The DIY Option
You can make your own wedding flowers but unless you're experienced, I'm not sure that it's at all advisable to do everything. Flowers need to be fresh. You can't prepare them a long time in advance and if you're doing lots of other aspects of the wedding yourself such as your wedding cake or even your catering, you're going to be pretty busy.

One option might be to do SOME but not all of the wedding flowers. I paid a florist to make my bouquet and my bridesmaid's bouquet, to make a display for the church which was then moved to the reception, to do two additional table displays for the reception for the top table and the buffet table and to provide the button holes and corsages. I then made additional decorations for the other table myself. I made sure that I knew what flowers the florist was using so that my table decorations looked like a good match.

How to make a simple table decoration
You need a tray, an oasis (the "wet" rather than the "dry" variety), a candle and a candle holder, flowers and foliage.
If you buy your oasis and tray at a florists suppliers, you should be able to find an oasis that fits the tray. Otherwise you'll have to cut it to size. Make sure the oasis is thoroughly soaked. Insert the candle into the candle holder and push into the oasis. Start from the bottom of the oasis and work around building up the foliage. Add two or three larger blooms such as lilies at focus points in the display. Continue working around the display adding flowers and foliage. Remember that this is a table centrepiece so will be seen from all sides. You need to ensure that the flowers are evenly distributed and that it looks good from every angle. If you're making this in advance, put it somewhere fairly cool overnight and if it's hot weather, make sure that it doesn't dry out.

Use plants as centrepieces rather than flowers
Plant up a basket with inexpensive pot plants such as the cyclamen shown in this picture. Not only are these great for giving as presents to the family members and friends who have helped with your DIY wedding, they are also an environmentally friendly alternative to cut flowers.

Silk flowers and other alternatives to carrying fresh flowers
Many brides are opting for silk flowers these days. This is a good way of cutting costs, gives you something that you can keep forever and silk flowers can look almost as good as the real thing. If you've got young bridesmaids, you could give them old-fashioned teddies to carry up the aisle. Each teddy can wear a ribbon to match your wedding colours. The bridesmaid can keep the teddy afterwards as their thank you present.

Other ways to save money on your wedding flowers:

Find out if someone else is getting married on the same day at the same church. If so, could you share the cost of the flowers? Before you agree, make sure that your tastes coincide and agree who is doing the ordering!

Simple is often stylish. Carrying one exotic bloom such as a calla lily can make a fantastic style statement! Make sure that your choice looks right with your outfit though. A single stem will look great with a long, elegant sheath-style dress but not so good with a big meringue!

Choose alternative centrepieces instead of flowers on the table, such as glass bowls with floating candles. These could always double up as thank you presents for the friends and family that have helped with your DIY wedding.

Choose a bouquet with lots of greenery. This will work out cheaper.

Shop about for a florist. My flowers were made by a man with a market stall. But he was a properly trained florist and did a great job. I saved money because of his lower overheads.

Choose flowers that are in season:
Spring: anenome, bluebell, daffodil, forget-me-not, forsythia, foxglove, freesia, gardenia, hyacinth, iris, lilac, lily of the valley, mimosa, narcissus, orchid, pansy, primrose, rose, stock, tulip
Summer: antirrhinum, chrystanthemum, cornflower, delphinium, frangipani, gerbera, gladioli, honeysuckle, jasmine, lily, lupin, marigold, peony, pink, poppy, rose, sunflower, sweetpea, sweet william
Autumn: amaryllis, dahlia, eucalyptus, euphorbia, gerbera, heather, hydrangea, hypericum, lilies, lisianthus, michelmas daisy, nerine, orchid, passion flower, sedum, stephanotis, tuberose, wax flower, violet
Winter: amarylis, anenome, arum lily, calla lily, chinese lantern, Christmas rose, crocus, cyclamen, euphorbia, heather, holly, ivy, orchid, ranunculus, snowdrop, winter cherry

Email: jennifer@diybrides.co.uk
Copyright Jennifer Page 2008