Creative Ways To Cut Wedding Flower Costs

Flowers are a key part of any wedding, bringing a sense of romance and luxury to the ceremony and reception. However, they can also be expensive, with the average cost of wedding flowers in the US being $2,800. This has risen in recent years due to inflation and climate change. For those who can't afford this, there are a number of options to keep costs down, such as buying wholesale flowers, arranging flowers yourself, and using in-season flowers. Another option is to rent flowers from a company like Bloomerent, which allows brides and grooms to rent their wedding flowers to another couple, with the first bride receiving a 10% refund and the second bride paying 40-60% of the original cost.

Buy wholesale flowers

If you're looking to save money on your wedding flowers, buying wholesale is a great option. Wholesale flowers are sold at a fraction of the retail price, and you can often find beautiful blooms like roses, peonies, calla lilies, hydrangeas, and more.

• Choose a reputable wholesaler: Look for a company that specializes in wholesale wedding flowers, like Kukka, Blooms By The Box, or FiftyFlowers. These companies offer a wide variety of flowers and can help you create custom arrangements to fit your budget.
• Compare prices: Shop around to find the best prices. Some wholesalers may offer discounts or free shipping for larger orders. Compare the cost of individual flowers as well as pre-made bouquets or combo packs.
• Order in advance: Wholesale flowers are typically fresh and need time to be delivered and arranged. Plan to place your order at least a few weeks in advance of your wedding date.
• Consider DIY arrangements: If you're crafty, you can save even more money by arranging the flowers yourself. This can be a fun project to do with your bridal party or family members. Online tutorials and videos can guide you through the process.
• Be flexible: Wholesale flower availability may vary, so it's a good idea to have a few options in mind. Chat with the wholesaler about your color scheme and style preferences, and they can help you choose the best flowers for your vision.
• Ask about minimum orders: Some wholesalers have minimum order requirements, so be sure to ask about this before placing your order. You don't want to end up with more flowers than you need.
• Plan for delivery: Wholesale flowers often come in bulk boxes, so make sure you have a suitable space to store them before the wedding. You may also need to transport them to your venue, so factor in any delivery costs.
• Combine with other decor: To further stretch your budget, consider pairing your wholesale flowers with other decorative elements like candles, vases, or greenery. This can create a beautiful, full display without the need for expensive floral arrangements.

By following these tips, you can create stunning floral arrangements for your wedding while staying within your budget. Buying wholesale flowers is a cost-effective and flexible option that allows you to personalize your wedding decor.

DIY your flower arrangements

If you're looking to save money on your wedding flowers, doing your own flower arrangements is a great option. Here are some tips to help you create beautiful arrangements while sticking to your budget:

Create a Realistic Flower Budget

Understanding your budget and what you can afford to spend on flowers is essential. It is recommended to set aside around 15% of your overall wedding budget for flowers, lighting, and decorations. However, this percentage can be adjusted to fit your unique circumstances and priorities.

Choose Wholesale or DIY Flowers

Opting to buy flowers in bulk from a wholesale flower company or a local grower is a cost-effective strategy. This allows you to avoid the markup of traditional flower shops and gives you the flexibility to arrange the flowers yourself or enlist the help of skilled friends or family members.

Understand the Cost of DIY Flowers

When planning your DIY flower arrangements, it's important to consider the cost of the flowers themselves. The key to creating beautiful and affordable arrangements is to mix expensive and less expensive flowers. Focal flowers, such as roses, peonies, and orchids, can be combined with more affordable options like carnations, mums, and alstroemeria.

Select In-Season Flowers

Choosing flowers that are in season will also help you save money. For example, peonies are more affordable and widely available in May than in December. Chat with local florists or growers to learn about the seasonal blooms during your wedding month.

Plan Your Flower Arrangements

Before you start creating your flower arrangements, it's crucial to have a basic understanding of the look you want and be able to communicate it. Creating a wedding board on Pinterest or saving photos in a digital file can help you gather inspiration and share your vision with others.

Choose the Right Flowers for the Right Place

When selecting flowers, consider the location of your wedding and the placement of the arrangements. For example, if your wedding is outdoors, choose flowers that can withstand direct sunlight and high temperatures.

