General Reception Flowers Photographer Dress 10 Tips for Working Brides

Consider using silk flowers rather than fresh. There are many silk flowers available today that are very realistic and affordable. Even purchasing high-end faux flowers will likely be less expensive than hiring a florist. Search magazines and the internet for arrangements that you like and arrange them yourself or recruit your attendants to help. Other benefits of silk flowers are that they do not need refrigeration prior to the ceremony, can be ready weeks in advance and do not require special preservation in order to keep them looking great for years to come. You can also rent silk flowers in some locations.

Use candles for centerpieces instead of flowers. If you are having a large reception with many tables, this can save you a great deal of money and the candles can be re-used in your home at a later time.

Donate your flowers. If you do want fresh flowers, consider donating them to your church, temple or any other non-profit group. Reception and ceremony centerpieces can easily be re-used by the group. The donation will not save you cash immediately, but the gift will be tax deductible at the end of the year.

Don't decorate every pew. This can be very expensive. Try decorating every other pew or every 3rd pew. You can add some hurricane lamps.Or, consider skipping the pew decorations all together. They look lovely, but typically run between $6-$15 each or more depending on how elaborate they are. Then, you have to multiply that by twenty or more pews.

Decorate with balloons. They come in any color you want and are beautiful and inexpensive.

Share your flowers. If two weddings are planned in you chosen location within a two-day period, consider approaching the other wedding party about sharing the cost of the flowers for the ceremony location. Each group could have its own corsages, boutineers and bouquets, but other arrangements are more easily shared. There are, of course, details to work out in this venture, but it can be beneficial to both parties.

Bridal bouquets can double during the reception as decoration for the head table, cake or gift tables. You can utilize the both the brides and the attendants arrangement for this.

Have each bridesmaid carry a single bloom. In-season lillies or long-stemmed roses, look elegant and one perfect bloom is often a better choice than a large bouquet as it leaves attendants' hands free to help with the bride's dress of hold her flowers.

Use more greenery, tulle, and baby’s breath for decorating, and less flower blooms. You can still use flowers on the alter, where the focal point of the ceremony is, but for the pews, windows and entryway, you might consider using just greenery or greenery with a single bloom to provide a splash of color.

Purchase candles, white lights, and other decorations after the holidays when everything goes on sale. After Christmas sales are great. You can often find grenery marked down during the post-Christmas sale season as well.

If you have a large area to decorate, consider renting shrubs, trees or plants. It is much less expensive than using large floral arrangements and still looks very attractive.

Tulle can be a fairly inexpensive decorating tool (no pun intended). Tulle can be draped along staircases, balconies and fireplaces. Tulle bows can be tied around chairs. Some reception locations may not have the most "attractive" chairs. The tulle bows look beautiful and romantic and make a great "cover-up".

Here's a great (and cost effective) alternative for a corsage... have the mothers' carry a single rose wrapped in tulle or ribbon. It looks beautiful and elegant as they walk down the aisle AND they don't have to worry about where to pin it or if it will leave a hole in their dress!

If you or your parents are having a breakfast or brunch the day after the wedding, save some flowers or centerpieces from the reception to use as the floral decorations.

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