Special Floral Effects
Weddings that have a medieval, Victorian, or Western flavor dictate their own color schemes and flowers. Ivy and wildflowers are evocative of medieval times, while rose and lace nosegays are suitable for a Victorian theme. Western brides take their inspiration from regional flowers and casual bouquet shapes.
Small Elements Have Big Appeal
Small single decorations such as votive candles in glass holders or glass flowerpots filled with blooms are inexpensive touches that add gaiety to any wedding. They can also serve double duty as party favors.
For modest budgets, look in dollar stores for cute little glass flowerpots and votives in bundles of 100. These items are also on sale at craft stores and discount superstores.
For moderate-budget weddings, look in department stores for fancier glass votive holders and candles. For truly lavish weddings, think about bowls with floating candles every few place settings on the tables.
Essential
Add seasonal elements to your centerpieces. In addition to using seasonal flowers to keep prices down, pay tribute to the time of year by incorporating small buds in the spring or colorful leaves in the autumn.
Out of the Ordinary
Given their luxurious budget, John and Lynn wanted special flower arrangements. “We chose orchids for my bouquet, not just because I love them, but because they'll remind me that right after the wedding, we're leaving for our honeymoon in Hawaii,” Lynn explained. “My florist looked at a picture of my gown and suggested orchids. But we didn't need a whole bouquet of them to make a point. An orchid was the centerpiece of a cascade bouquet.”
Lynn's florist will evoke her marina country club/nautical wedding theme with table centerpieces of silver sail-boat vases filled with white roses and small silver bowls holding floating white candles.
Daisies Do Tell — of Savings
Fact
Seasonal weddings give you lots of ideas for inexpensive decorating. An added bonus is that many of the places you'll use for a ceremony or reception site will be decorated for the season, which translates into less decorating and less money on your end!
Susan didn't have to spend a lot of money on her floral budget. “The area we're planning to be married in has so many beautiful flowers and plants. We'll use the grapevine wreath shaped like a heart and decorated with daisies and our names to show guests where the wedding is located. And, of course, I need a bouquet, my maid of honor needs one, and we have a flower girl.”
Susan decided on a bouquet of daisies accented with white and yellow roses. “Something exotic just wouldn't work with what I'm planning to wear,” she said. “And the more exotic or out of season, the more expensive.”
Essential
Investigate a website with a floral guide that tells you types of flowers, their colors, and available seasons. It also helps to know the names of particular flowers and good substitutes for more expensive flowers than your budget will allow.
Since daisies are in season, Susan will likely get a bargain price on them — at the grocery store! “My aunt will put together white and yellow daisies and roses into simple bouquets for my maid of honor and me. And little baskets of daisies will serve as our reception-picnic centerpieces.” The corsages and boutonnieres echo Susan's love for daisies as well.
Decorating with Flowers
Kylie's florist is planning to use antique-style lace ribbon on the bridal bouquet and table arrangements. Kylie chose pale yellow roses for remembrance in her bouquet, but because these wouldn't match the colors worn by the mothers, she ordered white roses for them. Photos of the families of the bride and groom will be featured on the guestbook table.
