Ah, the wedding flowers! Perhaps the second most important aspect to women planning their wedding next to the gown. There are many things you'll want to keep in mind when planning your wedding flowers and this guide will give you tips and help you organize your ideas. The first thing to think about your wedding flowers is that they don't have to be real flowers! A big trend right now is using non-traditional bouquets such as origami paper flowers, handmade fabric flowers, feathers, and my personal favorite- bouquets made from vintage brooches. By choosing something other than the traditional flowers that wilt after a few days, you can save your bouquet for a lifetime, displaying it as a memorable decoration in your home for years to come.
Custom made brooch bridal bouquets can add a funky, whimsical touch to the special day. They require planning ahead as some designers need a few months before the wedding day to make them but they can be ordered in any color combination possible and are sometimes even cheaper than buying a real floral bouquet. Many designers will keep you updated by e-mailing you pictures of the design process so that you're involved. This brooch bouquet to the left was designed by etsy shop owner
nicolasacicero but if you type brooch wedding bouquet into the search box on etsy.com you will see a plethora of beautiful designers each with their own unique flair.
The best thing about handmade bouquets besides being keepsakes forever is that you can have dahlias in autumn or sunflowers in winter- paper flowers don't require your wedding to be during a certain season. Paper flowers can are charming and adorable and can be customized in so many different ways from cute, colorful buttons to elegant pearls.The paper flower bouquet to the right was created by
AnnKayDesign and requires three months for her to complete.
Another cool thing about handmade bouquets is that the possibilities are endless and they are truly one-of-a-kind works of art that will turn heads and get people talking. You can even have matching boutonnieres made for the groomsmen and corsages for the mothers and grandmothers. Fabric flowers can be made from silk, satin, lace, cotton, linen, and even leather for virtually any style. The bouquet to the left made by
bouquets4love has handmade ivory vintage satin roses with burned edges for a gorgeous rustic shabby chic look. Bouquets made from fabric turn out to be treasured heirlooms that can be passed down from generation to generation.
But if you're traditional like me, you'll want real flowers in your bouquet! If you're on a tight budget, there are many things you can do to save money on your wedding flowers.
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| Photographer J. Perlman, ; Floral designer Mol Tran |
- The first and most important thing to do is choose flowers that are in season. Luckily, my favorite flowers grow year round in tropical climates so having my dream bouquet was no problem for me. However, if your wedding takes place during the winter, you may be limited to what grows during the winter season and what flowers are easy to get year-round or you will be paying a pretty penny to get exactly what you want. For example, tulips are easy to track down in the spring but if you're looking for a specific color in the summer, good luck finding it. If you're particularly fond of a specific flower that's out of season or one that doesn't
quite fit into your budget, ask your florist about less-expensive
flowers that have a similar look.
- Don't underestimate the power of your own creativity! A huge way to save money on flowers is to grow and harvest blooms from your own garden or get them cheap at a local grocery store the day before the wedding. Of course this is a lot of extra work but the results will be exactly the way you want if you're a hardcore DIY kind of gal. Taking flower arranging classes with your wedding party is a fun way to bond with each other and will help you create your own arrangements.
- Sometimes, less is more.
Simple arrangements often make the biggest impact.
- It's all about who you know! One of my friends owns a farm and she allowed me to borrow a bunch of flowers in pots for the big day because I was unable to afford to decorate my outdoor ceremony otherwise. She brought them in for me on the morning of the wedding and set them up with the help of some guy friends. The result was fabulous and free!
And here are a few flower mistakes some people make that you can avoid!
- Not reusing ceremony arrangements. Aisle flowers can easily transform
into centerpieces and altar pieces can be moved to the buffet table.
Why spend all that money on just one hour of your wedding day when they
can be incorporated into the reception decor?
- Booking your
florist at the last minute. Couples need to speak to at least two
vendors from every category months before they book anyone. Don't book
the first florist you go to. Shop around. This will give them an idea of
what to expect budget wise and will also help them weed out what they
don't want. Also, the more time you give your florist, the less
expensive your flowers will be. Remember: flowers are shipped from all
over the world and need time to get to you!
- Refusing to
compromise. If a bride has her heart set on something that is hard to
get, it can be stressful for the florist, especially if it's near
impossible during a certain season. The florist can do a much better job
if the bride asks for an overall look, feel, and color scheme with a
few key blooms and just let the florist work his or her magic.
- No
communicating with your florist. Bring in lots of pictures to your
florist and make sure you convey exactly what you want as well as what
you don't want. That way you won't be disappointed.
- Using only
one color. It's common for brides to try and match the flowers to the
bridesmaid dresses but what they don't realize is that the pictures come
out flat without accent colors to balance out the bouquets. A pop of
lime green, for instance, will bring out the lavender in the
bridesmaids' gowns.
- Choosing strongly-scented flowers. This
sounds romantic but might drive your guests insane if they are prone to
allergies. Keep the aromatic flowers for your bouquet only and leave
them out of the other bouquets.
- Don't overwhlem yourself with
too much DIY. If you find that you can't do it all, you'll end up
calling a professional at the last minute which may end up costing a
fortune to get the flowers on time.
- Last but not least, not listening to your florist. There comes a time when hey, you're the bride, you get what you want, but there's also a point when you need to relax and trust the professional you hired. For example, I went to a florist who outright insisted that I use green hydrangeas in my bouquet. I kept trying to explain that they weren't in my vision but she continued to persist that they were her trademark, that the bouquet wouldn't look right without them, and eventually I walked out the door. Sometimes you have to put your foot down! I ultimately went with Wild Orchid who pre-ordered all the flowers I wanted in my bouquet and let me play around with them to create potential arrangements. I thought I was done but they suggested a few flowers to add to the mix including scarlet sweet william, violet wax flowers, pink spray roses, and purple liatris which I never would have thought of and which made my entire design pop. I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. See for yourself!
