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" Afraid flowers will bust your budget? Check out these clever tips to nip skyrocketing floral expenses in the bud: Research budget blooms &amp;amp;#8220;Consider an affordable, year-round flower such as stock, which comes in many colors, including pink, red, and lavender,&amp;amp;#8221; says Michael Gaffney, founder of the New York School of Flower Design. Other picks: roses, chrysanthemums, and carnations. Let them do double duty Reuse your ceremony flowers at the reception&amp;amp;#8212;on an entrance table, perhaps, or in the ladies&amp;amp;#8217; room. Go Monobotanical Use just one type of flower&amp;amp;#8212;roses, say&amp;amp;#8212;for all the centerpieces. The look is stunning and cost-effective. &amp;amp;#8220;You&amp;amp;#8217;ll get a better deal if [your florist] can purchase flowers in bulk,&amp;amp;#8221; says Dawn Kelly of New York&amp;amp;#8217;s Soir&amp;amp;#233;e Floral Event Design. Use bigger blooms In season, fluffy-headed blossoms like hydrangeas and peonies can stretch a budget, because you need only a few to nicely fill a vase. Be flexible &amp;amp;#8220;Don&amp;amp;#8217;t insist on specific flowers,&amp;amp;#8221; says Donna O&amp;amp;#8217;Brien of Beautiful Blooms in Philadelphia. &amp;amp;#8220;Instead, tell your florist the colors and the look you want.&amp;amp;#8221; Giving her a wider berth will allow her to consider the most budget-friendly options. See what&amp;amp;#8217;s in stock For the best deals, choose blooms that are available in your area. Choose simple arrangements Less labor equals more savings. A loose grouping of flowers is not as time-consuming to arrange as a centerpiece that involves wiring lots of individual stems. Raid Grandma&amp;amp;#8217;s cabinets Borrow teapots, water pitchers, silver bowls&amp;amp;#8212;anything that can be used in place of a traditional vase that you&amp;amp;#8217;d have to buy or rent. Add flavor Buy herbs&amp;amp;#8212;basil, sage, rosemary&amp;amp;#8212;from a garden center, place them in tiny terra-cotta pots, and group them as centerpieces. Think filler Greenery saves money and gives a centerpiece a big wow factor. &amp;amp;#8220;Greens are about one-third the price of most flowers,&amp;amp;#8221; says Gaffney. Eucalyptus, lemon leaf, or pittosporum can supplement flowers in centerpieces and bouquets, or act as filler in urns lining an aisle at the ceremony. How do you plan to save on flowers for your wedding? Share your tips below! More from BRIDES: *The Best Wedding Cakes in the Country *Celebrity-Inspired Wedding Hair and Makeup *Top Wedding Dress Trends for 2012 *The Most Beautiful Wedding Centerpieces "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.glamour.com/weddings/blogs/save-the-date/2012/01/10-ways-to-save-on-flowers>