Ro is getting married in. three. days. The countdown is seriously on. Flowers are on my brain today because I am anxious to get my hands on them and style the sh*t out of her centerpieces on Saturday. Out of the millions of details there are to plan about weddings, flowers can provide a nice thorn in your side (get that pun, there?) when you are a.) trying to stick to a budget, and b.) not a professional florist – so no, flower lady, we don’t know the technical name of all 30 flowers in the sample bouquet picture we showed you, that’s your job. Sound familiar? Flowers are expensive, and can eat away at your budget in about the time it takes for a sprig of lavender to droop, which I’ve recently learned, is quickly. So here are some feelings you may have considered, but swept under the rug because it wasn’t what everyone was doing on Pinterest. Commit to a few of them or all to make your flower process smell like roses.

1. It is okay to purchase flowers for your event from two different places to stay within your budget. As long as you have a clear vision of what you want. For example, having a trusted local expert doing your bridal bouquet is worth the money for the piece of mind. Buying flowers in bulk from a wholesaler or grocery to have your designer or wedding coordinator (or mom) arrange on site the day of can save you some major cash. Be sure you have coordinated people to keep the flowers in water and fresh until the ceremony and reception.

2. Go small and local when choosing a florist for the major flower items you are spending the most money on. Add sustainable if possible. The customer service small flower shops deliver is usually like having your own personal flower concierge. They appreciate your business, you appreciate them not sending hateful, impersonal corporate emails. (Can you tell we had a bad experience?) Also if you get a few quotes, you can take them back to your favorite one and discuss price points

3. Your flowers can be simple. And that can be a good thing. Not one person is going to wake up the morning after your wedding exclaiming positively about the twenty-foot tower of lilies you had on your buffet. Less is more sometimes, as cliché as it is. Especially if you’re using an outdoor venue, like Ro. A garden setting is already filled with foliage, and adding tons of expensive flowers will just get lost in the scene. Play off the greens of an outdoor wedding by choosing flowers that pop with your wedding colors. They’ll stand out more and you can purchase less of them.

4. Don’t be scared of the flowers with the funky textures. Going a little more of a less traditional route with your flower choices will add a memorable touch and element of surprise. Just do it in cost-effective ways, like inserting a few into your bouquets, not in centerpieces. Your bouquets are going in life long photographs and help tell your wedding story. For example, succulents are super trendy now, but can cost an insane amount. Instead, try out green ball Dianthus or lamb’s ear (my favorite!). Word of caution: these moments are where doing your research on what you want your bouquets to look like and providing sample pictures will help you out immensely.

5. You can use fake flowers. But only if these decorations are going to add an important visual element to a wedding scene, and aren’t going to be in an area of close-up guest inspection. There’s nothing prettier than a flowing garland of greenery, vines and blooms floating in the air above a bride and groom. But those puppies are pricey. I suggest making your own, or setting a crafty friend on the job. Stock up when craft stores have their fake flower/plant sales and save big time. Use green flower tape and wire to mesh different pieces together to add bulk and depth if you’re making a garland. Also don’t be afraid to pop those flower heads off of their stands and sub them in on other stems. Most fake flowers will pop right off and on, no harm done. After Saturday I will post a short demo on how I made Ro’s garland (and how great it looked!), saving her about $300.  You can do fake, just don’t buy thirty tubs of fake marigolds and place on every table. You’re better off without at that point.

What are your wedding flower pointers? Or horror stories, those are good too.

#watchusroam