Just because they're fresh flowers that will likely have to be thrown away within a week's time doesn't mean that they won't be costly. Flowers for the wedding can be one shocking expense that you never saw coming. Flower arrangement is an art and a service, so you're not just paying for the flowers themselves.

Before you call any florist, have an idea of what types of arrangements you're looking for. Look through your bridal magazines or do some Internet searches and find out the difference between a nosegay and a cascading bouquet. Check out some different options for decoration the church and reception sites — do you want gardenias floating in a crystal bowl with votives underneath, or do you want mammoth vases of exotic flowers on each table?

Ask your friends what they paid for their wedding flowers and what that price included. Visit a florist in your hometown armed with a list of wedding ideas and get a quote from her. This is not to judge the honesty of a given florist (because along the way, you may note variations in prices), but to give you some idea of what florists typically charge for their arrangements.

Once you have a fairly solid idea of what your flowers might cost, you can set a realistic flower budget. It's just not wise to be thinking that you can decorate a huge tent with floral arrangements on each table for about $700 (which, to someone who hasn't done her research, sounds like an awful lot of money for decorations that are grown in dirt).

Have a budget in mind when you talk to a prospective florist, and be firm in your resolve to stick as close to it as possible, because it's just too easy to go way over on this expense. A really creative florist can work with you and make your wedding beautiful on almost any budget.