Need advice on how to cut back on the flower cost

Depending on your theme/style...

You could try flower-less centerpieces... floating candles in water... Here's my fav link to non-floral centerpieces...

http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/non-floral-wedding-centerpieces

Have the bm carry a single rose/its classic yet simple....

Ohhh- get ANOTHER estimate... Even in the same city-florist prices can vary greatly... If you live in a large city- trying going to the suburbs for estimates--less demand usually makes for smaller prices...

Last resort- check out prices at your local grocery store... You will probably have to pick up your own flowers BUT they will be cheaper...

Jessica C. - She already has the main piece to the centerpieces cause she is just using the ones I had in my wedding so that would cut back on cost for her. We are just going to change the ribbon colors to match hers and instead of using a flower to hide the seam she wants to use a buckle. So, the floating candle thing won't work. As far as looking at different vendors her aunt is paying for it and wants her to use a family friend who is a florist. So, because her aunt is footing the bill she has to use whoever her aunt says to use. She is just hoping to try and cut the cost somehow to help her aunt not have to pay so much. I don't think her aunt really knew how much flowers typically cost for a wedding before she offered to pay. I will tell her about the one rose idea that you have. She might go for it. Thanks for the advice!!

Good luck...

I gotta say, 1600.00 for all of that is really not crazy, though as you said, the aunt who offered to pay might not have had any idea what the cost would be.

If you can't go flowerless for the centerpieces, and the aunt wants to use a friend, then you really don't have a lot of room to move. A single rose for the BM's? No. That just looks sparse and cheap.

No where to go on this one.

If she is doing roses, I'd look into Safeway/Vons floral department. They really only do roses but she could save a TON of money if that is what she wants. I used Von's floral for my wedding and the flowers all were beautiful! And I spent about $200. (no centerpieces though). What season is her wedding? If she wants roses in Feb., she'll be paying extra regardless where she get the roses because they're out of season.

Thanks ladies! Her color scheme is pink white and green so that's easy as far as working with her color scheme. I will see if she can talk to the florist to see what flower will be cheaper but still give her the look she wants.

Andrea - Her wedding is in June so the roses aren't out of season. I have never hear of that florist before. Where are they located? If they are only local to you that doesn't really help.

It's not a florist; it's a supermarket.

A simple way that you can cut back is using candles for your centerpieces.. You can do half of your table with flower and half with candles. Using more greenery. Using flowers that are in season and get cheaper options from your florist.

Cud you suggest using more greenery than actual flowers? That way it should be cheeper! luckily green is one of my main colours so there being lots of greenery isnt a problem for me!

I used fresh flowers for the bouquets and boutonnieres and fake ones for decorations. That worked out well. I also used carnations, but you prolly don't have to go that far. And don't knock grocery stores, they can do some really nice work!

Thanks Celia! You are right. It is a supermarket. Many of their stores have a floral department and a florist who can work with you to do arrangements. In some places the stores are called Safeway, in other places the stores are called Vons. I'm not sure exactly what states they are in. I was really pleased with the quality of the work and the flowers. Then again, I was asking for simple arrangements with roses and babysbreath. It ended up cheaper than had I gone a route like Costco. Some things to think about.

Roses give you a big window. There are a lot of different kinds of roses. Some are much cheaper then others.

However if you REALLY want to cut back on the flower budget you may want to ask for local in season flowers that compliment roses. Roses are not always the cheapest option but they are one that can be complimented by others in a fairly easy fashion.

Pinks, whites, and greens are very good picks. There are quite a few filler flowers in that combination!

Look around for local flower farms, where I live, we have many, we also have a pick-your-own flower farm! The people at these farms should be willing to make bouquets for you, and deliver! They deliver to stores in discount prices, so if you offer to order in the same bulk that the stores do and ask for a certain type of arrangement, they will likely be more then happy to help out! As I said, we have many flower farms where I live, I might pick my own but I'll prob be low on time and grab them from the grocery store on my way to the ceremony- I work at a health food store and can probably have extra flowers ordered for me (and then get my discount on them!). As for the center pieces, we are planting flowers inside of pumpkins, this will prob cost more then pre-cut grocery store flowers, but it'll look amazing and double as the outline to the aisle.

I am having fake flowers and the high school that I graduated from has a floral arrangement department. If I take the flowers there, the teacher gets the best in the class to make the arrangements and I don't get charged extra!