| From the rings to the shoes, from the food to | | | | classes that specialize in caring for and arranging |
| the flowers, weddings come at no small cost. It | | | | flowers and plants. For a small fee, you could hire |
| only makes sense that current brides and | | | | these aspiring florists who would be thrilled to |
| grooms-to-be are choosing to penny-pinch | | | | work on your arrangements. The teachers of |
| wherever possible. Wedding flowers often | | | | such a course will act as your safety net and, as |
| become the first casualty of a budget-minded | | | | an added bonus to you, will have extensive |
| couple's matrimonial plans, but there are many | | | | experience and oversee your project. |
| tricks of the trade which will allow you to lavish | | | | 4. Have a Garden Wedding |
| your ceremony with floral bliss and not break the | | | | Consider having the ceremony and/or the |
| bank. Use these excellent tips to minimize | | | | reception in a beautiful garden! Do you know |
| spending and get the biggest bang for your buck! | | | | someone that has a beautiful backyard and would |
| 1. Choose Flowers in Season | | | | be honored to host a wedding there? There will |
| This is a critical money-saver. It is also important | | | | be no need for arrangements if you are already |
| to keep in mind that flowers look and smell best | | | | surrounded by lush greenery and blossoming |
| when they are fresh and in season. This is | | | | flowers. Be prepared, though! Depending on the |
| especially true for roses. But if you have your | | | | regional climate (or the time of year you hold |
| heart set on a particular flower that holds | | | | your wedding), you may want to make use of |
| sentimental value for you, it would be wise to plan | | | | either awnings, patios or sophisticated white |
| your ceremony around the time period it will be in | | | | open-air tents in case Mother Nature decides to |
| seasonal bloom. | | | | become a wedding guest! |
| Although flowers in season will give you a | | | | 5. Cut down on attendants |
| beautifully scented bouquet, use caution with the | | | | By choosing fewer attendants, you will not have |
| flowers you choose to include in any centerpieces | | | | to provide as many bouquets and boutonnieres. |
| at your reception. The fragrances that come | | | | Since small ceremonies are currently in vogue, it |
| from flowers as gardenia, jasmine or freesia can | | | | will be a natural progression to balance out the |
| be overwhelming and may not be the best choice | | | | ceremony with a more intimate wedding party. |
| for dining tables. Overpowering flowers might also | | | | Many couples favor a secluded setting with soft, |
| stir up any allergies that your guests may have. | | | | glowing candles or lights to provide a devastatingly |
| 2. Do it yourself | | | | romantic theme. These more intimate, family |
| When considering the daunting task of preparing | | | | oriented gatherings are also advantageous |
| and designing the wedding floral arrangements on | | | | because they help the bride and groom to stay |
| your own, take the time to fully consider all of | | | | within their budget. |
| the responsibilities that will come with such a task. | | | | It is also very elegant to have your bridesmaid |
| Questions that you might want to ask yourself | | | | carry a single flower tied with a piece of satin |
| are:o Am I motivated enough?o Will I have | | | | ribbon. Choose a flower that matches one of |
| enough time to arrange bouquets/centerpieces | | | | those in the bride's bouquet, or that signifies a |
| before the ceremony?o How much money will I | | | | special meaning to you. |
| save vs. how much work is involved? | | | | 6. Avoid having your wedding on or near a holiday |
| Many women find that, in the interest of saving | | | | Flowers are generally in high demand around |
| money, they end up learning a costly lesson. It is | | | | Valentines Day, Mother's day, proms, graduations |
| important to remember the many challenges | | | | and other special holidays. Because of this, prices |
| involved with coordinating what may be the most | | | | rise dramatically and certain flowers are often |
| important event of your life. You may be able to | | | | impossible to find. As if this isn't enough bad news, |
| find a relative or member of the bridal party who | | | | florists tend to be extremely busy during holidays |
| would be willing to help you assemble your floral | | | | while they desperately try to keep up with their |
| arrangements and bouquets. Think of the fun you | | | | increased business. Will they be left with enough |
| would have spending your last days as a | | | | time to put the desired attention into your |
| bachelorette with your best friends! | | | | flowers? |
| If you find yourself industrious enough to go it | | | | You can take great advantage of this if planning |
| alone, there are many quick courses in floral | | | | your wedding around the Christmas holidays. It is |
| design that are available through local community | | | | a safe bet that most venues, either indoor or out, |
| colleges and arts-and-crafts stores such as | | | | will be festively decorated before you arrive! |
| Michaels. | | | | 7. Use alternate centerpieces |
| The internet is a fantastic resource to take | | | | It is not necessary to adorn every table with a |
| advantage of, as well! Web sites such as offer | | | | high-priced floral centerpiece. Candles are beautiful |