Understand the Workload and Create a Plan

DIY flower arrangements can be time-consuming, so it's important to estimate how long each arrangement will take to create. Involve your family and friends to help with the workload, and consider attending a basic design class to gain experience and create a plan for the week of your wedding.

Repurpose Your Flower Arrangements

To save money and time, consider repurposing your ceremony flowers for the reception. For example, you can use aisle flowers as table centerpieces, ceremony arrangements to decorate the sweetheart table, or bridesmaid bouquets as centerpieces or decorations for other reception areas.

Be Flexible

Remember that your DIY flower arrangements may not turn out exactly as planned, and that's okay! Be flexible and embrace the unique and personal touch that your arrangements will bring to your special day.

By following these tips, you can create beautiful and affordable DIY flower arrangements for your wedding while staying within your budget.

Use in-season flowers

Choosing in-season flowers for your wedding is a great way to save money without sacrificing variety or quality. In fact, opting for seasonal flowers ensures you're getting blooms at their absolute best. While it's a misconception that they are cheaper, they do offer better value for money. Out-of-season flowers are usually of lesser quality and are more expensive.

Spring

• Spring is a great time for flowers, with many stunning options like peonies, lilacs, tulips, and garden roses in season.
• Daffodils are a sunny and cheerful choice, available in yellow and white. They pair well with other spring flowers like roses and ranunculus.
• Tulips come in a wide range of colours and can be used creatively, such as opening their petals wide to create lush accents.
• Sweet peas add texture and movement and are available in shades of pink, blue, white, purple, and red.
• Lilacs have a very short growing season, so if your wedding date aligns with their peak, make the most of these fragrant blooms.
• Peonies have a short growing season and can be expensive, even when in season, but they make a glorious addition to any spring wedding.
• Pieris Japonica, also known as Andromeda, is a shrub-like evergreen plant with white or pale pink blooms that add texture and depth to asymmetrical arrangements.
• Irises come in a wide array of colours and can complement most colour palettes.

Summer

• Garden roses, often mistaken for peonies, are a good alternative if you're looking for a similar look without the price tag. Varieties like cappuccino, distant drum, or quicksand are great options.
• Hydrangeas are versatile and come in many colours. They are a good choice for a statement ceremony display but may not fare well in hot, sun-soaked conditions.
• Clematis adds colour and texture and can be arranged in a trailing, organic style or kept close to the base of a bouquet or centerpiece.
• Cosmos are star-shaped and petite, adding a whimsical touch to summer arrangements. They come in white, pink, yellow, maroon, and orange.
• Delphinium, also known as larkspur, is a tall flower that works well in long-stemmed bouquets or statement aisle decorations. It is available in pink, white, and sometimes yellow, in addition to its well-known blue variety.
• Foxglove features tall stems with bell-shaped flowers and is available in bold shades of red, pink, yellow, white, and purple.
• Scabiosa, with pincushion-shaped centres, adds movement and texture to arrangements and comes in classic and unexpected hues like black and deep purple.
• Sunflowers are a cheerful and rustic choice, perfect for casual or rustic weddings.
• Zinnias symbolise friendship, thoughtfulness, and endurance and are available in a range of colours, including pink, burgundy, yellow, orange, and even green.

Fall/Autumn

• Dahlias are a popular choice for autumn weddings and come in a wide array of colours and shapes. Café au Lait dahlias, a creamy beige variety, have been particularly trendy.
• Japanese anemones begin to bloom in late summer but are at their best in autumn. They come in white, pink, and purple, and their petite size makes a huge impact in arrangements.
• Foliage is a great option for autumn, providing colour, movement, and texture. Consider varieties like nandina, amaranthus, bittersweet vine, celosia, maple vine, and different grasses.
• Chrysanthemums, or mums, have a bad reputation as grocery store flowers, but florist-quality varieties can add colour and bulk to your arrangements at an affordable price.
• Hanging amaranthus, a textural greenery available in burgundy, green, and rust, is perfect for overhead installations or cascading bouquets.
• Sunflowers, scabiosa, zinnias, and cosmos are still in season during early autumn, so you can include these in your flower choices if your wedding date falls in this transitional period.

