Flowers can make the wedding sparkle, but can also cost a fair bit of money! The best way to save money on your wedding flowers is to buy them in bulk and arrange them yourself. If the idea of entrusting your floral design to your own inexperienced hands scares you, here are a few suggests that mayhelp you save money without the worry!
1. Silk Flowers – silk flowers can make beautiful wedding bouquets, and may also be cheaper then real flowers, especially if you want flowers that are out of season. But the biggest bonus is that you can arrange and rearrange them in advance, and you have enough time to work at it until it is perfect!

2. Find a unprofessional professional! Do you or your fiance have a friend or family member with floral experience? Ask around! You may find that someone you know, knows someone who is a retired florist! Or check out the local Seniors center, they may have suggestions as well! A retired florist will often offer their services at a much lower cost, and if they are friends or family, they may be willing to do it for free!

3. Take a class! Many local colleges and art centers offer flower arranging  evening classes to help you learn the basics of arranging flowers for yourself! Local craft stores will often offer similar classes as well!!

4. Search online – many craft stores have websites with craft projects and ideas, including wedding arrangements! Check out  Michaels for example! They carry a selction of 20+ bouquets with complete assembly instructions online!

If none of those ideas are particularly calming, and you would prefer to have a professional florist do your flowers, there are still ways that you can save money! Here are a few steps you can take to ensure you get the best flowers for your money.

1. Pick flowers that are in season, they are automatically cheaper then out of season flowers. For example, tulips for a spring wedding would be much less expensive then tulips in December. If you are unsure what flowers are inseason, ask your florist for advice.

2. Pick a bouquet that uses more affordable flowers (carnations, for example) accented with a few exotic flowers for a beautiful finish! When looking through my mother’s wedding photos, I found a stunning photo of her bouquet, which was a cascading bouquet of white carnations with one goregous stargazer lily in front! It was goregous, and much more affordable then it woudl have been if she had used roses!

3. Shop around, get quotes from all the shops in your area, and make sure they know you are going to be getting quotes from other shops as well. Often, they will quote you a lower price if they know you are going to be looking around!

4. Look into the cost of silk flowers – especially if you want flowers that are out of seaon. Many retailers, both online and locally, carry exquisite silk flower designs that are fabulous in appearance and in price! Ask around and find out if there is a local craftsperson who does arrangements from their home. Their prices will be lower becuase they have less overhead to deal with the retail locations.

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A Basic Spring Wedding by Budda Oliver

 The spring season is often the most popular time of year for a wedding. It is a time of rebirth and renewal, when flowers begin to blossom and the weather becomes the perfect temperature for a couple short months. The following is a list of ideas and things to keep in mind when planning your spring wedding.

Consider getting married in April or May. March can often be colder and more unpredictable when it comes to weather, so it is a harder month to plan with precision. Remember that Easter often falls in April, and most high schools host their proms in May. Book your church, limousines, and tuxedos early-you wouldn’t want to miss out on the best of each just because your wedding coincides with other events.

Wedding dresses are usually designed in a way that is perfect for spring weather. Long skirts will keep your legs warm, and showing some skin on top won’t be uncomfortable in the mild climate. As a wink to the month in which you are getting married, throw in a colored sash, section of embroidery, or wrap in baby blue, light pink, light yellow, or soft green.

A great way to keep things in line with the season is by allowing your bridesmaids some versatility in their attire. Perhaps they can stick with a single, earthy color. Otherwise, allow them to choose their own dresses. Doing so will keep things looking fresh, understated, and classy.

Your menu can reflect spring as well. Use a colorful and rich variety of vegetables, such as carrots, asparagus, yellow and green squash, potatoes, green beans, yellow and red peppers, and tomatoes. Carrot cakes are an unconventional choice for a wedding cake, but can really evoke the season as well as provide an unexpected twist. A spring wedding is also the perfect time of year to offer a wide variety of fruit, such as strawberries, blackberries, plums, peaches, rhubarb, and melon. Serve fruit with sides of cool yogurt or whipped cream, and you’re all set!

Flowers will obviously be a big theme at your spring wedding, and luckily, this is the perfect time to find a wide variety of beautiful options. Try mixing and matching bouquets of roses, daisies, tulips, lilies, and hyacinth. Top bouquets off with maidenhair or lemon leaf as a beautiful filler.

White orchids and roses can be used to decorate your reception hall, and will look especially beautiful by candlelight. Finally, tie your bouquets together with pastel colored ribbons or earthy twine. Place many bouquets at different levels and sections of your church and reception area. Surround your floral displays with candles, rose petals, or bunched up fabric and lace.

Article Source: http://www.weddingarticles.net/Article/A-Basic-Spring-Wedding/1

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