Wedding Centerpiece Photos Courtesy of Bride.net

Most of the blogs and websites I’ve visited on this topic inform me that your wedding flowers should make up roughly 8% of your total budget. Flowers make up the equivalent percentage of say, your music. It gets pretty daunting. The quote I received from my top choice florist is nearly $1500 and I’m not very pleased.

But, I have ideas and hopefully, solutions. Women love receiving flowers and bouquets, I get that. However, the average bouquet at your local florist or grocery store is at least $10. When you throw the word ‘wedding’ in front of it your bouquet price sky rockets ($95 dollars according to my proposal, I kid you not). So, let’s look at my favorite alternative to the basic bridal flowers: planted wedding centerpieces.

This solution works great for many reasons: 1. if your reception site is separate from your ceremony location and you don’t have time on your wedding day to run back and forth to verify your florist is getting things done, 2. your bridal party got a little too wine happy at your favor party and you’re short a couple wedding favors, 3. you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford the hefty cost of centerpiece arrangements, 4. you’re eco-friendly wedding wouldn’t seem right if you cut up loads of flowers for one day.

It’s fairly simple, you choose un-potted options that come in either a pallet from Home Depot or pre-potted options you can pick up a couple days prior. Both can be transferred into cute glass vases or galvanized buckets of your choosing. The size will vary depending on your plant. For a modern look pick a vase that will cover the stems completely so only the flower blooms will show.

Suggestions:

• If you like the small pots your plants come in, try arranging them in a decorative wood box (they’re pretty easy to paint to match your reception colors) and placing them in the middle of your table.
• If you’re going eco-friendly try herbs and other useful plants that you can incorporate back into your home afterwards, lavendar, basil and thyme all give off great scents as well.
• Try using decorative moss or wood chips if the look of dirt is not your thing. This will also prevent the younger ones who love the sight of dirt from knocking them over and spilling them.
• If you’re on a roll and find that making these centerpieces comes naturally to you, consider incorporating them into your aisle runners, reception decorations and home decor
• Don’t forget, your guests of honor–grandparents, mothers, sisters– can take these centerpieces home. Or make it fun by mentioning that who ever has a sticker or number underneath their plate is the lucky table winner who gets to take home their centerpiece.

Potted Plant Wedding Centerpiece photo courtesy of carladaviddesign.blogspot.com

Because you’re choosing your own flowers, the centerpiece cost will vary. You will lose some options, such as long stem roses, as they don’t grow in small pots. However, you can rest assure that your flowers can be purchased days in advance and won’t be dead by the time your guests arrive. Unless, of course you forget to water them.

As always, if you’ve tried these ideas and you incorporated them into your wedding successfully- send me photos! I am dying to brainstorm new alternatives to centerpiece and floral arrangements. Send it to me: Claire[at]koyal.com and I may post them on our Facebook page to brag about your style.