Flowers too expensive!!

WolfSong2000

If you want a "candle" type effect, I think you can get little objects (can't for the life of me think what they're called) that are meant to "look" like candles, but without the flame...I think they're battery operated, and offer a more diffuse, natural light, as the "candle" light is enclosed in a box...am I making sense? Kinda like the little lights you can get for the bath, but more "candle" orientated.

Yeah, it's late, I'm tried and not very articulate, but hopefully someone will know what I'm on about. lol.

Curious_George_2

piglet25 wrote: »

I know there have been suggestions that you create your own bouquet ect but would you make your own cake

yes, we are doing our own cake!
one of my friends knows a lot about floristry and can get wholesale so she is helping us put together the bouquet, and buttonholes

i dont think im having any other flowers though... i dont really see the point in huge displays that cost a fortune... what happens to them the day after?

bubbles0169

i think you should have definitly ask for different flowers that are cheaper but maybe the same colours that you want?
instead of tall vases why not have short ones thatll be easier for the flowers youll be buying to just be put in then for some added hight just have a couple of balloons per table
or you could do the popular fish bowl idea with floating flowers, theyr easy to do too

kr15snw

I would honestly look at doing it yourself.

We have an artificial flower warehouse near us and they have the most STUNNING fake flowers. My mother in law is putting them all together for us, and it's great

Oh and yes we are also making our own cake (well my mum is)

RainbowDrops

All those roses are a big expense - have you got your heart set on roses, or would you be willing to go for different flowers?

Going seasonal will help, and if they're british flowers you could save on import costs.

Kittendreich

Seasonal flowers will definately be cheaper. If you 'have to have' the expensive blooms think about where will have the most impact for you and perhaps use cheaper blooms in the other areas - bouquets will be in the photos, but I doubt you are going to carry it round all day (same for flowergirl) so you might prefer to invest in the room which will be there all day...depend what is important to you.

Also check out more unusual florists than those in a wedding directory - we got our flowers from Glasgow council and they were fantastic and around half the price (they run a florists business through their nursery) - but perhaps try colleges with flower arranging courses...florists that do commercial buildings/hotels? The you won't get charged a wedding premium...

jtr2803

Sorry I'm normally a lurker but.......for the table centres....

I understand in a barn you want the height but what about using balloons? Even a single foil heart with a small floral table display would work out miles cheaper and balloons when done nicely don't look tacky!

You could stagger the heights for a great visual effect or have clouds of 3/6/9. From what I remember my single heart foils for OH's birthday were £3 each with ribbons and weights and a 3 cloud is normally about £6. You could even weight them into a vase and put some small fresh or artifical flowers on top?

Like I said...just a thougt

Sammy85_2

Have a go at doing it yourself.

Go down the supermarket and buy a bunch of flowers (even a cheap £2.99 bunch look amazing once arranged)

If you have a market have a look for someone who sells Oasis, or take a look on ebay. You can buy an oasis with a built in handle for bouquet, ball oasis with string (for your flower girl) and just plan old blocks of oasis.

Ive been taking lessons from the ladies at my local church and it really is alot easier to make an arrangment than you would think. (and alot cheaper)

violettasomerset

I don't know if your barn is a fancy barn or a casual one, but if it's a casual one and you don't need your table decorations to be just-so, you could always buy some boxes of flowers either from the florist or the wholesale market (cheaper) and then just arrange them youself on the day. I did this, and got loads of flowers from wholesaler for about £80. We just arranged a bunch on each table in a vase (from Ikea) and it looked lovely, and we had a load left over. It was a really nice activity to do on the morning with my mum and sister (we stayed at the reception venue the night before though). We were also able to give a bunch of flowers to take home to all the women the next morning. It was a country venue though and might not look so good in somewhere very smart, or if the rest of your wedding is very polished. I did pay out to get a florist to do my bouquet and the buttonholes though.

Depending on how nice your ceremony venue is, is it necessary to spend £75 on flowers in a room where you'll be for just half an hour? Will anyone notice if you leave them out? We didn't have ceremony flowers at our register office, I think there were some in the room already. Could you reuse that ceremony arrangement for the top table somehow?

I think flowers are one of those things that look lovely but no-one really misses if they're not there.

sal-ad_daze

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

If you want a "candle" type effect, I think you can get little objects (can't for the life of me think what they're called) that are meant to "look" like candles, but without the flame...I think they're battery operated, and offer a more diffuse, natural light, as the "candle" light is enclosed in a box...am I making sense? Kinda like the little lights you can get for the bath, but more "candle" orientated.

Yeah, it's late, I'm tried and not very articulate, but hopefully someone will know what I'm on about. lol.

Floralytes!