DIY - Garden by the Gate Floral Design

Wedding blogs and magazines

are full of articles about how to save money on your wedding flowers. Some of these have useful information, but some of it is inaccurate or incomplete. The best advice I can give brides today is that your greatest ally in keeping your flower budget under control is us, at the Garden by the Gate. That may surprise you, but it’s true! As experienced professionals, we know THE BEST ways to save money on your flowers and we will never steer you into anything that isn’t going to be beautiful. After all, our reputation is on the line every time flowers go out of the studio to a wedding or event. We want your guests to be wowed by your wedding decor just as much as you do.
Three tips for saving money on wedding flowers

Spend your money where you can make the biggest impact, both for your guests on the day of your wedding and in the wedding pictures that you’ll cherish for years to come. Of course, if your budget allows, by all means, go all out and have every gorgeous flower you desire! It will be a beautiful, fabulous day that you’ll never forget. But if you need to trim the budget a bit, we can advise you. One thing that usually isn’t seen in pictures, and not always noticed by guests, is the aisle decor. So flowers on every pew or a thick carpet of rose petals are some things you may wish to forgo. In a church wedding, overly decorating the altar area is not always necessary, after all, the time spent there isn’t nearly as long as at the reception. A couple of arrangements that can be moved to the reception site are an economical way to go.

At the reception, it’s not always necessary for every table to have the same centerpiece. You can alternate large or tall arrangments with low, less expensive ones. Another good idea is using a grouping of candles on alternate tables. Pillar candles are a striking look, but they are relatively expensive; for more savings, consider using floating candles instead. We always make sure to use unscented candles; you don’t want any additional smells in the air in addition to the food, flowers, and guests’ perfumes.

Another way that we can help keep within your budget is by the types of flowers that are used. For example, garden roses are about three times the price of long-stemmed roses. White hydrangeas are about half the price of fancy-colored ones, so we may use white hydrangeas then use other flowers to bring in your color scheme. Of course, if this is your first time planning an event as important as your wedding, you don’t know all these things but you can trust us to steer you in the right direction. After all, that’s the most important thing about choosing your florist; having faith and confidence that we have your best interests at heart.

At the Garden by the Gate, one of our strengths is the relationship that we build with our clients. We want to be your ally and advocate for having the wedding that is exactly what you have been dreaming of. If you are interested in finding out what we can do to bring your vision to life, start by filling out the wedding inquiry form.

We are totally smitten

with Pantone’s color of the year, Greenery, and with this lovely barn wedding featuring . . . Greenery! Bride Jenna added some white to her greenery and the result sparkled in the rustic interior of the barn at Rivercrest Farm, in Dover, Ohio. We adore the subtle khaki green of the bridesmaids’ casual dresses, which made their greenery bouquets shine. A painterly gray sky threatened thunderstorms all day but the sun made its appearance just as the ceremony was about to begin.

After the hilltop ceremony, guests made their way down to the barn where the cocktail hour took place under a white canopy. Guests found their seats in a display overflowing with seeded eucalyptus greenery (designed by the bride’s mom). Inside, the greenery continued at the head table draped in moss and garlanded with more eucalyptus and ferns.

See all the gorgeousness captured by Lyssa Ann Portraits HERE
*Photos on this page by the Garden by the Gate[df_divider el_width=”100″ style=”solid” accent_color=”” border_t_width=”” padding=”20px 0″ position=”align_center” el_class=””]

How to do a Greenery color scheme for your wedding

With the popularity of the Pantone color of the year, Greenery, I would like to offer a few tips and suggestions, and maybe correct some misconceptions about foliage decor.

If you’re a bride who would like to try to DIY your wedding flowers, Greenery is a good choice. Most foliages are pretty un-fussy about their treatment and last quite a long time in or out of water. We suggest that you choose a few items to DIY and hire a professional to do the rest. Perhaps you could put together centerpieces ahead of time and have your bouquets done by a florist. You really have to think about how much time you will have to create your bouquets and decorations on top of all the special events such as bachelorette parties, mani-pedis, fittings, salon visits, bridesmaid brunches, etc. You want to concentrate on getting yourself ready for your big day, staying fresh and relaxed, and not feeling harried or distracted by extra duties. As a wedding florist, I know how long and hard our team works the days leading up to a wedding so it’s hard to envision non-professionals adding this to their schedule.

When you decide that you want to make some of your own wedding decorations, you will need a source for the greenery materials. Your choices include online vendors, big box stores, or your local florist. The main drawback to using most online vendors or big box stores is the quantity of each item that you are required to buy. Flowers and greenery are mostly sold in box lots which generally consist of around ten bunches. Bunches vary in size having from 5-10 stems, sometimes more. As a florist who does many weddings, I can tell you that we seldom purchase a box lot of any one item or color. It is also a misconception that so-called “bulk” outlets are giving you wholesale prices. Generally, they are much higher than what your florist would pay. This is where the Garden by the Gate can help you out by not only providing reasonably priced greenery in just the quantities that you need, but we can also offer a lot of advice about what you’ll need and how to put together your arrangements. Just call us or fill out the wedding inquiry form on our website.

One misconception is that greenery and foliage is always cheaper than flowers. Some foliages are inexpensive and some are not. Here is a quick list of some foliages you might use.

Good Value

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Leatherleaf fern
Plumosa
Variegated or green pittosporum
Salal (Lemon leaf)
Sprengeri

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Huck
Nagi
Smilax
Ming Fern

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Premium Foliage

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Dusty miller
Italian ruscus
Leucadendron (Safari sunset, Jester, etc.)
Magnolia

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Fiddlehead fern
Sword or flat fern
Monstera leaves
Hosta leaves

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Maidenhair fern
Bay leaves
Olive branches
Explosion grass

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Eucalyptus and more eucalyptus!

There are now so many kinds of eucalyptus greenery to choose from! Most are a little more expensive than your value-priced foliage, but they make a big impression. Here are some varities to try.
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Seeded
Parvifolia
Silver dollar

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Willow
Gunni
Baby blue or silver

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Naked seeded
Feather
Tinted

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Garland

Greenery garland can be made out of any of the above foliages or any combination. A word of caution: garland is EXPENSIVE! Whether your florist makes it in their studio or buys it pre-made, it’s going to be expensive because there is a lot of labor involved. This is the biggest misconception that we see, brides thinking that some greenery down the center of each table is going to be cheap. This is also not recommended as a DIY project because it takes practice, and even then, it is VERY time consuming to do.

One alternative is to just lay pieces of greenery down the center of the table and this may work if no one disturbs it. It won’t look as lush and full as a real garland and here again, it is a lot more time consuming than just placing a vase on the table. This will need to be done the day of the event so it’s not a good project for the wedding party. If you have helpers who are not in the wedding, they may be able to do this for you.

Flowers can be tucked in at intervals using flower glue, wire, or water picks.

A word about foraging

Foraged foliage is a very popular look now and many professionals will forage greenery for their work. Branches and leaves from trees, shrubs, or vines can add great color and texture. The caveat is that you must test your foraged greens ahead of time to see if they will hold up. Cut the foliage and place it in water and flower food overnight or for several hours. If it is going to be used in centerpieces where it will have a water supply, this is all you have to do. Observe it for as long as you think you will want to hold your arrangements. If it is going to be used in something that will not have a water supply such as garlands, bouquets, or boutonnieres, condition it as above then take it out of the water and observe how it holds up out of the water for as long as it will be without water.

Category: DIY

Three Tips to Save Money on your Wedding Flowers