You know what absolutely shocks me? The price of wedding flowers, that's what. In fact, anything with the word "wedding" attached automatically has its price jacked up anywhere from 10 to 30 percent. Wedding flowers are especially shocking. The average price seems to be about $2,000.

Whaaaaat? For flowers? For one day??

Don't get me wrong; I love flowers. I wish my boyfriend would give them to me...um...ever. And while I'm not truly an Offbeat bride, I don't feel the need to have flowers at my wedding. That $2,000 could be used for much more than one element of decoration. Let's break down the flower costs and discuss alternatives.

Flowers on people.
Not a terribly succinct description, I know, but apt. I was shocked to discover that in addition to bouquets for bride and bridesmaids, bouts for groom, groomsmen and fathers, and a flower girl's flowers, you're also 'supposed' to have an extra bouquet to toss and corsages for both moms.

As you may recall, I feel no need to have a flower girl, so there's that. If you have one, I suppose you can't avoid having flowers. However, the rest of the 'floral requirements' seem optional at most. In short order:

Bouquets: Ask yourself, do you really need a throwaway bouquet? Or even a real one? There are so many non-floral options these days for bride and bridesmaids. Fans, clutches, parasols, feathers, lanterns, wire bouquets, sticks, books, herbs, even cooking utensils...you can be so creative, so DIY, and so frugal!



So precious! And completely free!

Boutonnieres: They average about $15 apiece and easy to DIY for much cheaper. There are many other options, too, from artsy to crazy: buttons, herbs, sticks, pocket squares (three for $6 on Etsy!), or these awesome customised ones:



That's right. LEGOS.

Corsages: Wait, our moms are supposed to get corsages? Is this a prom? People will know your mothers by sight; they don't need a floral beacon. I vote that instead of paying $30 for flowers that won't last, instead invest in thoughtful little gifts for your parents to thank them for getting you this far.

Flowers at the ceremony.
Flowers at the altar, flowers on the pews/chairs, flowers on the walls, flowers on the aisle...I understand why they would create a breathtaking scene, but that kind of drama comes with a price. Instead, cut costs by decorating where it really counts.

To start with, look for a venue whose inherent beauty will decorate for you, like a beautiful church with stained-glass windows, a restaurant or museum with lots of little curiosities, a garden with plans already abundant, or anywhere that decorates for the holidays, if that's when you're getting married.

Next, instead of lining the aisle and pews/chairs with flowers, consider something cheaper, such as tea lights in a medley of lanterns ($4 for 100 at Ikea), a beautifully patterned cloth runner, feathers and ribbon bought in bulk, or rows of sticks that suit a rustic theme (and are free!). Remember that everyone's attention will be focused on the aisle and altar, so those are the places to decorate, but mostly their attention will be on you! No one will miss the flowers when they are focused on the striking couple in all their finery.



All you need is a glorious tree.

Flowers at the reception.

Ah, the reception. It calls for centerpieces, wall decorations, ceiling decorations...and that can add up, but with a little ingenuity, you can easily find solutions that won't break your budget. Again, seek a venue with inherent visual interest. That will take out half the need for decoration. Then, take a look at my Pinterest "Centerpieces" board for inspiration. Just like with the bouquets, the sky is the limit. I've seen global knickknacks, books, thrift-store teacups, feathers, fruit...anything can be a memorable centerpiece!

As for the rest of the décor, lights and fabric are always winners. Rope lights twisted with bunting, ombré ribbon-decorated chairs, filmy organza over the windows, rented candelabras...they can create an enchanting atmosphere in which your guests will never realise that flowers were missing.



Beautiful, and not a flower in sight.

And of course, if you must have flowers, go for it! Just be wily. Don't tell your florist it's for a wedding; you'll save a ton of money. Use flowers that are in season, in natural colours. Even better, buy them at a farmer's market and arrange them yourself.

Remember that as in anything, doing your 'flowers' yourself will almost always be cheaper, at the expense of a lot of your time. Decide if that's going to be worth it to you; sometimes a little money is worth saving the hassle. And if you do DIY, make sure you're actually saving money! It's easy to go crazy with creativity and end up spending too much on the individual elements. Just be aware.

So what do you think, my savvy couples? Flowers or no flowers?