You’re engaged, congrats! Now, the very next step is determining a budget before planning any other details. And let’s be real, unless you live where “money grows on trees”, you will have to make some compromises on certain details to stay within your budget. Are either parents contributing or are you footing the bill for most of you own wedding? Once you come up with a budget, the key is to sticking to it so you aren’t putting yourself into debt for years to come. Here are 5 ways to cut down on costs when planning your flower budget while still achieving a show-stopping look. These Lake Chelan wedding planner tips also pertain to your overall wedding budget as well to use as a guidebook.
1. NUMBER OF GUESTS
This is the most crucial way to cut your costs by keeping the size of your guest list down. 100 guests or 300 guests? The lower number of guests, means less food, beverages, linens, and flowers, and depending on the venue could also mean renting fewer tables and chairs. The average size wedding is typically around 120 guests in our experience.
2. BRIDAL PARTY SIZE
Choosing fewer bridesmaids and groomsmen or not having a bridal party at all can cut down heavily on the cost of bouquets, boutonnieres, hair, makeup, bridesmaid/groomsmen gifts you have to buy and rehearsal dinner just to name a few. These costs can really add up so discuss with your future hubby or wifey to determine if that’s something you really feel necessary or desire.
3. SEASON
The time of year your wedding is will determine what flowers are in season and the costs. So if there are certain blooms you have your heart set on such as dreamy garden roses, peonies or dahlias, the cost per stem can make a difference and whether they are grown local here or if Lake Chelan wedding florists have to pay shipping costs from other growers in warmer countries and climates. And full disclosure, there are some flowers that just cost more than others no matter the season or location source.
These freshly cut wildflowers of Queen Anne’s Lace from our field bring added texture and filler to these fluttery ranunculus and garden roses.
4. SIZE AND SCALE
In addition to the size of your wedding guests, this also trickles down to the size and scale of your bouquets, centerpieces and other floral statement pieces such as your ceremony arch or arbor. The smaller the bouquet or centerpiece, the lower the cost will be as less flowers will have to be used. Taller centerpieces also require taller vases which also cost more per vase. With greenery garland, another factor is if you want true garland or just want the look of the greenery garland trailing down the center of the table by simply laying sprigs of greenery down it. This can greatly impact the cost as making garland not only requires more greenery but more labor to make the garland further making it more expensive.
5. RE-PURPOSE
Double-duty your florals. Re-purposing your ceremony altar, arch/arbor flowers or chair florals by setting them out within your reception space following the ceremony.
See more Lake Chelan wedding planner tips here.