| free instructional lessons that will tell you not only | | | | and provide an amazing ambience! Try submerging |
| which flowers work best in a bouquet, but | | | | an orchid (or flower of choice) in a glass container |
| provide valuable steps designed to help you put | | | | filled with water and float a candle on top. Also |
| your arrangements together successfully. You | | | | attractive is placing river rocks at the bottom of |
| might also want to check for wedding ceremonies | | | | a glass container, adding water and floating a |
| that will be held on the same day as yours. | | | | flower on top. Try using orchids, roses, peonies, |
| Chances are good that you could share the | | | | camellias or gerberas. |
| expense of the ceremony flowers with another | | | | A dramatic and stunning effect can be created |
| couple looking to do the same! | | | | with an inexpensive, rectangular mirror (much like |
| Keep in mind, however, that even if opting for | | | | the ones designed to hang on a bedroom door). |
| the "budget bridal bouquet", remember that it is a | | | | Place the mirror reflective-side-up and let it run |
| very key aspect of the wedding and should be an | | | | the length of the table, placing tealight candles at |
| expression of the bride's personality. Try to keep | | | | even intervals down the center. Sprinkle colored |
| a sense of balance between the wedding gown, | | | | glitter or flower petals across the surface. The |
| the bridesmaid's gowns, the ceremony flowers | | | | result is not only attractive, but sets the tone for |
| and decorations and the bouquet. | | | | your reception. |
| From that point, the other flowers, such as the | | | | Tip: Search the internet and magazines for great |
| bridesmaid's flowers, the flowers at the reception | | | | ideas on alternative centerpieces. |
| can follow the theme and take on the elements | | | | 8. Rent outdoor plants or small trees for an indoor |
| of the bride's bouquet. Current colors for 2006 | | | | garden effect |
| are chocolate with pale pink, baby blue or mint | | | | Decorate with greenery. Many nurseries will let |
| green. Colors generally follow the trends of interior | | | | you rent plants for your wedding and it is much |
| designing. | | | | cheaper than buying them. This will allow you to fill |
| Consult with a florist. This could cost up to $100 in | | | | the room with greenery and make flowers more |
| consultation fees, but their wealth of knowledge is | | | | or less unnecessary. Use trees to fill up large |
| sure to add a professional polish to the finished | | | | spaces, and ivy garland to gracefully drape across |
| product. If you take into account the fact that | | | | the tops of doorways. |
| florists can generally charge 3 times the price that | | | | 9. Let Your Flowers Do Double Duty |
| a wholesaler would and charge additional labor | | | | If your ceremony and reception are in two |
| costs for designing and assembling the flowers, | | | | separate places (or even two separate rooms), |
| you would still be saving money. | | | | let the floral arrangements that decorate the |
| Buy your flowers from a wholesaler. Wholesalers | | | | ceremony do double duty by using them to also |
| sell their flowers much more cheaply than a florist | | | | decorate the reception! Find out if your florist is |
| does. If you decide to deal with a floral | | | | able to transport and setup the flowers at your |
| wholesaler, it is important to know that they use | | | | reception after the ceremony is finished. There is |
| a grading system. When choosing your flowers, | | | | usually sufficient time between the two, and you |
| make sure that you choose Grade 1 flowers. You | | | | can save an incredible amount of time and money |
| can locate many floral wholesalers online. actually | | | | by "recycling" your beautiful, fresh flowers! |
| offers "Wedding in a Box" packages of varying | | | | 10. Forget the corsages |
| sizes that come with all the flowers necessary to | | | | Corsages are not as trendy with modern |
| create the look that you want. has a similar | | | | weddings as they once were. 21st century Moms |
| package, which even includes items such as the | | | | are trendy and don't always want a flower pinned |
| cake knife and ring pillow! | | | | on them. Ask first. |
| If you are getting married in the spring/summer | | | | You have waited your entire life to reach this |
| time, visit the farmer's market and talk with the | | | | day, and it should be as beautiful as you always |
| flowers vendors. Find out if they grow the | | | | imagined it would be. A ceremony without the |
| flowers that you are looking for and don't be shy | | | | soft, delicate beauty and fragrance of flowers |
| to ask if they have ever done weddings. Always | | | | would be like having a cake without icing. Although |
| be sure to ask them what they do with the | | | | paying the traditional retail price for wedding |
| flowers that they don't sell. You might be able to | | | | flowers can cost you a bundle in materials and |
| grab large amounts of them for a steal! | | | | fees, utilizing these great cost saving tips will keep |
| Tip: Try using masses of one flower to showcase | | | | the floral arrangements from becoming one of |
| the flower's individual beauty. | | | | the most expensive items on your budget |
| 3. Use a school | | | | checklist. |
| Most high schools and colleges have horticulture | | | | |