Flowers: Seasonal & Beautiful

Flowers: Seasonal & Beautiful

Flowers are the setting and by that set a tone to the event. However, flowers can also quickly add up. This is especially true if the flowers that you choose are not in season.

There are a few questions when considering what floral arrangements to have at your wedding. Below are a few simple tips to help you through these questions and help you in deciding what floral arrangements to buy without going out of your budget.

Seasonal

A way to save in your floral arrangements is to include flowers that are in season. Due to these flowers' natural cycle, allows for these flowers to be available in high demands, decreasing their price.

• Spring: avoid miniature roses, lilies, snapdragons, and orchids around Mother's Day. Instead, look for:
• Zinnia (white, yellow, orange, lilac, red, purple & chartreuse)
• Foxglove (pink, white & shades of purple)
• Stock (pastel shades)
• Chocolate cosmos (red & brown)
• Heuchera (red, pink & purple)
• Tulips (for March especially; various colors)

(Photo from Marco Verch)

• Summer:  avoid white florals (i.e. roses, calla lilies, orchids, and baby's breath) for the wedding season, especially in June. Instead, look for:
• Astilbe (mauve, crimson red, pink & white)
• Mock orange (white)
• Gerber daisies (various colors)
• Gladiolas

• Autumn: avoid red and orange florals or any sort of fall colors; also, avoid flowers that grow from bulbs (i.e. lilies and tulips). Instead, look for:
• Crabapple (red & green)
• Chrysanthemums
• Alstroemeria 
• Flowers with spring and summer colors (pastels and brighter)

(Photo from Kondo Yukihiro)

• Winter: avoid red or white florals that are in high demand from after Thanksgiving through the Christmas season. Avoid roses and tulips around Valentine's day, especially red ones. Instead, look for:
• Love in a mist (blue, white, pink, lilac)
• Sweet pea (white, pink, yellow, red & purple)
• Forget-me-knots (blue, pink, yellow, purple & white)
• Bachelor button (blue, white, pink & magenta)

(Photo from Wikicommons Media)

• All year round:
• Baby's breath (except June, when wedding season is on)
• Roses (various colors; when in bulk, read below)
• Solidago
• Carnations (various colors)

(Photo from Jin.Dongjun)

Buying in Bulk

A cheap way to get flowers as well is to buy them in bulk.  Retailers like Costco make this easy for you.

You can talk to your florist and work out a price, or simply do them yourself. If you are doing them yourself, allow yourself enough time to practice beforehand. You can look on YouTube or Pinterest for tips. This will allow you to know how you want them exactly and to build a rhythm.

Make sure you are able to order and receive them in time and then dedicate a day to put them together a day or two before the wedding. Make sure to keep them hydrated so they don't die before your big day.

Silk vs. Real

When it comes to silk flowers, I have heard various opinions. I really like Jamie Wolfer's (who is a wedding planner and coordinator) video:

Simplicity

Floral arrangements don't have to be intricate and grand. Sometimes it's the simple arrangements that really set a romantic tone. Whether you have them professionally done or do them yourself, allow yourself to enjoy them.

(Photo by debbieryan2009 on Pixabay)

Speak to your Florist

Sometimes talking to a professional is more convenient. They know best what's in season and what is cheapest. Another tip is having more greenery in your arrangements to add fullness.

What you can also do is present your budget to your florist and work with them to get the arrangements you need. Also, be realistic in how much you want (in floral arrangements) and how much you have ($$).

An idea I also heard about is having your bridesmaids put their bouquets into water-filled vases at the reception. This is a way of utilizing your money to the fullest extent. Besides, bridesmaid don't really need their bouquets after the post-ceremony photo session.


Please share and leave your thoughts & comments below!