Wedding Flowers without breaking the Bank !

Budget-busting flower ideas

We love these top tips for beautiful big day blooms on a budget

 

1. Go for a retro vintage theme and you can use a mix of second-hand mis-matched containers that you can pick up at fleamarkets or antique stores.

2. Before you start spending, carefully plan your budget and decide where flowers rank on your list of wedding priorities. If you’d rather spend more of your pennies on food and drink than decorating the venue, look to spend less on flowers, but if you want to create a beautiful space for your reception, allocate a larger portion of the budget to flowers.

3. Be upfront about how much you have to spend. Your budget is one of the first things you should discuss with your florist. The average spend is 10-15% of the overall cost of the day but this is not a realistic option for everyone. Be clear about how much you have to spend and your florist should have the experience to rise to the challenge.

4. Choose a florist who is happy to work within your budget. A florist who encourages you to spend more than you can afford isn’t the right person for the job. You may have to compromise on the specific blooms or the types of arrangement you want in order to stay within your financial limits but your florist should be able to suggest alternatives that will look just as good at a lower price bracket.

5. Choose seasonal flowers grown locally. This will cost you MUCH less than flying in exotic blooms from abroad.

6. Bridesmaids’ bouquets can really add up so be inventive. Think about giving each bridesmaid a single statement bloom to carry down the aisle, or opt for just having flowers in their hair or on a wrist corsage. If you’re set on bouquets, consider using them as table centres at your reception afterwards.

7. Concentrate your budget on the areas that guests will spend the majority of time in and where lots of photographs are going to be taken. If you want to get a real wow factor at the reception make the flowers totally different to the ceremony it will make everyone gasp especially going from country chic to modern funky!

8. Instead of having expensive flower arrangements on every table you can alternate tables with displays of candles, which you can get for a fraction of the cost.

9. Be a little indulgent.  If you’ve got your heart set on an expensive flower, use it but do so sparingly. Lots of brides love Lily of the Valley but used in abundance, it can break the bank. Instead, just have a little in your bouquet then you’ll feel like you’re surrounded by it all day.

10. Ask if there are any other weddings taking place at your church or ceremony venue on the same day. If there are, you might be able to share the cost of the flowers with another bride.

11. We suggest a little DIY to cut costs.  Decorate each table with silver votives containing supermarket-bought roses and fresh rosemary from your garden.

12. To make the most of your reception flowers, place table centres on a mirror base and add tea lights around each one. The reflection and flickering light will instantly make any arrangement seem bigger, more opulent and more dramatic.


13. Consider having less flowers and more foliage. A few statement blooms surrounded by lots of greenery can look striking and modern.

14. To save on your reception flowers, use pot plants or potted herbs in pretty containers.  They last well, make a lasting, thoughtful thank you gift for your mum and mother-in-law, or can be taken home by your guests as a memento of the day, and take the hassle out of worrying about arranging flowers for the reception.

15. Make the most of your church flowers by transporting them to your venue to decorate the reception space. Pedestals and trees are easy to move and look fabulous as entrance displays, while pew-ends can be used as chair backs.

 

 

Top 8 Biggest Mistakes When Planning a Wedding

TOP 8 BIGGEST MISTAKES WHEN PLANNING A WEDDING

1.     A Lack of Personality
The biggest mistake is a wedding devoid of the couple's own personalities. This is the most important day of your life – it should reflect you and your life.

2.     Know your Budget
Avoid spending money where you don't need to. Make sure you know your budget, what's important to you – and what isn't. Weddings often end up costing far more than you ever anticipated.  Not only will budgeting help you afford your wedding, but it's an important skill for your married life. ETC EVENTS will walk you through every step and negotiate with suppliers to ensure that your budget is realistic.

3.     Remember What Your Wedding Is Really About
The wedding ceremony is the main event – the reception is just a celebration of it. Make sure you've put enough thought into the music, readings, and vows that will make your wedding ceremony memorable.

4.     Not Knowing the Master of Ceremonies
There are two people whose personalities are almost as important as the couple getting married: the MC of the ceremony and the MC of the reception. Make sure that your personalities mesh well with these two people, and that you feel listened to and respected.

5.     Thinking "It Could Never Rain on MY Wedding Day"
So many couples forget to plan for things going wrong. If you're having an outdoor wedding, make sure that you have an alternate location in case of rain. Expect the unexpected. 

6.     Remember to be Considerate
Yes, it's your wedding, and your special day. But you need to take other people into consideration as well. Think about your guests and co-planners. ETC EVENTS will advise and recommend on all types of situations.

7.     Not Involving Your Better Half
Wedding planning can and should be the domain of both bride and groom. Set aside a regular weekly meeting time to talk about new ideas, research that you've done, and set wedding-related goals for the next week.

8.     Losing Perspective
Don't forget to keep your eye on what's really important to you. If something goes wrong, try your best to take deep breaths and think about the big picture. Above all, keep your sense of humour!

And the Biggest mistake of all is not including ETC EVENTS to ensure you have stress free Wedding Planning and a Dream Wedding that you can enjoy with no worries on your Big Day.

Contact us on 083 653 7900 or debbie@etcevents.co.za to discuss your Wedding Dreams and Ideas.
www.etcevents.co.za

Why use Etc Events as your Wedding Planner?

You may be thinking to yourself ‘why do I need a wedding planner?’ Well your wedding day is going to be one of, if not, the most important day of your life, so why try and do it all yourself? You hire an expert to do the catering, take the photos, make the cake, so why not hire a professional to help with the planning?

WELL to answer the questions, They could save you money, time and hassle… If you want your wedding to run like a dream, let a wedding planner take the strain!

Do you want a dream wedding but have no idea where to begin? Are you on a tight budget but want to make your money go as far as possible? Maybe you want someone there on the day to ensure everything goes smoothly. Whatever you envisage for your special day, a wedding planner will have the skills and experience to make it a reality. A wedding planner’s brief is simple: to provide you with a stress-free and enjoyable planning experience that results in a wedding day that is within budget and a true reflection of your relationship and commitment to one another.

Money-saving advice
Hiring a planner not only provides relief from the 300 hours it could take you to plan your day – they’ll save you a considerable amount of money too. Their experience in the wedding industry means that not only do they have extensive knowledge of venues, suppliers and current trends; they can also show you where to cut costs without cutting corners and negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive the highest quality for the lowest possible price.

They will help you:
•    Create a budget that is both realistic and easy to manage.
•    Assess your vision and planning priorities.
•    Decide where to splurge and where to save.
•    Negotiate discounts with suppliers.
•    Monitor when deposits and final balances are due.

It has been reported that 70% of brides who didn’t use a planner, wish that they had….A wedding planner’s job, as corny as it may sound, is to make your dreams a reality. It is our aim to do everything in our power to make sure you have the best day ever, and in the process keep you as calm and stress-free as possible, saving you much needed time and of course save you money!

Watch this cute video, we loved it!

About Etc Events

Debbie Montague is the owner of ETC Events and has been involved in Wedding and Event Planning for 15 years. We offer professional and dedicated co-ordination and planning of all special events, although Weddings are our speciality!

ETC Events specialise in stylish, exclusive and exceptional weddings. We provide a variety of wedding planning services for the modern bride and groom.

Over the years we have established close links with a large number of exceptionally talented specialists who share a similar philosophy: to provide you with the finest Wedding Service available. We can assist you at any stage of the wedding planning process, operating as your personal wedding designer, wedding planner and coordinator. We are as equally adept at organising a small and intimate event for 12 as we are a media-blitzed grand ball for 500 or more!

Please see our Website for more information and please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss free quotations or any other questions you may have for us, simply click HERE