Flowers add a natural beauty to any wedding, and each type communicates something different. While red roses often stand for romantic love, daisies symbolize innocence and transformation. With all the beautiful sentiments flowers represent, it’s no wonder couples must carefully select the flowers they want at their weddings. However, this common wedding staple can get expensive quickly. Check out our affordable floral ideas for your summer wedding to keep this purchase within budget.
Buy In-Season Flowers
Different flowers grow during each season, so when you purchase what’s in season, you’ll save more money. Keep in mind that available flower types depend on your region and the time of year. For instance, in warmer states in the US, a wider range of flowers may be in season throughout the year. Additionally, prices for certain flowers can increase during specific holidays, such as Mother’s Day, because the market demand increases.
Some of the most beautiful, budget-friendly flowers for summer weddings include:
- Button chrysanthemums
- Daisies
- Roses
- Sunflowers
- Baby’s breath
- Carnations
On the other hand, expensive summer flower options to avoid or use sparingly include:
- Peonies
- Gardenias
- Hydrangeas
- Lily of the valley
While the second set of options is as beautiful as the first set, they can really make a dent in the budget; for many couples, it isn’t worth the sacrifice. Talk with your florist if you don’t know which flowers are both in season and affordable.
Shop Wholesale
Consider shopping wholesale if you want bouquets for yourself and the bridesmaids, as well as flowers for decorating the ceremony and reception spaces. Often, you’ll have access to better deals when you shop in bulk from flower companies rather than individual florists. Plus, if you love DIY projects, you can assemble your own bouquets. Otherwise, you can hire a designer to put together the bouquets and other decorations if you don’t have time to do it yourself.
Ditch Real Flowers
Real flowers are traditional and popular, but for some couples, they are not worth the expense. While these plants look great, they typically end up in the trash after a few days. Consider buying or making a nontraditional bridal bouquet as a unique alternative that still keeps things on budget. For instance, you could have a brooch bouquet or a bundle of heart-shaped balloons.
On the other hand, if you like the idea of flowers but not the price of real ones, buy silk flowers. Many craft and hobby shops carry in-season options you can purchase to craft your bouquets and centerpieces. And when you use artificial flowers, you can keep the arrangement for a lifetime and use it as decor in your home as a reminder of the day you tied the knot.
Intermix Flowers With Alternatives
If you can’t decide whether you want real flowers or an alternative option, use a little of each! First, choose a few in-season flowers you love, then select some fun alternatives, such as feathers. This keeps bouquets from appearing sparse while ensuring your spending remains on budget.
Be Open-Minded
As you investigate affordable floral ideas for your summer wedding, remember to keep yourself open to various ideas. While you may love the look of peonies, remember that they’re also expensive. In this instance, you might need to ditch the peonies, make sacrifices in other areas, or blend artificial peonies with real, in-season flowers. What’s most important is that you remain flexible and open-minded so you can make the best decision for your big day.
Repurpose Your Ceremony Flowers
Buying bouquets for all your bridesmaids, plus centerpieces for the reception, adds up quickly. To save money, reuse the flowers at your ceremony as the reception centerpieces. They will already align with your color palette, and your bridal party won’t want to carry their flowers around once the dance floor opens. They can still take their flowers home at the end of the night if they wish to—your bridesmaids will just need to collect them from the tables once the party ends.
A Final Note
Flowers serve as a delicate piece of decor at your wedding, allowing you to add a natural splash of color. To make your vision a budget-friendly reality, browse in-season options, shop wholesale, or consider alternative choices. No matter which route you choose, you can repurpose the ceremony bouquets at your reception to save money and get extra use out of those beautiful pieces. Best of luck planning your special day!
