A wedding opens a new chapter in life and is one of the most important days for a couple. However, making it picture-perfect doesn't come without expenses. Between booking a venue, inviting guests, selecting decorations, and buying a wedding ring, it's easy to overspend. 

One of the costliest aspects of a wedding is flowers — who doesn't want a beautiful bouquet, centerpieces, and arrangements at their wedding? Flowers are often the cherry on top of a wedding's décor, but they can come with a steep price tag. 

Fortunately, there are ways to save money on wedding flowers without sacrificing decorative beauty. Below, we’ll cover seven creative ways to do it!

Choosing pre-arranged bouquets allows you to control the number of flowers you need and save money by avoiding markups from custom arrangements. They provide a wide selection of colors and styles and can also be much cheaper than having each flower arranged individually. 

When you purchase pre-arranged bouquets, you get the same quality flowers as you would with any other floral arrangement, but without the expense of having a florist create the bouquet from scratch.

Pre-arranged bouquets also often come with various blooms, greenery, and filler to create an impressive centerpiece or bouquet. You can also easily find bouquets with fewer blooms for smaller centerpieces or boutonnieres, allowing you to create a cohesive look.

They are also easier to transport and store, as they are typically already secured in a water-filled container. This makes them less likely to wilt and helps ensure they look their best on the big day. 

Tip for major savings: Research different florists

Shop around to find competitive prices for pre-arranged flower bouquets. Many online and in-person florists offer great deals on pre-arranged bouquets, so it helps to compare their prices. 

You may even find a local florist willing to work with you to create a custom pre-arranged bouquet that fits your wedding style and budget. Or consider getting your flowers from an online florist. Accrue Savings partners with VLove Roses, which offers various pre-arranged bouquets in different color schemes and styles for competitive prices. 

When you use Accrue to save for your flowers, VLove Roses will kick in 15% of your savings goal to help you save up even faster!

Wholesale flowers are often less expensive than special order flowers, so wholesale is the way to go if you want to save money on your wedding flowers. Buying in bulk also means you'll have enough flowers to make several arrangements for your big day. 

Wholesale flowers can create unique and stunning centerpieces, boutonnieres, and bouquets. You can choose the type of flowers, colors, and number of stems you need. 

You'll also be able to mix and match flowers for different arrangements to create the look you're going for. You won't be limited to picking from a list like you would with special order flowers. Wholesale flowers are delivered fresh; you don't have to worry about them wilting or dying before your wedding day.

Tip for major savings: Create your own arrangement

Creating your own arrangements can be a fun and creative project. Buying in bulk and arranging them yourself without professional help typically leads to significant cost savings rather than buying the flowers piecemeal. 

Researching the different floral arrangements online is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. You can check out websites such as Pinterest or watch tutorials on YouTube for an in-depth look at arranging flowers. 

Plus, you'll better understand what flowers to buy and how many of each you need to achieve the desired effect. Figuring out the number of flowers needed is key to saving money. 

This requires considering the venue size, the arrangements you'll create, and how long they need to last. You can reuse some of the arrangements if your wedding ceremony and reception are in the same space. 

In-season flowers are usually more affordable than flowers that are out of season. They also last longer and come in various colors, shapes, and sizes. In-season flowers vary depending on the season and location. 

For spring, you can find a variety of tulips, peonies, lilies, and daffodils, while summer offers an abundance of sunflowers, roses, daisies, and hydrangeas. Fall brings dahlias and chrysanthemums, while winter has a selection of anemones, poinsettias, and evergreens.

Research which flowers are in season during your wedding to take advantage of lower prices. Contacting local florists can help you determine which flowers are in season. 

You can also research how long the flower will stay in bloom and look up pictures of what the flower will look like at your wedding. This can help you make an informed decision when selecting flowers for your floral arrangements.

Tip for major savings: Research locally-available flowers

Locally-grown flowers are often the most affordable option. The cost of shipping and transporting flowers across the country adds up, so finding a local flower market can save you money, and you will support your local flower farmers. 

Research online for local farmers' markets or contact a nearby florist to find out their sources for flowers. You may be surprised at the variety of flowers available in your area. If you're looking for something specific, contact a grower to find out if it's available. 

Additionally, look for florists that specialize in locally-grown flowers. These florists are more likely to have a better selection of locally-grown flowers. 

Dry and faux flowers are becoming increasingly popular for weddings. They last longer than fresh-cut flowers, eliminate the need for water, and don't require refrigeration. Plus, you can preserve them as a keepsake after the wedding day. 

Popular options include silk flowers, dried roses, cotton stems, and pampas grass. Mixing in faux foliage adds texture and interest to your floral arrangements. You can also save money by using faux garlands and wreaths as centerpieces to decorate your wedding venue. 

