Everything for Weddings

I’ll admit my bias up front: I love flowers. And not just any flowers, I love expensive flowers. Peonies, burgundy cymbidium orchids and mini calla lilies are among my favorites. When I was planning my own wedding, I tripled this area of my initial budget. Several brides share my love of flowers and that makes it all the more difficult to stay on budget. Even brides that do not share my extreme love for flowers want beautiful weddings, and your florist will play a huge role in that. As a general rule, flowers should account for 10-15% of your overall budget. Here are some tips to help to stay at or below that number while still having beautiful wedding flowers.

1. Do it Yourself

Yes, you can create your own wedding flowers. There are several online and local wholesalers where you can buy flowers in bulk for substantially less than what you would pay a florist. You should plan to receive your flowers 2-3 days prior to your wedding and have adequate space in your refrigerator to store them. If you are ordering too many flowers to fit into your fridge, air conditioning your home will suffice. Simple hand tied bouquets are relatively easy to create and you can gather bunches of flowers and place them in vases to create centerpieces. My advice with DIY flowers is to keep it simple! You are not a trained florist, so do not try to create more complicated arrangement that you find online or in magazines. Keep it simple. Also, a word of caution: if you are a perfectionist and want perfect arrangements, hire a florist. As a novice, you’re likely to make some mistakes and slight imperfections will exist. If that is not acceptable to you, it’s best to hire a professional. Also, it’s a good idea to do a test run before the real thing.

2. Use a delivery service

There are new delivery services, most notably Pro Flowers, which will arrange your wedding blooms and deliver them, already assembled, to your door 1-2 days before the wedding. They have several flower varieties and several packages to choose from at amazing prices. You will have to do a little work with this option. You should have vases prepared for the centerpieces and holder vases to hold your bouquets until the wedding. On the wedding day, you will have to designate someone to set up the arrangements. Several brides are nervous about this option because they worry that the flowers will not show up in time. Pro Flowers has a built in safety measure to prevent no shows. If your flowers do not arrive on the scheduled date, Pro Flowers has contracts with thousands of local florists that will assemble and personally deliver your flowers prior to the wedding.

3. Reuse, Reuse, Reuse

Slash hundreds from your florist bill by reusing arrangements throughout the day. Your ceremony altar arrangements can become a part of your reception décor, your bridesmaids bouquets can become centerpieces and your bouquet can become an arrangement for your sweetheart table. You can also ask your florist to reuse aisle arrangements from the ceremony as centerpieces during the reception. You may have to pay a slight labor fee for the arrangements to be moved and recast as centerpieces, but it will be much less than paying for both.

4. Stay in season

Different flowers are in season at different times of the year. If a flower is out of season, it does mean that you cannot have it, but it will be substantially more expensive. There are some flowers that are expensive all year round. These include mini calla lilies, tropical blooms and certain orchid varieties. Ask your florist about what flowers are in season for your wedding day and stick with those.

5. Cut back

Ask yourself what you really need and what you can do without. Do you really need pew bows? A pomander for the flower girl? An arrangement for the place card table? A floral cake topper? None of these things are necessary and can be replaced by other decorative items. Cut back on the excess and stick to the bare necessities.

About the Author:

Tiffany R. Wright is a top
wedding planner in the Washington, DC area
and owner of
Pirouette Events
, a premiere wedding planning company in DC/MD/VA.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Five Ways To Save On Wedding Flowers

How to Make a DIY Violin Music Cut Out with Strings and a Bow for a Party Centerpiece Decoration

Bell Place Cards $4.95 Wedding bells are ringing and your guests are finding their places in style with these printable silver-bell place cards. The standard-size place cards are easy to customize with professional, printed names and details. 40 cards per order.

Charity Wedding Favors – Place Cards $19.95 Place these beautiful, custom-designed charity wedding favor place cards at each of your guests' place settings indicating your donation to a charity that is dear to you and your groom. It's an altogether modern gesture and one that shows your and your husband's big hearts. Pick from our gorgeous templates and customize your message for a favor that's unlike any other. The cards measure 3 1/2" x 2"; sold in a pack of 50. <br><br>Haven't selected a Charity to support? <a href="DonationPage.aspx?scId=DonationFavorsTEST(KnotShop)&cId=Favors(KnotShop)">See our recommended organizations.</a><br><br>

Double Heart Place Cards $2.29 These standard-size place cards adorned with intertwining hearts are easy to customize with professional, printed names and details. Guests can find their place with ease and style. Coordinates with the Double Heart Favor Holders. 40 cards per order.

