Love Meter Calculator

Whether you are planning a beach theme for an indoor ceremony, or setting up a seaside venue for your wedding, beach flowers are a must. There are infinite varieties of flowers to choose from in colors and shapes to suit every taste and budget. With a little careful planning, you can treat yourself and your guests to a stylish floral display…without draining your savings account.

The strategies below will help you choose the perfect flowers…and you won’t strain your budget:

Different types of flower arrangements

First you need to decide the number and type of flower arrangements you need for your wedding. Beach ceremonies can include loads of flowers or none at all. Traditional weddings normally include the following: Floral arches, a wedding bouquet, a bouquet for the bride, a basket of flowers for the flower girl, corsages for the bridesmaids, boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen and floral arrangements for reception tables. Some couples include corsages or boutonnieres for close relatives who attend the wedding. Beach flowers are also often used to create an aisle or path leading to the ceremony.

Tip: You can get by with fewer flowers on your wedding beach because the surroundings themselves are so beautiful. If your money is limited, just have flowers for the bride and groom. You can enhance your beach theme by substituting Hawaiian-style floral leis instead of the bride’s bouquet and the groom’s boutonniere.

Budget

$2,000 is the cost of flowers for the average wedding. Beach flowers can be cheaper because you don’t need as many.

Add up all the flower arrangements you need. Decide whether you want tropical flowers, non-tropicals or some of both. When you have this information you are ready to ask florists about their charges and you’ll be able to pin down your budget.

Questions for florists

Unless you’re an experienced floral arranger, leave that task to professionals. Ask wedding planners, other newly-married couples and hotels for their recommendations on local florists. Try to get at least three names, and meet with each candidate in person. Interview the florists by phone when this isn’t possible.

Tip: Ask each candidate the questions below to identify the florist that’s ideal for your wedding:

What services do you offer for weddings? Are your designing services included in the cost of the flowers? What experience do you have designing floral arrangements for beach weddings? Can you show me examples of arrangements you have designed specifically for beach weddings? Beyond the cost of the flowers, what additional charges should I expect (delivery, setup, etc.)? How far in advance do I need to place my order? Can you give me a firm price quote instead of an estimate?

Compare the florists’ answers and prices. Choose the one which has the best answers AND a reasonable price when compared to the others.

Some other money-saving ideas:

Use flowers that are grown locally

Choose flowers that are native to the location of your ceremony. They do not need refrigeration and they do not need to be shipped, so florists usually sell them cheaper. You’ll have exquisite flowers at a lower cost.

Tell your florist about the color of your decorations, the bridal couple’s clothing and the rest of the wedding party’s clothing. When your florist knows your color palate, they can recommend local flowers that coordinate with your wedding beach theme.

Use floral arrangements for more than one purpose

You can cut your floral costs by using the same flower arrangements at your reception as well as the ceremony. Some advance planning will let your florist or a few close friends quickly move the flowers from the ceremony’s location to the site of your reception.

Make sure you use flowers with strong, waxy blooms if you want your flowers to do this kind of double duty. Heliconia, antherium, orchids and calla lilies work better because they hold up in heat and keep their fresh look throughout the ceremony, the reception and beyond.

Plants and greenery can supplement blossoms

Cut flowers are more expensive. Instruct your florist to stretch your budget by using potted plants and local greenery extensively in your flower arrangements. Palm fronds, for example, are quite attractive. They’re plentiful and they’re also dramatic. You might even be able to find some free local greenery, depending on where your wedding will be held.

You can also make your floral budget go further if you use potted plants such as smaller orchids, tillandsia and African violets and give them out to guests as wedding favors.

BeachWeddingMagic helps soon-to-be-married couples create their own magical on beach wedding. Visit BeachWeddingMagic.com for tips and advice on wedding beach flowers, decorations, flowers, wedding planners and much more.