And you can also see…our round tables were fine. Just a different look. We did the white in white, with silver charger plates. The room itself was white/light grey so it worked well, we thought.
So many nice ways to have weddings set up. Lots of great choices.
That is beautiful, thumper. It works perfectly together.
I found D1 a pic of baby’s breath only- big, perfectly round bouquets in a tall slim vase. (She wants that height.) Surprisingly elegant considering the simplicity. The bridesmaids’ bouquets were the same balloon effect. It worked.
Now, Ms I-don’t-care-what-flowers wants something a little fancier. Yes, there can be other flowers, white or colorful, laced in. Just a few would pop and cost less than the full regalia.
Ms D1 also took off for the venue look-see without me. I don’t know what confusion (she had invited me, but we didn’t set a time to leave.) I am sooo lucky this thread prepares me for the usual ups and downs. I’m sure many here agree. Can’t magine if there wasn’t so much shared info.
One other cost savings idea is to ensure your flower prefs are in season. If not, costs go up.
A relative had babies breath bridesmaids bouquets that had maybe three bright colored roses, a few greens, and a pretty ribbon. They looked very nice!
I was pretty clear with my DD. I would not sign a venue contract without ME seeing the venue and talking to the event planner at the venue. And since we were hosting and paying for the event…I did have to sign the venue contracts.
Now…if your daughter and FSIL are totally funding the event…that’s another story.
Yes, they’re funding.
I said a little about our relationship above. She’s very close to me, thinks very much as I do. If you knew me and met her, you’d likely think she’s my kid. That’s got plusses and minuses.
Now she wants my opinion on moving it from Oct/Nov 2020 to the following spring. I know enough to step back. Her decision. But I’d like her to use that extra time to pay down loans, save for a house deposit. Not just pay more $$ for a wedding. I’m treading lightly.
Yes, I had my moment when she went to the venue. But I took a long spring beach drive. That worked.
D got a number of estimates for flowers & all were too high. She talked with the one that had the most reasonable cost & they came up with some alternative flowers that would give her the look she wanted at a lower price. They ended up getting bouquets for the ladies, simple rose boutonnieres for the men, simple wrist corsages for the moms & grandmas, two flower arrangements for the church (the day-of planner brought them to the reception), simple taffeta bows with hydrangeas tied inside for the church pews, and simple table arrangements that used the same flowers as were in the bouquets (the venue was art deco, so flower needs were simple). They used juliet roses, hydrangeas and peonies (with other flowers mixed in, as well as some greenery). Everything was stunning, and the substitution of less expensive flowers worked out great … the cost was less than what our school’s board spent on flowers for the tables at their year-end “thank you to themselves” dinner!
As far as table centerpieces go, our wedding florist also set up candle light for each table. They were mostly votives inside of stemmed glass holders of various heights, as well as small glasses that were low on the tables. They were lit just before dinner and as the light dimmed, the tables looked great. This could be added independent of paying a florist (if venue allows candles) fairly inexpensively and perhaps allow for less investment in floral arrangements. The most important variables seemed to be random variations in height and mixed types of glass that added a little pattern to the table in the dark. On tables for ten, it looks like there were about 6-10 votives arranged around the flowers.
Perhaps a way to put all those extra sets of glassware to use. Aren’t there sites where folks sell the re-usable parts of wedding decor?
Also, we used the bridesmaids bouquets to decorate places in the reception area we otherwise wouldn’t have done, simply by having vessels for them. Kept them fresh until the end of the night.
Happy planning.
FDIL will have a small bouquet, ditto bridesmaids, but nothing else from the florist. We found a local grower by word of mouth and the reception flowers (just two big bases at either end of the rectangular tables) are coming from there as a DIY package she offers . You get greens and flowers in the color of your choice in a florist bucket, cut and picked up,the day before. Perk of a small town, no doubt.
MOB and I, along w the grandmothers agreed we didnt need corsages to help them meet their budget.
D1 had long garlands with flowers across each table, but to add more flowers to the table she got small vases for name plate holder and put little flowers in each. She paid less than $1/vase online and we bought those flowers from Sam’s Club.
We did our own flower arrangements for the welcome party and D1’s shower. We bought the flowers from Sam’s club again. They all arrived on time and were very fresh. Those arrangements turned out beautifully.
