When it comes to organising flowers for your wedding, there are a few industry secrets most florists don’t want you to know.
Don’t get us wrong, we love working with boujee-end budgets, but we also live in the real world, and knowing our wedding clients are getting the absolute best value for money makes our job all the more sweeter.
So in the spirit of ‘sharing is caring’, in this blog we’re spilling the beans on how you can save big on your wedding day florals (with an extra helping of champagne taste on a beer budget thrown in for good measure).
Getting hitched? Be sure to visit our weddings page to find out how we can help you plan your dream wedding florals.
How to save money on your wedding flowers
Tip 1: Avoid stylist package deals that try to limit your choices
Choosing one supplier or wedding planner to ‘do it all’ may seem tempting, but convenience always comes at a cost. You might find yourself being limited to a narrower range of options with less control on how your floral budget is allocated. Be sure to shop around for the best deal, and be weary of suppliers who try to limit your choices.
Tip 2: Choose in-season flowers
Like many brides, planning your wedding may be your first foray into the wonderful world of floral design (be careful, it’s addictive!) and it may come as a surprise to learn that just like fruit and vegetables in the grocery store, you will always get the best price for flowers when you buy them during their peak growing season.
For a guide to what flowers are in season at what times check out The Knot’s seasonal flower guide or contact our friendly team of florists who will guide you through the process of selecting the best seasonal blooms for your wedding.
Tip 3: Be flexible with your flower choices
Our experienced wedding florists have lots of little tips and tricks up their sleeve to take even the simplest of blooms and elevate them to become something really special.
Being flexible and open to your florist’s suggestions can save you big time, without compromising on the overall aesthetic of your wedding.
When consulting with your florist, it’s best to go in with an overall look or theme you would like to achieve rather than of list of specific flowers. We can then guide you through the best options to suit your taste and budget.
Tip 4: Avoid public holidays and high seasons
Like any industry, there are more popular times of the year when increased demand for wedding flowers drives up the cost.
Supply and demand, freight and staff penalty rates can all impact your budget. If you’re looking to save, pick a date outside of the peak wedding season, and avoid public holidays.
Tip 5: Work with an established florist
While we’re on the topic of supply and demand it’s always a good idea to work with an established florist who has been in the industry long enough to have built strong relationships with trusted suppliers who know where to source beautiful quality blooms at the best price.
This is where our staff experience and time in the biz becomes invaluable. At Shannon Hawkes Artisan Florals we’ve been proudly serving CQ couples for over 8 years, so you could say we know a thing or two about wedding flowers!
Tip 6: Multi-task your flower arrangements
One word: repurpose! Put those wedding blooms to work and multi-task your arrangements from day to evening by choosing styles that can seamlessly transfer from ceremony to reception. For example, a floral ceremony arbour can easily carry through to be the backdrop for the bridal table at the reception. Giving some thought to how you can repurpose floral arrangements across venues is a great way to save and the possibilities are endless.
Tip 7: Turn your bouquet into a piece of art
Here at Shannon Hawkes Artisan Florals we love helping our wedding clients find unique ways to keep enjoying their wedding flowers long after their big day comes to an end. We offer an extensive range of everlasting flowers including dried and silk options.
We now also offer bespoke wedding bouquet preservation and framing as the perfect way to turn your wedding flowers into a precious keepsake that can be enjoyed for many years to come.
So whether your opt to take advantage of one or all of these money saving tips, you’ll be sure to get the best value for money when it comes to purchasing your wedding flowers.
We hope this guide to making the most of your budget has inspired you to start planning your own dream wedding florals. Please reach out if you have any questions or would like to request a customised quote.
