Flowers
According to tradition, the Groom's family pays for the bridal party's flowers. That usually includes the bride's bouquet (but NOT the bridesmaid's bouquets), the Groomsmen's boutonnieres, and corsages for the moms and grandmothers.The Bride's family pays for the bridesmaid's bouquets, and any other flowers that will be used to decorate the reception area. You will most likely want some flowers at the entrance (on your guest book table), centerpieces for the tables, and something for the food table, and dessert table, if you have one (if you are only serving cake, you don't need a floral arrangement on the cake table - the cake is all the decoration required - unless you want to sprinkle some rose petals around it).
The best way to keep the cost of flowers down is to buy flowers that are in season. Also, don't schedule your reception at a time when flowers are in big demand (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Easter, Christmas, etc.) The price of flowers skyrockets during these times.
To see what flowers are in your color scheme, go to: www.fiftyflowers.com
To see what flowers are blooming in your season, go to: www.fiftyflowers.com/seasons
(You're going to LOVE these sites!)
The cost of floral containers can drive up the cost, so check around with past brides to see if they have anything you can use. Also check with the Relief Society President to see what they have. If your mother, or grandmother, has a collection of milk glass, or bud vases, use them. Check Michael's, Target, Marshall's, etc. for interesting containers.
Have you got a cupboarad of mis matched bud vases? Use them. Put flowers in a drinking glass and put inside a white paper bag with a bow. (The following photograph is by Gabriel Li)
Here is a more elegant look, still using a variety of bottles as flower containers. This bride used the same flowers in her bouquet.
Note regarding Candles: This bride used candles in her tall green bottles. Candles are dangerous (that's why they are NOT ALLOWED in the cultural hall!). If you are having your reception at home and want to use votives, be sure they are in a glass container.
Think outside the box. If you are having a Fall wedding, why not use a pumpkin as a vase?
Continue the pumpkin theme throughout if you like. (In some cities Cinderella coaches are available for rent. That could be a fun way to leave the reception, or to have guests ride around the block and have their photo taken in, or in front of, the carriage).
You don't have to have the same centerpiece on every table. It is interesting to walk around and see different arrangements. Or your could do half the tables with bud vases, and the other half with small arrangements.
One of the prettiest Spring ideas I've seen was having bulb flowers on every table, but each table featured a different flower. One table had only yellow daffodils, another had blue Iris, another had white tulips, etc. It really looked elegant. Bub flowers can be expensive, so this would be a great time to take advantage of your local flower mart (and save 70% of what a florist would charge you).
It is cheaper to buy flowers in bulk and make your own arrangements than to have a florist do them. There may be someone in your ward who would be willing to do that for you.
Flowers can do double duty if you plan ahead. Use the bridesmaid's bouquets as centerpieces after the photos have been taken. Here are some simple, but elegant bouqet ideas:
Photo by Studio Duva Gallery Do you grow hydrangeas?
P.S. If you plan to use flowers from your garden, but your timing is off and they are not in bloom, don't panic. Go to Michaels (or your favorite source for artificial flowers). People won't notice - trust me.
See our "Uniquely YOU" chapter for more ideas regarding bouquets.
See samples of flowers we like in our PHOTO ALBUM (click on the first photo to see a "slideshow")