Wedding Flowers on a Budget: Advice From a Florist's Son

I grew up in my mom's flower shop. She opened it with no experience in the flower business, and it became the only shop for miles around. Weddings were her specialty. My dad later joined her as a designer, and I helped out sometimes with deliveries. So I've seen wedding flowers from behind the counter.

Would a florist do it today? Some might. It does take a bit of nerve to ask, though. If you have your own flowers, you'd likely do better to ask a friend with an artistic touch to arrange them.

Ways to keep flower costs down

• Choose flowers in season. They cost less and look fresher. Ask your florist what's at its best in your wedding month.
• Use more greenery. Leafy stems fill out arrangements beautifully for much less money.
• Make your flowers work twice. Move ceremony arrangements to the reception tables afterward.
• Go bigger, not more. A few generous arrangements make more impact than many small ones.
• Be clear about your budget. A good florist would rather work with your number than lose you. Tell them up front.
• Get the bouquet professionally done. If you need to cut corners, cut them on the table flowers, not on the flowers in all your pictures.

Flowers fade, but the pictures last, and so does the memory of a bouquet you love.

For more, see my five essential tips for wedding flowers and my guide to planning a wedding budget without overspending. Getting married or engaged around the holidays? See whether store-bought flowers will do.

Written by David Pringle, who has officiated many weddings and grew up in his parents' flower shop. Meet David