As a trained professional, I can confidently tell you that you need to budget between 8-15 % of your total wedding budget toward the floral décor. Why? Wedding flowers really do make a statement in your event and flowers are usually the dominating factor in your décor to make it feel romantic and luxurious. Today on the blog, we are sharing our budget friendly tips in helping your create the perfect floral choices to help you save money but also create the look you’ve always wanted.

Go With A Professional

Working with skilled professionals can actually be considerably more affordable than DIY, I know can you believe it. Think about it… there professionals, and just like anything else wouldn’t you want your florals to look perfect for your wedding day! Getting it done right, is always better than adding extra stress on your big day.

When you meet with your florist, have those (sometimes) hard and honest conversations with them and be open to creativity. Talk frankly about your budget, ask for recommendations to make it work and concentrate on the focal points where your eyes and those of your guests will be on most.

DIY Is Not Always The Way

On the surface, DIY looks less expensive. When you start drilling in, however, things can start to look a lot less rosy. With a florist, you see a proposal, followed by detailed invoice with line by line pricing and a big bottom line. When you choose to do it yourself, you'll inevitably start buying bits and pieces as you go and spending a little at a time. Over the course of your wedding planning and without the expertise of years of experience, those receipts can really add up. Keep in mind that you're not only investing your time and energy in coming up with design ideas, shopping for supplies, putting everything together, you're also at risk of taking precious time away from enjoying your wedding day to set it all up the day before or of the wedding.

Size Matters

Size matters, especially when it comes to your wedding flowers and budget. Everything grows exponentially! The more people you have in your wedding party, the more bouquets and boutonnieres you need. Likewise, the more wedding guests you invite the more centerpieces you need. When thinking of how many of those you want closest to you when you say "I do" to the family and friends you want to raise a glass to your future with, consider the impacts to your budget, especially with florals. The first way to get the Pinterest centerpiece of your dreams is to need fewer of them. Consider going smaller on the center piece or choosing flowers like Hydrangeas that take more space in the a bouquet. Another way to help with sizing, add looks of greenery. Its less expensive and can still portray a larger look.

Where the eyes FOCUS

Beginning with your wedding ceremony, take a look at where all eyes will be and when, besides on you, of course! If budget is a concern and you are looking to make it go further invest in things that will make the biggest impact to most important views. Stand at the beginning of your wedding aisle and focus on where you will exchange your vows. Focus on enhancing the spaces approximately with in the 4 feet of you two standing up there. Not only will the florals in this space create the dramatic and memorable impression you're looking for, but they'll also appear in all of your photos.

Try to remove floral from areas that aren’t the focus, for example, your guests will be spending a minimal amount of time during the cocktail reception. Fair to assume they'll be more focused on the conversation, cocktails and the tasty bites to eat. Consider whether you really need those small vases on the cocktail tables or the festive rounds on the bar top.

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

From a purely financial standpoint, a sweetheart table may be the best way to go for you and your fellow newlywed. Investing in a long head table and adding intricate décor can add up quickly. A sweetheart table can easily become a beautiful focus of attention at the front of the space. Dress it up with a luxurious linen to make it unique, add candles and - hint - repurpose your bouquet or ceremony flowers - and turn it into an affordable showstopper. Remember, you will be the focus at the sweetheart table and that is plenty enough for guest.

Reuse and Upcycle

As you plan your wedding florals, ask yourself, do I need flowers here? If the answer is yes, then ask yourself, can I reuse and repupose these flowers somewhere else.

Pull those swags of flowers you might have used at your cocktail hour forward to your reception and make them part of your sweetheart table décor. Weather permitting, arrangements from your guest tables can begin their life as ceremony décor, accenting your aisle or flanking your ceremony structure. As we mentioned earlier, repurposing your bouquet and those of your wedding party can also enhance your sweetheart table, gift or cake table.
Invest in flowers that will hold up well and arrangements that are easily moved if you plan on using for multiple purposes.

Choosing your flowers is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. But it's not as simple as picking your favorite flowers and requesting them in your wedding colors (sorry!). However with a little help from a professional and creativity you can have the perfect flowers on the big day while staying in your budget.

XOXO

Budget Friendly tips for Wedding Florals