Bride on a Budget

Bride on a Budget?  Don’t despair – you can still have beautiful wedding flowers

Let’s face it – nearly everyone is feeling the effect of the recession in one way or another.  But having to count the pennies shouldn’t prevent you from having the day of your dreams; it’s all about using your imagination and spending your money wisely.  Naturally the most important ingredients for a successful wedding day are the people: firstly, you and your partner having chosen to make your marriage vows to each other; and secondly, the friends and family that you have chosen to come along to support you.  Perhaps as someone involved in the wedding industry I shouldn’t say this, but really everything else is an add-on or a ‘nice to have’! 

It just takes two!

But of course most people want to make their wedding a day of celebration and to ensure it is a memorable occasion, and it is a wonderful thing in the years ahead to be able to look back at photographs of a happy and very special day.  (In case you’re wondering, yes I did have a white wedding with all the trimmings myself!)  And flowers are a wonderful way of creating a particular atmosphere for a special occasion while giving you the opportunity to show your personality, through choice of style, colour and selection of blooms.  So, if flowers are something you see as a necessity for your own wedding day, how can you achieve the look you want on a limited budget?

Flowers are a good way of creating atmosphere

Wise brides will allocate a part of their wedding budget to their flowers and then discuss with their florist what can be achieved within that budget.  It is sometimes suggested that the flower budget should be around 5-10% of the total, but of course this will very much depend on the importance that the bride wants to place on her flowers and the sort of designs she has in mind.  You should always ask your florist for a full estimate of the cost of providing the flowers for your wedding, including any additional costs which might not be included in the price of individual designs – for example: delivery and set-up charges; hire of vases, mirrors, pedestals etc.  Also, find out if the order will be subject to VAT – a florist working on a freelance basis (such as me) might not be registered for VAT, which can make a big difference to the total cost.  If this all adds up to a figure above your budget don’t be embarrassed to ask where costs could be saved.  I’m always happy to have this sort of discussion with my clients so that we can achieve a look they will love but can still afford.

TOP TIPS for saving the pennies!

·         Choose flowers you can afford – sounds obvious, but many brides are not aware of the vast number of different flowers that can look stunning used in wedding work.  Of course everyone knows what a rose is, but quality roses are expensive – so ask your florist to recommend different flowers that would work in the designs you have in mind and be prepared to be flexible.

·         Remember seasonality – this is another factor that will determine how expensive your flowers are as prices vary according to whether a particular flower is in season at the time of your wedding, as well the level of demand for it.  For example, setting your heart on beautifully scented lily-of-the-valley is not a good idea unless you are getting married in April!  On the other hand, red roses around St Valentine’s Day would be a very expensive choice.

·         Go for simple designs – when deciding on the cost of individual designs a florist will take into account the time it takes to make up the design, so complicated designs (particularly those involving wiring work) tend to be more expensive.  This is why a fully wired bouquet will always be more expensive than a hand tied bouquet made using the same materials; and why a simple collection of flowers in a pretty vase can make a cost-effective table centre.

Simple vases of flowers can still be effective

·         Start with the bride’s bouquet – I always suggest that brides don’t compromise when it comes to selecting the flowers and style of their bouquet.  These flowers are so much a part of your overall look and will also be on show in all your main photographs for years to come.  That said, your florist may be able to suggest different techniques for creating a particular style of design that will minimise the cost.

·         Keep wedding party flowers to a minimum – obviously the groom will want to have a buttonhole (and often this is matched to his bride’s bouquet), and it is usual for his attendants to wear a buttonhole and any bridesmaids and flower girls to carry or wear flowers.  If these are the people who will feature in a lot of your key photos then it will look good if they have flowers to coordinate with your scheme.  But think carefully before you offer flowers to other guests – perhaps Granny would be prepared to pay for her own corsage?

·         Place display flowers where they will have the greatest impact – once you know how much of your budget is left to cover the flowers for your ceremony and reception venues, think how you can use it wisely to create maximum impact.  Flowers placed en masse and at a high level will be more eye-catching than lower-level displays (which is why many people choose pedestal designs).  Also, consider placing flower displays in strategic places where guests will be focused for some time, eg: at the front of a church; near the registrar’s table for a civil ceremony; or to one side of the top table.

Make sure your flowers can be seen

·         Consider re-using some designs – paying a lot of money for flowers that are only seen for a short time really is a waste of money.  Often designs can be made in a way that enables them to be moved to a new position later in the day – and this is a great job to give to one of your friends who is offering to help!  For example, free-standing designs can be moved from a church to the reception; arrangements placed on the registrar’s table can double-up as table centres; and small table centres can be designed in such a way that they can be given as gifts to key guests.

Table centres can be given as gifts

·         ASK YOUR FLORIST – these are only a few ideas to get you thinking!  A good florist will be willing to work with you to achieve a look you will love but can still afford.