Wedding Blooms on a Budget

Many flowers have a primary season of availability. Tulips, for example, are easy to track down in spring and are relatively inexpensive. Finding a particular color of tulip in August is a challenging and expensive effort. Ask your florist to help you select flowers that are readily available during the season of your wedding.

A good florist can design marvelous arrangements out of inexpensive flowers. Chrysanthemums and carnations are inexpensive, and when arranged in abundance, they create striking bouquets.

There are no rules when it comes to your wedding flowers, so use your imagination to save money. For a summer wedding, instead of having high-priced roses, pick a readily available flower, such as sunflowers, for your feature flower. You can also cut costs by growing and harvesting blooms from your own garden and incorporating them into your centerpiece. Or, instead of choosing bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, combine your favorite flowers to create eye-catching wrist corsages or hair accessories.

Simple arrangements often make the biggest impact. Begin by selecting a limited color palette of one to three colors so your florist can order in bulk, which also cuts costs. Instead of having an abundance of small displays, impress with fewer but more extraordinary arrangements. Also, don't be afraid to use a lot of greenery, such as ivy and texture-rich ferns, and fewer expensive flowers.

Choose a beautiful and lush venue such as a garden or park, and let Mother Nature create the floral arrangements for you.

By using the flower arrangements from your ceremony at your reception, you won't have to purchase as many reception flowers. Bridesmaid bouquets also make nice centerpieces.

Take classes on flower arranging with your wedding party to learn how to create your own arrangements. Although time-consuming, this will be a fun activity to do with your friends and family. Be sure to allow plenty of time for shopping for flowers, designing arrangements, and setting everything in place.

If you're fond of a flower that's out of season or one that doesn't quite fit into your budget, ask your florist about less-expensive flowers that have a similar look.

Check out these simple tips to achieve the perfect bouquet.