How to Keep Wedding Flower Prices within Your Budget

One of the first concerns of most brides to be is getting the best wedding flower prices. Flowers are a huge part of the ceremony and costs vary depending on the type of flowers used, the season of the wedding, and the style chosen.

Knowledge is power so if you are looking for ways to keep wedding flower bouquet prices under control and make this part of your wedding an enjoyable process… the knowledge you gain here will be of great value.

One of the first steps to cutting floral costs is to know which flowers are in season. When a particular type of flower is in season, the price is much less and you can be assured that it will be available.

There are flower charts available online that will be a valuable guide to planning your wedding flowers. Your local florist can also give you an estimate on the availability of your choices.

Popular Bridal Flowers

Roses are available year round, but the romantic Valentine's Day tradition of giving red roses to express our love drives up the price during the first two weeks in February. The price is usually three to five times the cost before and after this time.

Exotic and tropical flowers are more expensive because they are imported from other countries. Orchids are an exception as they are grown as house plants, are available at local nurseries and garden shops. One way to drastically cut costs for orchids is to purchase plants and cut the individual blooms. The plant will bloom again in a few months and is a good way to preserve the memories.

Peonies, hydrangea, tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, lily of the valley, and lilies can all be grown at home in a private garden. The one caveat is that Mother Nature doesn't always cause them to bloom at the exact time we need them. If they are chosen during the in season, they will be much less expensive from a florist although some florists import them and the price will be quite high.

Queen Anne's Lace is a beautiful flower that is used by many florists. It grows wild in many states and can be found along road sides and if free for the cutting. (Just be careful to pick it in "legal” areas).

Bouquet Styles

The style of the bouquet is another cost factor to consider. An elaborate cascade design will be much more expensive than a hand tied because there is so much more labor involved. So if an expensive flower is chosen for a large cascade, it is sure to be an expensive arrangement.

A hand tied bouquet is not only popular, but is easy to make and lends itself to a variety of flower choices. The stems can be placed in a vase of water to keep it fresh after it has been made so it provides peace of mind. If the flowers chosen for this design are in season, it will be a great cost saver.

A small nosegay can vary in price depending on how it is made and the flowers chosen. If the flowers have to be wired to make the bouquet, it will cost more because of the labor. If it is made like a mini hand tied bouquet, the cost will be less. Orchids and lily of the valley make amazing nosegay bouquets and are a little more expensive than spray roses or mini carnations.

Tussy Mussy holders are great choices for traditional weddings. They are usually made from silver or silver plate and are cone shapes made to hold a nosegay arrangement. Floral foam or hand tying are choices for the tussy mussy and they make beautiful holders.

An arm bouquet is probably the least expensive especially if calla lilies are used. It only takes a few stems,( usually three to five) to make an elegant bouquet. The long graceful stems become as much a part of the bouquet as the flowers and there is very little labor involved. The stems can be kept in a vase of water right up to the time of the wedding so wilting is not a concern.

A calla lily bouquet is so elegant when the stems are wrapped in a wide satin ribbon and secured with pearl corsage pins. Charms with verses, poems, vows, names, and photos can be attached to the ribbon to hold special meaning.

Also keep in mind that if you have your heart set on a particular kind of flower and it is not in season, you can combine a faux flower with fresh to get the look you want.

Now that you have some "inside” info on wedding flowers, you will have a very good idea of how to keep wedding flower prices within a budget that you can afford.