Wedding flowers are, in my opinion, one of the most creative ways to express yourself in your matrimony planning.

Maybe you’re simple and elegant, and dream of clean lines and pure white calla lilies. Maybe you’re colorful in actions and in words, and have a preference for loud, bold displays of many textures of poppies, hydrangeas, and berries. Maybe you’re classic, and have always hoped for a beautiful blushing bouquet of red roses. Maybe you’re perfectly sweet, and you dream of that ideal mixture of peonies simply because their meaning is “happy marriage”.

Whoever you are, being a bride allows you the opportunity to express that beauty in the display of your own unique arrangements of flowers. “Unique” sometimes sparks the thought of “expensive”, although it doesn’t always have to. There are many ways to make your wedding flowers all yours without breaking the bank.

✿ After accumulating several ideas, decide what’s most important: always allow for your favorite flower, even if only in small quantities.

✿ Visit your local florist, but don’t be discouraged by price. Sometimes, they can assist you in figuring out what is in season and what can be substituted for your wedding day, which will save you immensely.

✿ After precisely deciding what you want, it is often very much worth the trip to visit your local farmer’s market to contact the florist there. Most of the time, it will cut your cost at least in half.

✿ Go by referrals. If a friend raves about a florist, at least give them a shot. Take your budget, and be clear about what you can spend… then allow the florist to do what they do best… and often, together, you can create arrangements that both fit your budget and live up to your expectations!

✿ Add something to your bouquet. It doesn’t have to be costly, just special. If your personality allows, maybe you could add feathers or twigs. Polka dot ribbon adds character to a bouquet, and doesn’t spike the budget. A bride I knew recently added a small picture of her mother to her bouquet. Although it only cost her a few more dollars, it was priceless that she had a reminder of her mother, who had passed away two years earlier, with her on her wedding day. She made her bouquet uniquely hers.

✿ Remember that small pops of color and variation of flowers add dimension, and texture. And, monochromatic bouquets speak loudly when in contrast to a dress. Bouquets of simplicity sometimes make the most impact, and cost the least.

The most important thing for all brides to remember, is to enjoy the planning and preparation. Spend evenings with your mother or your best friends finding pictures of those perfect flowers. Make memories, be yourself, and give purpose to all you do. A wedding is a grand event, but it’s also so much more. It is the beginning of a marriage… and that, is even more beautiful than any floral arrangement known to man.