Sunday, March 25, 2012

Part 3: 25 Ways to Save on Your Wedding Flowers

At last, the final five ways to save on your flowers.

21. For the bride that is more eco-friendly, consider succulents. These are mostly featured in designer glass container bowls (purchased from Ikea or Homegoods)filled with water. The succulents look fabulous floating in the bowl. Add votives around the base to add a glow.

22. For the modern bride, pick up a phaelanopsis orchid plant from any Home Depot, Lowe's or any boutique grocery store. They are naturally beautiful, they have a clean look and they come in several colors. They make any table look Fabulous!

23. Concentrate your budget on the area that guests will spend the majority of time in and where photographs are going to be taken.

24. Go for the retro vintage theme and you cna use a mix of second-hand containers. Check out area flea markets, your mother's cupboards or yard sales to find shabby-chic vases. Any of these places you are sure to find inexpensive, mismatched china.

25. Fish bowls with creative designs make a beautiful centerpiece. A nice and inexpensive design would be to use colored stones, fill with water and add a large bloom or any exotic bloom. Another option would be to use candles in place of the flowers.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Part 2: 25 Ways to Save on Your Wedding Flowers

As promised, we have more tips to help you save money when deciding on wedding flowers. There are so many creative ways to make your day special without breaking the bank. Happy planning!!!!!

11. Choose your florist according to the range of props they offer. If you have a tall glass vase or a vintage candelabra in mind for your big day, its cheaper to rent them from your florist rather than buy them yourself.

12. To enhance your reception flowers, place centerpieces on a mirror base and surround with votive candles. The reflecting, flickering light will make any arrangement seem bigger, more oppulent and more dramatic.

13. Use larger flowers to fill containers for less. Placing a vase with small blooms, like spray roses, would require so many stems that it could become costly; whereas, you may only use two or three stems of a fluffy flower, such as hydrangea.

14. Do not clutter the tables. There is no need to over-complicate things by adding costly accessories to your displays. If you are on a buget, it is best to keep things simple. Chic designs always look better than cluttered arrangements anyway.

15. Instead of flowers, use candles in alternating heights with petals and floating candles. You can purchase cylinders and other glass types from Ikea (www.ikea.com). Ask your florist to add a band of rhinestones to the cylinders to add bling. This is a modern and clean look.

16. Choose seasonal flowers that are grown locally. These normally cost much less tha flying in exotic blooms from abroad.

17. If you have your heart set on an expensive bloom, like a peony or orchid, use it sparingly. Create your bouquet with these premium blooms and you will feel as if you are surrounded by them the entire day.

18. Focus on having a wow-factor arrangement. "One big statement display will have more impact - and prove less costly - than placing lots of small insignificant arrangements arround".

19. Customize your own containers to reduce costs. Cover inexpensive containers with decorative art paper, scrap paper, wrapping paper or even wall paper.

20. For a more organic look, use fruit and vegetables as centerpieces. A collection of one type of fruit, such as lemon, peaches, plums or artichoke, in a clear bowl will look stunning. To complete the centerpiece, add small blooms or foliages sparingly throughout the display.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

25 Ways to Save on your Wedding Flowers

It's about to be a busy season for Perfect Creations and I am sooooo excited. I have some pretty awesome brides who have placed flowers as a top priority for their special day. The typical bride for Perfect Creations usually has a pretty high interest in flowers however, we try to offer some ideas for brides who can't or don't want to spend several thousand dollars on wedding flowers. Because we are living in a time where money is sooooo tight, some brides are forced to make decisions where wedding flowers are used minimally to none. Flowers are beautiful but very expensive. They are a luxury item to say the least, but they always create a memorable moment and add a special touch for any wedding, large or small. My goal today is to try and give a few tips, 25 to be exact, on how to have beautiful flowers in an economically conscious way. Our next three blogs will be dedicated to this subject.

1. Before you start spending, decide where flowers rank on your list of priorities. If you'd rather spend your money on food and drinks than decorating the venue, look to spend less on flowers. If you want to create a beautiful space for your reception, allocate a larger portion of the budget to blooms.

2. Be upfront about how much you have to spend on flowers. Your budget is one of the first things you should discuss with your florist. The typical spend is 10-15% of the overall cost of the day, but this isn't always realistic. Be clear about your funds and your florist will rise to the challenge.

3. Attempt a little DIY to cut costs. Decorate each table with votives and flowers from your local supermarket. Use mason jars or flea market vases to create the designs in.

4. Choose a florist who can accomodate your budget. A florist encouraging you to spend more than you can afford may not be your florist. You may have to compromise on some things and ask your florist for some less expensive alternatives.

5. Opt for a hand-tied bouquet rather than a wired or a flambouyant design.

6. Consider having less flowers and more foliage in your displays. A few statement blooms surrounded by lots of greenery can look striking and modern, as well as being easy on the wallet.

7. For your reception, use potted plants or herbs in pretty or creative containers. They are very inexpensive, last a long time and make a thoughtful gift for your guests.

8. Transport your ceremony flowers to your reception venue to decorate the reception space. Pedestals and trees are easy to move and look fabulous as entrance displays, while pew ends can be reused as chairbacks.

9. Use one or two flower types. If you try to incorporate all your favorite blooms, costs can escalate. Instead, look at color or containers to add interest. Try to incorporate your favorite flowers in your bouquet, only.

10. Bridesmaids bouquets can really add up, so be inventive. Consider using single large bloom flower types or long stemmed blooms. Carnations create stunning bouquets when clustered together, they have a long vase life and they come a many colors. Wrist corsages or flowers for the hair are other good options.

These are the first of 25 and I hope these tips are helpful. I will post the next set of tips later this week. Happy Planning!