Greenery, paper, and candy: how to save money on wedding flowers

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On a mission to shave down your wedding flower budget? We've always been fans of forgoing flowers altogether, but sometimes that's just not the compromise you're looking for. Let's talk about how to save money on wedding flowers, including real flowers AND some non-floral options if you're willing to try something a little different.

DIY your flowers

Purchasing your own flowers and DIYing the arrangements can be a super money-saver as long as you're willing to undertake the work involved. Consider buying the flowers wholesale, from grocery chains, or even growing your own bouquet to double up on the savings. Consider local grocery stores, discount chains, and superstores like Costco.

Consider more greenery

Instead of large bouquets of expensive flowers, consider filling in the bulk of the bouquets with more greenery or less expensive flowers like baby's breath. Don't forget about those kale bouquets!

Re-purpose your flowers

Designate someone to transfer your ceremony flowers over to your reception rather than buying separate arrangements for each location.

Go local and in-season

Ask your florist to focus on local and seasonal flowers (which vary by location), and you'll save a bundle by not having them source from other locations.

Ask for gifted flowers

Offbeat Bride reader Wendy had her friends and family help with all her wedding flowers like so:

In lieu of gifts, I asked that my bridal shower guests bring me potted flowers. That way I could display them at the wedding, and then I could later plant them at our house.
[The photo above] is just a small gathering of the ultimate collection!

Choose more alternative flora

In addition to sourcing your own vases, jars, bottles, and floral containers, keep an eye out for non-floral additions to your bouquets and centerpieces. Think candy, herbs, fruit, succulents, sculptural elements, and geeky toys as additions to the flowers themselves.

Go totally non-floral

There are few topics that offbeat couples have touched on more than non-floral bouquets and non-floral centerpieces. They've been making sword bouquets, paper flowers, ribbon bouquets, light-up leather bouquets, Christmas ornament bouquets, and button bouquets for years. Go forth and be inspired!

Go non-floral for your bridal party

Some couples take it even further and have their wedding party carry lanterns, parasols, birdcages, cotton candy, books, and other items that aren't even remotely bouquet-like. So many options you may already own!

Rely on existing decor

Outdoor weddings can often rely on the natural flora, but indoor weddings often can get away with the architectural beauty already there. Save some flower money by choosing a venue that needs less work, decor-wise.