
I love flowers, and there are some amazing NJ florists. How can you afford to have them do the floral decor for your wedding? I happened to be at a wedding showcase at the Olde Mill Inn (in Bernards Township) yesterday (it rocked!) and I got to hear a lot of conversations between the florist across from me and the visitors to his booth. He had some great flower budget ideas. Here are a few of them, augmented by a couple of other ideas from the wonderful NJ florists I know.
1. Skip the cocktail table decor; people want a drink and a plate of food and cocktail tables are too little for anything more than a votive and some petals. No one looks at them anyway; use a cool colored tablecloth and/or runner instead.
2. Repurpose your ceremony decor at the reception. Those centerpieces can line the aisle or the altar space; the big arrangements or archway can be moved to showcase your head table.
3. The bouquets from your bridesmaids can be grouped together in vases to become the head table centerpiece
4. Don't order flowers for the food stations or buffet. Most venues have them already.
5. Skip the boutonnieres. No one will notice.
6. Alternate low and high arrangements; you'll get the height you need for tall rooms like The Palace in Somerset or the Tides in North Haledon.
7. When you talk to your florist, have a color palette in mind, but let them lead you to specific flowers.
1. Skip the cocktail table decor; people want a drink and a plate of food and cocktail tables are too little for anything more than a votive and some petals. No one looks at them anyway; use a cool colored tablecloth and/or runner instead.
2. Repurpose your ceremony decor at the reception. Those centerpieces can line the aisle or the altar space; the big arrangements or archway can be moved to showcase your head table.
3. The bouquets from your bridesmaids can be grouped together in vases to become the head table centerpiece
4. Don't order flowers for the food stations or buffet. Most venues have them already.
5. Skip the boutonnieres. No one will notice.
6. Alternate low and high arrangements; you'll get the height you need for tall rooms like The Palace in Somerset or the Tides in North Haledon.
7. When you talk to your florist, have a color palette in mind, but let them lead you to specific flowers.