Summer 2013..On a budget of 2k...

Flowerfriend

In terms of flowers, a few words of advice...

- Stick with seasonal flowers (i.e. bulbs in spring, berries and twigs in autumn, etc.)
- Your money will go further with gerberas, carnations, alstromeria, chrysants, pot plants.
- You'll get less for your money with roses, lilies, hydrangea, peonies, sunflowers.
- You don't necessarily need a lot of flowers to get a wow factor - three lilies in a vase with bear grass can look lovely
- Pot plants are really good value and lavender would look lovely on tables in teracotta pots with ribbon - Tesco are selling plants for £2.99 at the mo!
- In order of priority, I would advise you concentrate on the following flowers - your bouquet, bridesmaids' bouquets, VIP buttonholes, table centres. You want to spend more money on the flowers that will be in the photographs and on the tables (that people will spend several hours gazing at) than on the church flowers or pew ends which people will only see for half an hour or so.
- Handtieds for you and your bridesmaid will be cheaper than wired bouquets (and are more fashionable at the mo!).

I hope that helps. I'm a florist by the way!

threemuttleys

thank you all so much for your tips and advice.

I am going to call the vicar today, and see if we can go and have a chat/book the church. Then I am going to try and arrange a viewing of the Village hall.

I have been thinking, with regard to the catering, I am going to see if we can do it ourselves. Sainsburys/M and S/Waitrose platters, and maybe see if I can rope close family members into making huge pots of Chilli/Curry or whatever, along with Jackets. Or will research the BBQ idea further.
We are doing the booze ourselves, I am going to buy 6 bottles of red every time I do a big shop (to spread the cost a little) and then a bottle of Spirits when we do our Aldi shop. Beers/ales/cider/rose and white will have to be done 2012 onwards.

Desert is going to be HM Meringues (can be made in advance) with fresh Strawberries/raspberries and chantilly cream. No idea about the rest of the menu tho LOL

Silly q...how soon do I need to go dress shopping? Do I shop now/diet later, or diet now/shop later?

Scotsbride

threemuttleys wrote: »

Thank you for your replies.

I am considering (and this may sound odd) growing pots of herbs and lavender (and maybe some other easy/cheap to grow and look good plants) to use on the tables. I thought maybe we could use Balloons instead of so many flowers.

If you've got a flower market near you I would get the herbs from there. ballon on tables will probably work out cheaper