Zero arranging talent here. Sad, but true. I can get bundled prearranged bouquets into a vase. That’s it. They’d better be cut to perfect size first.
Today, I told D1 the number one thing toward the elegance she wants isn’t the frou frou. Not flowers on the pews or at the altar. It’s her appearance and she’ll be gorgeous. And second, the guests’ first look at the reception room. We can handle that. It’s not 400 photos over 4 hours or premium vs call drinks. I sent her Thumper’s pic to show how beautifully the venue can set the table. I shared the comment about adding roses to babys breath.
We’ll see if she calms down.
@downtoearth do you have multiple bids? My D was able to get recommendations from both the venue and from her planner. The planner told her who would be in her budget. She got a couple of prices. We have bouquets for bride and bridesmaids. How many are in the bridal party can have a huge impact on budget. Simple boutonnières for groom, groomsmen, grandfathers and dads. Flowers for chuppah. Flower crown for flower girl. Plus table arrangements. I think using seasonal flowers can help save.
Maybe you could ask florist if they have suggestions as to how to save some money.
I know this probably won’t help, but D1 is to be married in October. The only flowers I think she is ordering is a spray of flowers for the alter in the church, her bouquet and the bridesmaids bouquets. We have several people with pollen allergies! My daughter is adopted from China, my husband is Japanese and I’m, well, white. Her FMIL and FFIL are from Singapore. FSIL, while born in the US, is first generation through and through. So, we are a mix bag. Her reception will be a “fusion” of all three cultures. She is having decorated Chinese lantern with mini lights in them, tangerines with some green foliage attached which symbolizes good health, luck and prosperity.
Oops, I posted by mistake. Plus sometime between now and then 1000 origami cranes will be made. They are a symbol of health and good luck. It is believed that folding 1000 will grant you one good wish. Whether they will be placed as part of the table decorations or made into a wall display, I don’t know.
Costco also has a option to order loose flowers that you can use for your own arrangement. A group I belong to hosted a luncheon last year and the centerpieces were just small bouquets of roses. Looked very nice. We had table of 10, and there were about 15 tables plus 2-4 bigger arrangements and I don’t think it was more than $400.
I ordered Costco hydrangeas for a bridesmaids’ luncheon I hosted for a friend’s daughter. They were gorgeous and arrived on time. We had a houseful of flowers for less than $100.
Chumom, it sounds lovely.
It’s a good suggestion to ask the florist for ways to cut costs. My D and her fiance like the look of tall arrangements on each table, but the florist pointed out that those are twice as expensive as other options. We decided to do half tall arrangements and then do some tables with low arrangements and some with floating candles. We are also using the bridesmaids bouquets to decorate the head table and cake table.
For my nephew’s wedding, my SIL got all the flowers at a wholesale flower market and she and a friend made all the bouquets. They used calla lilies for the bouquets and they were simple but gorgeous.
Like @momjr, DS#1’s wife got her flowers through a friend who happened to have a talent for flower arranging (she did it as a side business)- they went together to the wholesale flower market and identified the flowers and succulents she wanted in the boutonnieres, her bouquets, table arrangements and cake toppers.
@lookingforward -In some cities there are students at art schools who could probably do this and would love to make some side $$…
Thank you, love the pictures oldfort and thumper. I don’t have a crafty bone in my body, although I think I will definitely go to Sams or Costco for the shower. I did get a few estimates and my D and I are talking about places to cut, then we will move forward. It just doesn’t seem practical to spend so much on flowers.
Goskid didn’t use them, but I have been to two weddings with Costco flowers. One where the very talented Mom did all the bouquets/boutineers, and table decs. Other, the brides got the wedding package already made up from Costco, along with some bulk baby’s breath (cheap!). I was impressed with flowers at both…and more importantly, so were the MOB’s… 
fwiw…
I have a friend who is a florist. He said that if the brides are flexible with the type flowers, it can make a big difference. It also makes a difference on the type of flowers and the season. If you want spring flowers in the fall, it’s going to cost you.
A friend got married on April 30. She’d originally planned the following weekend, but it was too close to Mother’s Day and the first quote on flowers were 2x as much. Avoid ‘flower’ weekends like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, June (grad and weddings), Christmas.
Although Christmas can save you decorating the church.