For couples that are planning a wedding, it can be a challenge to decide where to allocate your dollars and what to prioritize. With inflation a growing global concern, it’s not surprising that many are looking for ways to make their money stretch further.
From purchasing a wedding dress, to buying an engagement ring, to choosing decor, and paying for vendors and professional services, it can be a challenge to have it all line up perfectly.
Luckily, there are many flexible options when it comes to decorating and adorning your special day with flowers. Fresh flowers can be incredibly expensive, but here are 5 creative ways to lower your cost and still have a gorgeous wedding day.
Opt For Dry Flowers
Credit: The Budget Savvy Bride
Get creative with dry flowers as you can use them in a variety of different ways. A dry floral bouquet can be a perfect complement to a rustic-theme wedding, or you can combine it with fresh flowers for the best of both worlds.
Why are dry flowers more cost-effective? Dry flowers are preserved and don’t require the same level of care. As they’re a preserved product, it means less time is required on maintenance, transportation, and refrigeration in order to keep them alive.
They’ve got a way longer shelf life and are readily available which means that you can source them well ahead of your wedding date and keep them stored until you need them, which brings us to our next point.
Repurpose Ceremony Flowers
Credit: Team Flower
We all learned it in school. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Apply that elementary wisdom to your wedding by repurposing your ceremony flowers to the reception area to redecorate instead of spending yet more money.
Bear in mind that this tip works best if the arrangements are easy to transport and do not require extensive dismantling.
Decorate the venue by using bridesmaid bouquets as table centerpieces (if you’ve got enough of them!) or on refreshment tables and lounge areas.
If you used a wedding arch for the ceremony, apply some forethought into how easily you can take it apart and transport it to the reception as a decor piece and backdrop for photo opportunities.
Consider all your options and strike a balance so that it does not become cumbersome if the savings aren’t worth it.
DIY Flower Kits
Credit: Sola Wood Flowers
Are you handy? Are you ahead of the game and have time to spare? If so, then DIY flower kits might be a great way to save some money.
There’s a caveat here, though.
As Quill & Oak point out, DIY’ing can be very time-consuming or requires special tools and skillset in order to achieve a professional look versus something purchased from a dollar store.
If you’re in the midst of planning an entire wedding, you’ll likely want a trusted individual to be able to handle this important task, so be sure to set expectations accordingly.
That’s not to say that it’s an insurmountable task. There are some fantastic kits such as the ones offered by Sola Wood Flowers that come in DIY or pre-built flower arrangements. They have preset colour palettes that allow you to choose your own options which are then shipped out as a craft kit.
Otherwise, opt for their “build it for me” selection so that their team of experts can help you achieve the perfect look. Be sure to check out their website for more flower options.
Simplicity Can Be Beautiful
Credit: Brides
Simple flower arrangements can be equally impactful and beautiful. Intricate floral arrangements require much more labor and time to create them.
Here are some ways to create a stunning yet simple arrangement:
- Incorporating more greenery into the arrangement to achieve a lush look. Greenery can go a long way at a lower cost than flowers.
- Be flexible with the type of flowers. Talk to your local florist to see what they can offer as flowers like peonies can still be expensive if grown in-season. You’ll be surprised to know that in some cases, roses might not be the priciest option!
- Likewise, consider various colour palettes. It’s easy to become enamored by a particular wedding look but a florist can be very helpful in finding alternatives and potentially offer a great pairing at a lower price.
Consider Renting Flowers
Credit: Unsplash / Lucija Ros
We’ve talked about DIY options, being flexible with colours and flower types, and creatively using your arrangements in different ways throughout the wedding day. However, what you may not know is that you can actually rent flowers through vendors for your special day.
Flower rental companies typically have silk or faux flower selections which can be cost-effective in addition to other perks.
For instance, renting flowers will give you access to a larger selection that may be otherwise out of season or hard to find.
The rental service is entirely responsible for the delivery, setup, and takedown of the flowers which means it’s a huge burden off your shoulders. You can enjoy all of the beauty with none of the cleanup.
In more recent years, there has been a trend towards sustainable weddings which makes renting flowers an enticing option. You get to reduce your footprint by eliminating the waste involved with discarding flowers after an event, thereby minimizing your impact on the environment.