Filigree Place Cards $10.5 Set your reception tables with subtle, pretty style. These classic place cards have laser-cut insets with delicate, filigree details (like bridal lace). Tent-style place cards can be fed through a home printer. Choose white or ivory. 3 1/2" x 2"; packs of 10. <br><br>Coordinates with the Filigree Invitation Kit, Cupcake Wrappers, Cake Wraps, and Accessory Card Kit.

Ring-for-a-Kiss Place Cards $6.95 When guests want to encourage you to kiss, these bell favor cards are a charming alternative to silverware clinking on glasses. Each white card has a heart-shaped cutout that features a tiny working bell tied with a white bow. The poem on the card says: "As we gather together, to share our wedded bliss, Ring the bell for us to kiss." The card also includes blanks for both name and table number. Silver-tone metal bells; cards measure 3 1/2" x 2". Pack of 24.

Seashells Laser-Cut Place Cards (Set of 50) $39.99 Nothing is more a part of the shore than scalloped seashells and starfish. Why not adorn the reception tables at your seaside or beach-themed wedding with place cards that “”shell-a-brate”" the joyful occasion in oceans of style? Beautifully crafted in laser-cut detail, the ivory place cards feature scalloped shells and starfish along the top of the cards. Also perfect for greeting family and friends at dinner parties, family reunions, bon voyage parties, picnics and barbecues, birthday parties and more, the place cards measure 3 ??”" w x 3″” h, and they come in sets of 50, along with instructions for printing names on the place cards in Microsoft Word.

Butterflies Laser-Cut Place Cards (Set of 50) $39.99 Imagine a garden a-flutter with carefree butterflies flitting from flower to flower! These spectacular “”Butterflies”" place cards feature finely crafted, laser-cut butterflies floating along the top of the white 3 ??”" w x 3″” cards. Ideal for wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, bridal showers, tea and garden parties, Mother’s Day parties and more, the place card measures 3 ??”" w x 3″” h, and they come in sets of 50, along with instructions for printing names on the place cards in Microsoft Word.

Charity Wedding Favors – Tent Cards $19.95 Make a grand and gracious statement at your wedding with a generous donation to your favorite charity in honor of your wedding guests and to commemorate your wedding day. To let your guests know, place these custom-designed charity favor tent cards around your reception. It's a favor that makes everyone feel good and be offered in lieu of (or in addition to) trinkets to take home. The tent style measures 4.5" x 6" (unfolded); sold in a pack of 10. <br><br>Haven't selected a Charity to support? <a href="DonationPage.aspx?scId=DonationFavorsTEST(KnotShop)&cId=Favors(KnotShop)">See our recommended organizations.</a><br><br>

Silver LOVE Place Card Holders with Matching Place Cards (Set of 4) $3.99 LOVE Silver Placecard Holders. It’s the little things that often make the biggest statement! Spread your LOVE with these clever placecard holders. The LOVE holders are crafted of fine silver chrome, and come as a set of four. Atop the double base on the left is the word “”love”" in two rows of block letters, with a heart for the “”o”". Space on the right is reserved for the included matching place cards (measuring 2 3/4″” x 1 1/2″”). Long after the wedding, this little memento will look great on a desktop or shelf holding guests’ cards or photos??? a permanent reminder of your love. Sold as a set of four.

Wedding Cake Place Card Holders $19.95 Any way you slice them, these cake-shaped place card holders are a sweet way to show guests to their seats. Place cards (not included) slide into a slit in the top of the cake. Pack of 12; 1 1/2" h x 1" round.