Winter

• Amaryllis is a stunning choice, available in white, red, salmon, apricot, and bicolour blends.
• Ranunculus come in vibrant colours and add life to winter arrangements, but they can be pricey, ranging from $5 to $10 per stem.
• Anemones, with their contrasting dark centres and delicate petals, work well with most other flowers and wedding aesthetics, offering versatility for modern, classic, or whimsical looks.
• Evergreen boughs are a classic choice for winter and can include varieties like fresh-cut balsam, cedar, spruce, white pine, holly, juniper, or magnolia.
• Hellebores are unexpectedly colourful winter flowers, available in shades like mauve, eggplant, green, burgundy, and beige. However, they can be expensive, with single stems costing upwards of $15.

Repurpose your wedding flowers

Repurposing your wedding flowers is a great way to save money and be eco-friendly. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your wedding flowers:

Repurposing the Bridal Bouquet

The bridal bouquet is typically the largest and most extravagant bouquet at the wedding. To ensure it stays fresh, place it in a vase of water between photos so it doesn't wilt. Display the bouquet at the centre of the sweetheart table or head table at the reception. Alternatively, place it on the guest book table to greet your guests as they enter the reception venue.

Repurposing Bridesmaid Bouquets

Bridesmaid bouquets are generally smaller than the bridal bouquet. They can be reused and displayed on bars or refreshment tables, coffee tables in a lounge area, or grouped together around the wedding cake or dessert table. They can also be spaced along a head table, adding a touch of elegance.

Repurposing Ceremony Arrangements

Large ceremony arrangements are often created in a designer dish, making them easier to move. These can be reused and displayed beside the head table or next to the band or DJ at the reception. If the arrangement is elevated on a tall vase, it can also serve as a cost-saving centrepiece.

Repurposing Arch Arrangements

Floral arch arrangements are typically large, heavy, and wet. If the arch structure is light enough, it can be moved to the reception area as a backdrop for the sweetheart or head table. Alternatively, leave the arch in place and use it as a photo booth backdrop.

Repurposing Ceremony Aisle Décor

Small floral or greenery decorations hung on the chairs or pews of the ceremony aisle can be reused and placed on the backs of chairs at the sweetheart or head table. They can also be laid beside photos on a memory table, adding a touch of elegance to your display.

Additional Tips:

• If you're moving flowers between ceremony and reception venues, ensure you have the necessary help and planning in place.
• Choose in-season flowers to save money and avoid paying a premium for out-of-season blooms.
• Discuss repurposing options with your floral designer or wedding planner in advance to understand the possibilities and any additional labour charges.
• Consider donating your wedding flowers to a local hospital or care facility to spread joy to those in need.

Incorporate more greenery

If you're looking to save money on your wedding flowers, one great option is to incorporate more greenery into your arrangements. Greenery is usually sold in bundles, so it's more affordable than flowers, which are typically priced per stem. Plus, you can create a stunning, natural look with just a few branches or go all out with a hanging greenery installation.

Bouquets

• Create a cascading bouquet of greens, perhaps with a few white roses, for a vivid, rich look.
• Combine greenery with baby's breath and white roses for a rustic vibe.
• Opt for a simple bouquet of lemon leaves, fountain grass, and sea oats for an outdoor wedding.
• Include feathers in your bouquet for a stylish fall or winter arrangement.
• For a tropical or beach wedding, pair monstera leaves with eye-catching flowers like orchids, proteas, and anthuriums.
• Succulents are a great choice for a boho, desert-inspired vibe and pair well with wildflowers and greenery.
• For a woodland or forest-themed wedding, combine multiple varieties of ferns, such as plumosa, maidenhair, and leatherleaf ferns.

Decorations

• Create a botanical design for your invitations by painting silver-dollar eucalyptus on white cardstock and selecting forest green envelopes.
• Build an aisle of greenery with leaves and garlands for your processional.
• Transform your wedding backdrop by wrapping vines or greenery around a wooden structure.
• Hang a chandelier made of palm leaves to radiate a tropical vibe.
• Outline the entrance to your reception with greenery garlands for a natural feel.
• Decorate the ceiling with dense greens to create a jungle-like atmosphere.
• Guide guests to their seats with escort cards planted in a bed of greens or mini potted plants of moss.
• Create a greenery table runner or fasten a handful of greens to the center of white linen napkins for a clean, elegant look.
• Place lemon trees in the middle of your reception tables for a bold, practical centerpiece.
• Hang greenery installations or garlands from the ceiling for a tranquil, garden-like atmosphere.

Frequently asked questions