Beautiful Flowers on a Budget

In the last issue we talked about finding the perfect gown for your
special day. In this issue we are going to talk about how to have
beautiful flowers on your wedding day without busting your budget.

DIY doesn't mean that you have to skip on quality for the sake of saving
money. Especially when it comes to having beautiful flowers for your
wedding. Flowers are la must and it's no secret that they can cost a
bundle from your local florist. But there are many little tips and tricks that
you can use that will save you a small fortune.

The first decision to make is whether or not you want silk or real
flowers. I recommend silk flowers because of the ease. However, real
flowers can be a beautiful addition to your wedding.

Keep in mind that real flowers need to be nurtured even up to the
moment you say “I Do”. If you have someone who can monitor the
freshness of your real flowers, by all means, have them!  If you want to
save yourself and your loved ones a little stress, choose silk!

If you do choose fresh flowers, make sure you check with several
florists before you make your final decision. When you speak with the
florist, avoid using the word "wedding" because they will often charge
much more for wedding flowers as opposed to a few bouquets for
around your house. Keep in mind that a professional florist will not save
you any money. They come at a premium price, so make sure you
factor that into your budget.

One way to reduce the cost is to order fresh flowers from an online
wholesaler. You can get some of the best prices around. However, as I
mentioned, unlike at a florist, you will be responsible for all of the prep
work of cleaning and trimming them, and keeping them alive until the
wedding.

If you’re going for a simple look, you might want to contact a local
farmer. Where I live, there is an iris farm who will sell you bulk irises at
a discounted rate. Find your local farmer’s market and pick up some
freshly cut flowers for a simple bouquet. Consider also picking flowers
from your own garden.

Did you know that many local colleges offer courses in flower arranging.
Try giving the colleges in your area a call. For a small fee, they may be
quite accommodating in allowing their students to “practice” for your
wedding for a discounted price, often for the cost of the flowers alone.

Of course, making your own flowers is probably the most frugal choice.
But where do you start?

There are plenty of wholesale stores who will sell silk flowers at a
discounted price.  Working with silk flowers isn't and can be done by
almost anyone. You or a talented family member can put together all the
bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages for you weddings. Just make
sure you give yourself plenty of time to get the job done.

Tips for creating your own flowers are abundant. A beautifully simple
idea for a gorgeous bridal bouquet is to take several white roses,
bunch them together into a bouquet, wrap the bottom with floral tape
tightly, and wrap satin ribbon around the stems. Attach long pieces of
satin ribbon to flow down as you hold the bouquet and it will be
stunning!



You can use this technique with either silk or fresh flowers, and it
doesn't have to be all roses. For a unique look, try out different flowers
in your wedding colors. You can also buy plastic nosegay holders at
many discount stores that make preparing bouquets super easy!

As far as flowers and plants as decorations are concerned, this can be
a great enhancement to your ceremony.  Many churches already have
floral adornments on their altars.  If you get married around the time of a
church celebration, you may be able to buy a few flowers and take
advantage of those that are already there.

For example, around Easter, lilies are the flower of choice in most
churches. Many people will buy Easter lilies in remembrance of their
loved ones. Offer to buy a couple of Easter lilies to add to the existing
ones, and you have a beautiful decoration on the altar.

The same applies around Christmas. Poinsettias are the flower of
choice at this time of year. Offer up a few poinsettia plants to add to
those already there and you'll have some beautiful altar decorations.

Large arrangements on an altar will only be seen from far away. Use
inexpensive flowers such as carnations, or large filling flowers such as
snowball mums.

If you are getting married in a church, almost all have some type of
floral decorations. All you need to do in this situation is to add a few
personal touches and you'll have a beautiful backdrop for your
ceremony.

Talk to your venues and see if any other brides have booked for the
same day. If the two of you can coordinate flowers and split the cost,
you'll save a lot of money. I would imagine both of you wouldn't turn
your nose up at saving a ton of money on church decorations and
flowers!

Some party rental places will rent large potted plants such as tropical
palms or fichus. They visually fill a lot of space, and will help frame your
ceremony site or warm up your reception. Best of all, renting a potted
plant is far cheaper than buying large flower arrangements.

Just make sure that you know what you want, do your research and
there is no reason that you can't have beautiful flowers on your big day
without busting your budget!

Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will be talking about
talk about decorating the sanctuary or venue with beautiful bows while
sticking to your budget.


Cindy Lieber
Accredited Event Designer
OC Brides Event Coordination
www.weddingplanneroc.com
Cindy@ocbrides.com
(714) 970-6380


P.S.  Can't decide whether to go with fresh flowers or silk?  Don't know what flowers 
might be in season for your wedding?  Just hit reply to this email.  I can help!

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