We all know fresh flowers are stunning, but they can also be one of the fastest ways to burn through your wedding budget. Using artificial flowers is one way you can have the look of fresh flowers without the price tag. If you’re looking for something different for your wedding day though, this article will discuss everything you need to know about cheaper alternatives to flowers in detail.
Artificial flowers, balloons, dried flowers, paper flowers, and wooden flowers are some cheaper alternatives to flowers at a wedding. Thrifted items such as lanterns, vases and jars are also great ideas. The good thing is that you have a lot of options. Don’t be afraid to think beyond the box!
We’ve compiled a list of cheaper alternatives to real flowers that are not only inexpensive but also simple and quick to put together, giving you more time to focus on other aspects of your wedding planning. Continue reading to learn more about flower alternatives!
Flower Alternatives At A Wedding That Aren’t As Expensive
Artificial Wedding Flowers Can Help You Fake It
Artificial flowers are probably the first thing you think of when you’re looking for alternatives for fresh flowers. Many of the faux flower options available today would be hard to tell from the real thing from further than a few inches away, and there’s many ways to use them to save on decor costs.
If you’re decorating the ceiling or creating a flower wall for people to take photos in front of, chances are no one will be paying close attention to them. This is the ideal time to use artificial wedding flowers and foliage instead of real ones. You’ll achieve the look of ‘floral abundance’ without the huge price tag of a professional florist.
For wider area decor, artificial flowers are a great choice, as you can buy large volumes of nearly any bloom you like for reasonable costs.
Rent Your Flowers
While artificial flowers are certainly cheaper than fresh flowers, you can still end up spending quite a lot if you go for a lot of large arrangements. Renting your artificial flowers is another way to save costs, while still having professionally arranged flowers. This would be a great option if you’re not able to DIY.
Sites such as Something Borrowed Blooms will send packages of premium priced silk flowers directly to you, ready for use. You simply pack them up and send them back after your big day, it really couldn’t be easier.
Balloons
Float helium, or gas balloons up for more height and vertical notes, or cluster them for a horizontal feature. If you have a venue or room with high ceilings, use floating balloons with long stems to attract your attention upwards and create the feeling of spaciousness and grandeur.
If you’re opting for a ‘vibe’ over a wedding theme, balloons can help you create your desired ‘feel’ for the day. If you want to go for a more refined look, line the aisle of your garden ceremony with regularly spaced spherical balloon arrangements that contrast the white against the greenery of the gardens.
Balloons are available in professionally arranged packages, from vendors in your local area. You can also order DIY packages from a number of party supply sites, such as Ellie’s Party Supply.
You can find a fantastic guide on how to create your own Balloon Garland by Ellie’s Party Supply by clicking here
Dried Flowers
Dried flowers are a beautiful wedding trend that is also good for the earth. Dried flowers are an excellent option to incorporate out-of-season flowers into your wedding. They also allow an easy way to have your bouquet as a keepsake for display into the future.
Look into sites such as Etsy for premade bouquets in a range of options.
Afloral.com has a large selection of dried flowers if you’d prefer to make your own floral arrangements.
Green Is The Way To Go
Instead of flowers, use a lot of greenery to give your wedding a simple but attractive look. Leaves are just as beautiful as bouquets, especially when made from fall branches, and they’re far less expensive.
Your local floral vendor will be able to assist in designing arrangements for you. If you’re trying to DIY you could ask friends or family members if they have suitable trees you could prune.
You could even ask local landscapers or gardeners if you can take any cuttings before they end up in mulch!
Eucalyptus, palm fronds and any number of tropical ferns would be great choices.
Paper flowers
Paper flowers are an inexpensive option to include in a stunning bouquet in your wedding that will last a lifetime.
The paper selections reach far beyond colored paper. You could have a bouquet made from your favorite books, sheet music or maps. They’re also super attractive as a backdrop!
You can recycle these blooms if you prefer not to keep them after your wedding. DIY them for a personal touch, or buy lovely, realistic-looking paper flowers online.
Etsy is a great source for handmade bouquets using paper of your choice, or you can find bulk paper flower options on Amazon, or a number of other websites.
Wood Wedding Flowers
Do you know what Sola Wood Wedding Flowers are? These environmentally friendly goods are manufactured from the Shola plant (scientific name Aeschynomene Aspera), chosen for its flexible form when dried. This makes them long-lasting for anyone planning a “green” wedding!
What’s not to love about them? They’ll last for years and can be used as decor in your home after the wedding. This is one of our favorite new wedding flower ideas for you to think about!
