It’s easy to get carried away when dreaming up your wedding-day florals. But what to do if you’re on a tighter budget? Sarah Howard, lead designer at Something Pretty Floral, put together a checklist of day-of floral must-haves—and where you can cut back if needed.
☐ Bouquets
A must, says Howard—both for you and your bridesmaids. “Carrying floral down the aisle is quintessential to your day and is something that will be in a good amount of the top-priority pictures,” she says.
☐ Head table arrangement
The head table matters most because, as Howard points out, “Where you and your new hubby go is where your photographer will be.” If you’re trying to save, consider renting statement candelabras or including loose greenery.
☐ Ceremony floral
Howard emphasizes the importance of ceremony florals—after all, she says, “The ceremony is the whole point of the entire day!” How to save? “More times than not, you can repurpose your ceremony floral [at the reception] to ensure you get the biggest bang for your buck.”
☐ Guest table arrangements
Not only is it nice to give your guests something pretty to look at, Howard stresses that the overall look and feel of your reception relies on these tables. “Luckily there are so many options and room for creativity, which lends itself to all price points,” she says.
☐ Miscellaneous personals
This includes corsages, posies, flowers for house party, and the like. “You want these people to feel special, but these little things add up so fast,” Howard says. Instead, she says, “Think about other ways you can let these people know that they are important to you.”
☐ Miscellaneous decor
This covers greenery or floral on welcome signs, seating charts, bride and groom chair backs, and the like. While nice to have, Howard says these should be the first to go when in a budget-breaking situation. Instead, she advises, “Focus on the big stuff.”