COVID-19 has certainly changed Canadians’ lives. Many now focus on simplicity and economy in areas, including planning their weddings. They’re ditching elaborate details for elegant, minimalist, and less expensive alternatives. If you want gorgeous wedding flowers with less cost, time, and hassle, keep reading. Some great tips offer more streamlined approaches for achieving your wedding-day vision.
Perfect as a Pair
Several factors can impact the price of your wedding flowers. But simpler orders are often less expensive and easier for your florist to work with. That’s why The Knot’s Lauren Kay suggests sticking with only two kinds of flowers. As she explains, your florist spends less when buying in bulk. And that can translate to bigger savings for you. Try choosing blooms in similar shapes, sizes, and colors – this helps your florist achieve a unified look for your arrangements.
Simple Yet Elegant
Another great suggestion comes from personal finance expert Jennifer Calonia: Choose simpler arrangements. In her MyWalletJoy blog post, she mentions that your florist can create a sophisticated look without the need for huge and elaborate arrangements. A few stems in a glass bottle, for instance, can elevate any table décor. And your florist can craft them to match your event’s style. Olivia Muenter shows some rustic, boho, and traditional flower/bottle centerpieces in a September 2020 Brides article.
Mixing and Matching Flowers
Must all your flower arrangements match? Absolutely not, according to Calonia. Simple and inexpensive doesn’t have to mean uniform or boring. Some great examples include varying tall and short centerpieces and using candles in some arrangements. This approach gives your florist more creative leeway, but it can also cut your total costs.
Year-Round Flower Favorites
Couples often focus seasonally when designing their weddings. That said, it’s worth considering some flower varieties that are available the entire year. The Spruce’s Nina Callaway lists several excellent options – gardenias, garden roses, orchids, and gladiolas, to name a few. If you must reschedule your big day, your florist can still get these blooming beauties.
If you’re concerned about cost, you needn’t worry. While gardenias and orchids are expensive, other varieties fall in low- to mid-range price tiers. As a compromise, you can pair a pricier stem with a less costly one. Talk to your florist for suggestions.
Callaway also mentions carnations in her list. They’re a polarizing choice for many thanks to their reputation as a “cheap filler flower.” But they don’t have to be, as Taysha Murtaugh points out in a Country Living piece. They’re hardy, available in many shades, and can create chic arrangements when clustered together. If you’re needing inspiration, check out some exquisite bouquets in this January 2021 Brides writeup.
From Ceremony to Reception
Creative couples are also repurposing their wedding ceremony flowers for their receptions. Martha Stewart Weddings explains how this can work. You’ll need a smart plan and cooperation with your florist or event planner to pull it off. Some ceremony arrangements can double as décor on the welcome or buffet tables. Large arrangements can sit near the head table to add some drama. Some ceremony chair décor can be shifted to reception chairs with a few modifications. To aid in your planning, take a look at Wedding Wire Canada’s guide to reception flowers by Alice Prendergast.
Weddings are joyful and memorable events, but their planning requires time and attention to detail. Maybe you’re a cost-conscious couple or rescheduling a postponed celebration. Perhaps you don’t have the time or energy to mind all the complicated minutiae. Fortunately, some simpler approaches can make it easier to choose your flower arrangements. From carefully curated choices to repurposed arrangements, you can accomplish an elegant, stylish, and cohesive look for your big day.