There are many websites offering both premade Sola Wood wedding arrangements or DIY options, such as SolaWoodFlowers.com.
Thrifted Decor Items
Lanterns, small vases, mason jars, vintage servingware, and even candleabras are great examples for cheaper alternatives to fresh flowers.
It can help to keep an open mind on what you would like before you go thrifting, so you can take advantage of the things you find.
If you find yourself with a number of mismatched items, spray painting them into one color scheme is a great way to bring them together to match your wedding decor theme.
Tips To Make Cheap Flowers Look Expensive
Bend, Fluff, And Iron
Handling and preparing each blossom is one trick that will go a long way toward making artificial flowers look real. It should be fluffed up. Make sure that each petal is in its proper place. With your hand, gently form each bloom. This will drastically improve the appearance of your flowers.
The appearance of the leaves is one of the most telling clues that a flower is phony! In a lovely arrangement, crumpled and folded leaves have no place. Take some time to smooth and arrange the leaves and stems to achieve a more natural look.
Trim The Stems Of Your Fake Flowers
Compare your artificial stem to pictures of natural stems. Removing some bigger leaves can soften the flower arrangement and make it appear more natural.
Keep Them Out Of The Sun
Keeping fake flowers out of the sun is the easiest method to keep them looking vibrant. The sun will fade the colors of the leaves and flowers faster than anything else, so if you remember keep them covered out of sunlight until you need them their colors will last much longer.
What Are Some Alternative Wedding Bouquet Ideas?
Choose a Hoop
Hoop bouquets are a great way to show off a smaller selection of flowers without using a typical bouquet shape. Choose gold, silver, or even a wooden hoop with a choice selection of blossoms for a distinctive style.
Button or Brooch Bouquet
A bouquet using buttons or brooches is a charming and unique twist on the typical floral bouquet. It’s inexpensive, one-of-a-kind, and might go well with your wedding’s vibrant theme. Use pearl and ivory buttons if your theme is delicate. Combining buttons, gems, and artificial flowers in the bouquet may make it even more beautiful.
Think About Corsages
Who says you can’t have a corsage at your wedding? These small arrangements allow for distinctive styling without a huge cost. A small bouquet with plenty of foliage on each bridesmaid’s arm has a refined appearance. So stylish!
Carry A Lantern or Basket
Keep the florals in the mix, but switch up the shape for something different. Lanterns and baskets let you use a smaller selection of flowers. If you can manage to find thrifted items, this will drastically reduce your costs. Using dried flowers in these alternative holders gives a lovely boho vibe. Fresh blossoms, dried grasses, and small flowers for plenty of texture to fit your wedding’s theme also excellent options.
FAQs:
What Other Options Do I Have Besides A Bouquet Toss for My Wedding?
The most common alternative to the bouquet toss is the Anniversary Dance, often called the Bouquet Dance. It’s fun for newlyweds to dance with their married friends while celebrating their marriage. Your wedding DJ will invite all married couples to join you and the groom on the dance floor. The DJ will gradually ask married couples to sit down until the longest married couple is left on the dancefloor, and the Bride can present them with the bouquet.
If you’d like to hang on to your bouquet you can also have a smaller bouquet made just for tossing, or you could toss something else, such as small toys, or gift cards. Really, anything you think would be exciting for your guests will be fantastic.
Is It Less Expensive To Arrange Your Own Wedding Flowers?
The cost-effectiveness of DIY wedding flowers is one of the main attractions. You can save money on hiring a florist’s labor!
If you haven’t arranged flowers before, its essential you spend some time to practise, as it is a skill to create the amazing floral arrangements you’ll be hoping to achieve.
You can find many different tutorials on YouTube, covering any number of bridal bouquet styles.
I love this tutorial for an organic style bouquet by Flower Moxie.
What’s The Best Way To Keep Fake Flowers Safe?
The best method to store them is in a dark, dry environment. For flower and plant storage, consider using tubs or plastic storage drawers, but make sure they’re big enough to keep the stems and leaves from squishing or crumpling.
Conclusion:
Cheaper wedding flower alternatives have become a popular option in recent years. It’s a fantastic method to save money without sacrificing attractiveness! You can use these alternatives for a wide variety of decor options, from bridal bouquets to centerpieces in your wedding. Hopefully, with the help of our article, you have detailed knowledge about cheaper alternatives to flowers!
Are you still trying to figure out how much you wedding is going to cost? Check out our simple 5 step method here. You can also download our free budget calcuator!