you look for florists to help you out, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Friends, when there’s a will there’s a way. It’s entirely possible to save money on your wedding flowers if you keep your expectations reasonable and use a little strategy. Don’t be afraid to move flowers around at your wedding. Always buy local, whenever possible. And, go the DIY route if you have the right help and set up. You’ve got this! Happy wedding planning!
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[…] Are you considering making your own flowers for your wedding? If so, you can save a lot of money and still have gorgeous flowers. I even wrote about it in this recent post. […]