Budget wedding and growing own flowers

MandyBean

Hi all,
I've joined the forum today as I'm getting married in 2017 and am hoping to find lots of inspiration for ways to have a special day on a small budget, as we don't have a lot of money and don't enjoy extravagant do's.
I've been doing a lot of reading on the internet but thought I had better post and get talking to people!

I am hoping to grow my own wedding flowers (scary, but I have done some prior research and know it can be done) Part of this is because I could not justify the typical amount of money normally spent on wedding flowers... even if I could afford it. But mainly as we are aiming for a small, intimate "DIY" feel, we have an allotment and growing things together is something we do as a couple and it would feel special to us I guess. It is a spring wedding so this year I am going to try my hand and see how well it goes... if it is a disaster I will make a sensible decision. So I've planted/will be planting lots of narcissus, daffodils, crocus, sweet pea, hyacinths etc. I am going to look for tutorials/classes/books on basic flower arranging. Table pieces will be very simple (picked flowers in jars) and I am thinking of having my hen do as a flower arranging afternoon picking and putting things together.

Has anybody else provided their own wedding flowers?

daivid

If all goes to plan the majority of our flowers will be home grown. If not they will be sourced in bulk from a local florist, the cost of this will be nowhere near figures quoted for 'typical' wedding flower costs. The good thing for you is that you can have a full trial run next year. How much will be saved I am not sure though, especially in comparison to buying cut flowers in large numbers then arranging yourself.

MandyBean

To be honest, so far it's been really cheap as the local garden centre has been selling huge sacks of spring bulbs at 50% off, which we've been making the most of
I would also have to buy some materials, like floristry scissors, foam etc. but I think it would be a very big saving overall and certainly helping our budget... as long as the weather co operates of course!

cashewnut

This sounds a great idea!

We're not going to the lengths you are (don't have a garden for one) but OH's sister has been doing a flower arranging course and has a membership card for a local wholesalers where you can buy the oasis (foam stuff), jars etc as well as all the flowers, so she's doing all our table decs for us. We're having a spring wedding too

Mrs_Huggett

Ladies you may find this useful as to the use of daffodil and narcissi in mixed arrangements, this is why you never see them in florists. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1374419/daffodils-in-mixed-bouquet

Mojisola

MandyBean wrote: »

It is a spring wedding so this year I am going to try my hand and see how well it goes... if it is a disaster I will make a sensible decision. So I've planted/will be planting lots of narcissus, daffodils, crocus, sweet pea, hyacinths etc.

You aren't expecting to have daffodils in flower at the same time as sweet peas, are you?

melanzana

The idea sounds absolutely lovely.

But the trend for paper and silk flowers for weddings is huge now, and you get to keep the bouquets!

Have a look at this, I think they are absolutely gorgeous, and the price!!!! (sorry I'm in Euroland, but the sterling equivalent will be even cheaper).

http://www.lightinthebox.com/c/wedding-flowers_1940

MandyBean

Mojisola wrote: »

You aren't expecting to have daffodils in flower at the same time as sweet peas, are you?

Nope it's just I was recommended sweet peas for the curly foliage and because they are easy to grow and quite productive, I know that they flower later in the year.. There are millions of types of spring flowers I could grow but I am a bit stuck for the "greenery" to fill up the bunches a bit and look pretty. Was going to give it a try as I grow sweet peas anyway. If they haven't grown Up enough by late March it doesn't really matter as I will have other flowers. Unless there is a plague or mad disaster

torbrex

The only thing you need for a budget wedding is two people that love each other

My niece was married with no fuss, no flowers and no guests (including her mother) and they are still together as happy as ever and have had 5 children.

MandyBean

Mrs_Huggett wrote: »

Ladies you may find this useful as to the use of daffodil and narcissi in mixed arrangements, this is why you never see them in florists. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1374419/daffodils-in-mixed-bouquet

I've seen some arrangements on YouTube tutorials where a hidden glass of water is inserted in the foam, so the daffodils can be kept separate from the other flowers and not poison them
Daffodils are my favourite flower so I'm probably going to just have a daffodil bouquet for me but have other mixed Spring flowers in the tables and when the flowers are picked, treat the daffs separately.
Where I work is attached onto a garden centre, so I've just been going round taking random photos of different daffodil varieties which probably makes me look a bit strange :j

owllady

We're getting married in July and are growing our own flowers. As were getting married in my hometown a few hours from here my mum, Aunt and Nan are between them growing a number of different things but mainly sweet peas, carnations etc... I won't be doing the the arranging myself, I have an old school friend who does floral arranging as a hobby and she is going to select the flowers the morning of the wedding then take them to the venue. We doing cheap and cheerful for 150 guests, collecting jam jars bought some lengths of burlap ribbon and lace and voila hopefully pretty centre pieces!