Budgets are to weddings what diets are to physical perfection; very painful, very difficult to stick to, but unfortunately very necessary.
It would be great to make like a celebrity and have a bottomless pit for a budget. Unfortunately for us, mere soon-to-be-wed mortals, that’s something we can only dream of.
For those of you on a super tight budget you may feel that by splashing out on one thing, you might have to sacrifice something else, and you’re not ready to let go of the dream of a five tiered free flowing Belgian chocolate fountain just yet!
And where flowers are concerned, you might think that you would need the equivalent of a deposit on a house to splash out on anything that looks even half amazing. But you’re wrong.
By following our simple tips, you could have fab looking floral arrangements, and not have to feed your guests tuna sandwiches!
Decide (realistically) how much you want to spend on flowers. This is normally (but not always) around 10-15% of your overall wedding budget.
Find a florist who can help you stick to your budget.
Consider flowers which are in season. One of the few things in life which are (relatively) inexpensive and good quality.
Try - if possible - to avoid getting married around Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, New Year’s Day, or during any time when flowers are at their most expensive.
Don’t be afraid to consider silk flowers. There are some very convincing fakes out there. Plus they last, so you won’t have to spend a fortune preserving your bouquet.
Never scrimp on your bouquet. As the bride, all eyes will be on you, so always buy the best you can afford.
The same applies to table centres. Your guests will have to look at them throught the reception.
Don’t feel as though you have to adorn everything with flowers. Fill in the areas and spaces which catch the eye.
If you or anyone you know is a dab hand at flower arranging, now is the time to put those skills into practice.
Arrangements which are time consuming to construct will always be quite expensive, regardless of size. Stick to simple, but pretty, arrangements.
If you have your heart set on a flower which is quite expensive, try to use it sparingly, perhaps in your bouquet and groom's buttonhole. Or ask your florist if she can recommend a similar, but cheaper flower.
As an alternative to carrying bouquets, give your bridesmaids floral wrist corsages to wear.
Potted flowers can make inexpensive, yet effective table centre, and they also double up as favours or thank you gifts.
Never underestimate the beauty and effectiveness of candles. Pillars, tapers, spheres, votives, tealights, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours, and scents. If you choose to combine them with flowers, you won’t need too many to create a striking design.
You don’t have to splash out on Diptyque, but do not go for ultra cheap either. As a candle junkie, I know that the inferior ones burn out really quickly and are therefore not cost effective. And there’s only so much you can do with half burnt out slabs of wax!
With a bit of luck and imagination, you should be able to have arrangements to rival those at a celebrity wedding, without the big celeb budget.
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Arrangements which are time consuming to construct will always be quite expensive, regardless of size. Stick to simple, but pretty, arrangements.
Never underestimate the beauty and effectiveness of candles. Pillars, tapers, spheres, votives, tealights, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours, and scents. If you choose to combine them with flowers, you won’t need too many to create a striking design. .jpg){kind=small}