Ideas for gorgeous and affordable wedding flowers

Wedding couples focus on different elements in their weddings. Some will spend an exorbitant amount of money on flowers while others want to spend it on their photographer. Still more just want to focus on creating a certain theme or ambiance. The type and amount of flowers you use depends on your personal preference and your budget.

There are some other factors you'll want to consider to help you decide how much or how little you should invest. Do a site inspection with your florist for your ceremony and reception site. Remember that you spend the most time at your reception site (unless they're one and the same) so you should not pay a huge amount of money on the flowers for the ceremony. Unless, of course, you bring those arrangements and decorate the reception area as well. If the setting for your ceremony is a lush area with naturally beautiful flowers and foliage, you might just want to line the aisle with orchids and decorate a few chairs. If your ceremony is indoors and very classy, flowers can dress it up and add some personality.

The kinds of decorations, favors and centerpieces you decide on can vary from simple to elaborate or perhaps none at all. Like many things in a wedding, there is no right or wrong way to decorate. Often, the more creative you are, the more you get excited about this area of your wedding planning. If you don't know what you want, wedding expos, magazines and online wedding sites are full of advice. When all else fails, keep it simple! You can either make your own favors and centerpieces, hire someone to do it for you or purchase them pre-made.

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Get a written estimate from your florist of the final charges, along with finance deadlines and amounts.

2. If you're asking for ways to minimize costs, focus your wedding funds where they will get the most attention (altar, arch, etc.).

3. Lining the aisle with loose flowers is an inexpensive way to add color and charm to the ceremony area. Plumeria, orchids and rose petals are all less expensive options.

4. Have your florist incorporate ribbons and other classy fabrics to add style and help lower the cost of flowers.

5. Be aware of busy flower seasons like proms and heavy wedding seasons. Make sure that your flowers of choice are in season.

6. Make sure your flowers arrive before any pictures are taken.

7. If you're on a budget, think simple. The more elaborate the flowers and designs, the more you will have to pay.

8. Ensure that the florist packed straight pins for the men's boutonni�res.

9. Think about silk flowers as a low-cost alternative to regular flowers.

10. Use the arrangements and other pieces from the ceremony site for decor at the reception site.

11. Screen your florist well. Do they have photos of other weddings they've done? Do they have sample pieces in the store that you could look at? Is the florist able to create pieces that will fit in the style and budget of your wedding? Are there other charges for on-site setup?

John has been a licensed and ordained minister for 41 years. He has served as wedding officiant for more than 1,000 Maui weddings with his wedding planning business, Maui Me Inc. All of his ceremonies are original and he performed his first wedding 35 years ago. John has written almost 50 Christian books (which have been translated into eight languages). In addition to performing the ceremonies for Maui weddings, he shoots most of the photography.