Wedding costs add up quickly— especially when using fresh flowers for decor. According to a 2021 survey by The Knot of over 15,000 couples, the average wedding flower cost is around $2,300. While this number may seem overwhelming to budget brides, there are plenty of opportunities to save.
Here are some inspiring ways to source wedding flowers on a budget.
Order Premade Online
There’s something to be said for supporting local businesses. Unfortunately, the local option isn’t always within budget. You can save hundreds or even thousands by placing an order for premade bouquets with an online florist. Simply choose from their selection and work with them to arrange a scheduled flower delivery that works with your wedding timeline.
Consider an online florist who partners with local farms in their area to support small businesses. The downside of this approach is limitations around customization. However, many florists have a wide variety of premade options that suit modern styles and trends. Be flexible and consider the aesthetic over the type of bloom.
Use Seasonal Blooms
If you have your heart set on a certain type of flower, plan your wedding date around its peak season. Flowers are significantly more expensive out of season as it takes more resources to grow them. If you’re not committed to a certain bloom, purchase flowers that are in season around your wedding date.
Purchasing seasonal blooms is also a great opportunity to support local and minimize your carbon footprint. This factor is a bonus for environmentally conscious couples.
Try the Micro Bouquet Trend
The pandemic interrupted many couples’ wedding plans during 2020 and 2021. This issue led to many couples losing money on large flower orders and having to pivot to a smaller, more intimate event.
The micro bouquet trend bloomed from this negative experience. Instead of elaborate flower arrangements, couples started selecting small, minimalist bouquets. These bouquets have only one or two blooms and a bit of filler. They fit the small ceremonies better than elaborate arrangements and helped recoup costs from the initial event cancelation.
While this trend was born of negative circumstances, many couples are happy to keep it going. The micro bouquet trend keeps the focus on the couple, minimizes waste, and keeps costs low. These bouquets also look delicate and beautiful in their simplicity.
Source Blooms from Family Gardens
Weddings are sentimental events that are often rich in symbolism and meaning. Traditions like “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” have lasted for generations and create bonding opportunities with family members and friends.
Consider sourcing blooms from the gardens of your friends and family members (with permission, of course). Imagine the sentimentality of having hydrangeas and lilacs from your maternal and paternal grandmother’s gardens or carrying blooms your aunt grew with you in mind.
Be sure to communicate with your people well in advance to ensure they’re willing to part with some blooms and know to take care of them.
Grow Your Own
Growing your own flowers is another way to cut costs while making the wedding more personal and meaningful. This approach is also an excellent way to access more expensive flowers like lilies, roses, and tulips.
This option isn’t for everyone. If you struggle with gardening or keeping plants alive or if this project will add more stress, don’t try it. It will take time to research flower seasons and set up a safe growing area for your blooms.
Alternatively, you can work with what you have around the garden and collect wildflowers from local parks and roadsides.
Use Accent Fillers
People tend to turn their noses up at bouquets with lots of filler blooms and greens. However, it’s typically the boredom with generic greenery and baby’s breath that feels tired and outdated.
Instead, look for accent fillers that add value to the bouquet without increasing the budget. Eucalyptus greens are stunning and fragrant, adding dimension to a standard bouquet. You can also get creative with herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage.
Many innovative florists also use fruit or vegetable accents as fillers in a bouquet. A few well-placed apples look incredible in a fall bouquet while purple and green artichokes are shockingly beautiful. This strategy is a great way to cut flower costs while adding a designer-inspired flair.
Choose One Bloom
Another creative way to cut costs is to choose one bloom to rule them all. A part of the pricing in floral arrangements covers procurement and labor fees. By limiting the work on this end of the process, you can typically negotiate with a florist to minimize your expenses.
There’s something beautiful about uniformity when decorating with flowers. If you like crisp, elegant designs, choosing a single bloom will add a sense of refinement to your decor.
For those seeking inspiration for such crisp, refined choices, exploring a range of elegant wedding flowers can provide a myriad of ideas to enhance the sophistication of your ceremony.
Repurpose Your Arrangements
Choose arrangements that will work in multiple settings. Then, have someone transport them throughout the day.
For example, your bridal party bouquets can be set in vases at the head table as the primary decor. This design trick also provides a place for them to set their bouquets for safekeeping during the reception.
Another strategy is to take the aisle markers and use them as table centerpieces. This strategy works well if you have non-floral accents on your table already.
Buy Bulk and Arrange Yourself
Flower arranging is an art form. While it takes time and practice to master this creative skill, you can make progress by taking some courses or shadowing a florist. Then, buy flowers in bulk from a wholesale provider and arrange your bouquets and accent pieces yourself.
Don’t be afraid to enlist some help and make an event of it in the days leading up to your wedding. Again, if this strategy will bring you extra stress, don’t try it.
Look at Affordable Variations
People often say they hate a certain type of flower. In reality, they hate the variation of that flower they’ve seen. Carnations are a common example of this issue. People have a very clear idea of what a carnation looks like, but there are actually 300 types of carnations, many of which look vastly different from the standard Dianthus Caryophyllus.
Keep an open mind and ask about lookalike flowers to find affordable alternatives that look similar to your favorite blooms.
Being a budget bride requires resourcefulness and research. Explore your options and you’ll find a way to save on flowers without sacrificing your vision.
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