Wreaths are a versatile way to add a romantic touch, while garlands add a unique rustic charm. Both can be used to decorate your ceremony and reception sites. Use these pieces to create a stunning ceremony arch or backdrop, or hang them from your reception chairs.

Tip for major savings: Go with a floral alternative

Consider incorporating floral alternatives into your wedding decor for a unique, budget-friendly option. Plenty of creative ways exist to add texture and color without spending a fortune on fresh flowers. 

Try using branches, twigs, and greenery for a natural look, feathers for a rustic feel, candles for a romantic vibe, and paper flowers for an unexpected pop of color. Even if you plan on fresh flowers, these alternatives can supplement the floral arrangements or add accents to your decor.

For more inspiration, look at these alternative floral ideas. From dried leaves to pom-poms and paper flowers, these ideas will help you create beautiful floral arrangements unique to your wedding. 

Consider using larger blooms in your bouquets and centerpieces to maximize your wedding budget. Bigger flowers like hydrangeas and peonies occupy more space in a bouquet, so you'll need fewer flowers overall. 

You can create the same impact using bigger blooms without buying more flowers. Add complimentary "filler" flowers and greenery to create a balanced look. These can be smaller flowers like baby's breath, eucalyptus, or rosemary — all of which can be found for an affordable price. 

You can also add flower elements other than blooms. For example, add branches or stems of berries to your bouquets for an unexpected look and texture. If you're using berries, mix in a few other blooms for balance and to add more beauty. You can get creative and add natural elements like pine cones, feathers, or cotton balls.  

Tip for major savings: Add greenery to the wedding bouquets

Adding greenery to your wedding bouquets can bring a lush, natural feel to your special day while being cost-effective. Greenery can be used as the base of the bouquet, or as an accent, depending on the look you desire. 

Baby's breath, eucalyptus, and ferns will add natural volume and texture to bouquets at a lower price. Adding greenery to your bouquet can work well with popular flower and bouquet styles, including cascading bouquets, mixed-color bouquets, and romantic monochromatic floral schemes.

A professional florist can help coordinate your wedding flowers with ease. They can look at your wedding budget, style, and color palette to create a unified theme throughout the arrangements. This includes your bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, centerpieces, and other floral décor. 

They will also be able to help you pick the right flowers, greenery, and accents to meet your budget while still creating the look that you're going for. Your florist can also provide tips and tricks to help save money on flowers. 

They may suggest lower-cost alternatives, such as fake or silk flowers, that still look beautiful. Your florist may recommend creative ways to use foliage and greenery in a way that looks stunning but costs less. 

Tip for major savings: Ask for cost-effective options

When talking to a wedding florist, you should express your budget constraints. This will help them create the most cost-effective solution for your wedding flowers. Ask them to provide you with alternatives when necessary, such as greenery in lieu of more expensive flowers, and if there are any discounts they can offer. 

Also, find out if they have other tips on saving money on wedding flowers. With their help, you can create a stunning floral theme and make your big day beautiful.

If you are willing to put in the time and effort, DIY-ing flowers can be a great way to save money on wedding flowers. Online tutorials can help you create beautiful centerpieces, bouquets, and other floral décor. You can even get creative and design unique flower arrangements for a unique look. 

While DIYing flowers can help you save money, it does take time and practice to get it right. Start your preparations early so you have plenty of time for trial and error. You'll also need to carefully plan ahead to purchase all the flowers, supplies, and tools you need. 

Tip for major savings: Borrow, repurpose, and reuse flowers

You can save money on wedding flowers by creatively using them throughout the day. Consider borrowing flowers from friends or family members who have recently married. You can also repurpose your ceremony flowers for the reception. 

For example, you can use the ceremony flowers for centerpieces at the reception or as other décor. This will allow you to purchase fewer flowers and get the same look for your wedding. 

You can reuse the flowers from your bouquets as centerpieces for the reception or take smaller pieces of each bouquet and fill out the centerpieces with them. You can also use flowers from your ceremony décor in other locations throughout the reception. 

Boost your wedding day wealth with Accrue Savings

Wedding flowers are one of the most significant expenses when planning a wedding, but there are many creative and cost-effective ways to save money. Consider adding greenery to your bouquet, getting advice from a professional florist, DIYing flowers, and repurposing or borrowing flowers. 

Creating a budget is essential when wedding planning, and Accrue Savings has partners that can help you save on your big day's significant costs — starting with your rings, through our partnerships with Kiefer, Friendly Diamonds, and The Clear Cut.

Visit Accrue Savings to learn more about our partners and start saving for your wedding today.