Wedding Invitations, Announcements, Place Cards, and More $6.98 Wedding Invitations, Announcements, Place Cards, and More by Bette Matthews Published in 2001 by Quarry Books

Filigree Laser-Cut Place Cards (White or Ivory) (Set of 50) $39.99 “”Filigree”" Laser-Cut Place Cards have every quality you’re looking for in a classic, yet contemporary place card. Distinctive and dramatic design appears in the laser-cut detail that weaves delicate flourishes and scrolls along the far-right side of the place card. Your wedding tables will be exponentially enhanced by this small, but important addition. This place card also adds flair to rehearsal dinners, dinner parties, bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs, banquets and more. Choose from white and ivory. The place card measures 3 ??”" w x 2 1/2″” h, and they come in sets of 50, along with instructions for printing names on the place cards in Microsoft Word.

Grand Piano Place Card Holders with Cards $6.4 Love is the music of the soul, and your sweet song will be played in grand style at your wedding! Let the emotion of a romantic rhapsody fill your hearts and your reception with classical favors that ask the musical question, "Aint Love Grand?"  These diminutive replicas of grand piano will be in perfect tune with your table décor.  Each piano measures 1 ½" h x 1 ¼" w x 2" d.  Sold as set of 4. Includes 4 place cards. <br><br><b>BULK PRICING:</b> <br>$6.40 each for less than 6 sets <br>$5.90 each for 6 to 11 sets <br>$5.45 each for 12 to 23 sets <br>$4.95 each for 24 or more sets! <br><br><I>Please Note: Bulk-pricing discounts are reflected at checkout.</I><br><br>

Shell Place Card Holders with Cards $8.6 Create the perfect seaside atmosphere by showing your guests to their seats with these beautiful, authentic shell holders. Each dainty, shiny shell holds a placecard and guests can later use these keepsake shells to hold their own photos. A perfect memento for seaside events! Sold as a set of 6.  Matching designer placecards included. (<i>Because these are real sea shells actual size and shape may vary</i>)

D.I.Y. $15.98 Not satisfied with the new T-shirts on sale at the local mall? Maybe you’d like a wedding invitation that expresses your own vision, not your party planner’s? How about some personalized stationery? An upgrade to your website? A business card? A poster for your political campaign? A CD package for your band? Sound good? Then get up off your couch and Design It Yourself! Avoid graphic identity theft: build your own. Ellen Lupton, bestselling author of Thinking with Type will show you how."DIY: Design It Yourself" provides you with all the tools you’ll need to create your own projects, from conception through production. Here you will find:- simple ideas on how you can "think like a designer"- clear and coherent explanations of design technologies, from silk-screening to web development – what materials you’ll need to get your job done- where to find and buy them- how much time and experience your project demands- diagrams that show how to handle complex tasks- basic typographic dos and don’ts- the history and theory of the DIY design movement- hundreds of innovative and beautiful projects for inspiration No more excuses. With this book, virtually any design task is within your grasp. Just do it (yourself)!

Mini Paper Fan Place Cards – White $12.95 <br><font color=red>Clearance prices are good only while supplies last. Item regularly priced at $12.95.</font><br><br> These charming miniature fold-out fans are the perfect favors (exotic yet understated), and a unique and stylish way to show your guests to their seats at your summertime, garden or Asian-themed wedding. The crisp paper and light bamboo wood will match any motif. Give your artistic skills a go and hand-paint them for a special, one-of-a-kind effect.  3" h x 4 ½" wide when open.

Mini Paper Fan Place Cards – Pink $12.95 <br><font color=red>Clearance prices are good only while supplies last. Item regularly priced at $12.95.</font><br><br> These charming miniature fold-out fans are the perfect favors (exotic yet understated), and a unique and stylish way to show your guests to their seats at your summertime, garden or Asian-themed wedding. The crisp paper and light bamboo wood will match any motif. Give your artistic skills a go and hand-paint them for a special, one-of-a-kind effect.  3" h x 4 ½" wide when open.

Mini Paper Fan Place Cards – Chocolate $12.95 <br><font color=red>Clearance prices are good only while supplies last. Item regularly priced at $12.95.</font><br><br> These charming miniature fold-out fans are the perfect favors (exotic yet understated), and a unique and stylish way to show your guests to their seats at your summertime, garden or Asian-themed wedding. The crisp paper and light bamboo wood will match any motif. Give your artistic skills a go and hand-paint them for a special, one-of-a-kind effect.  3" h x 4 ½" wide when open.

Place Card Favor Holders $5.95 Dress up your place cards with kitschy faux-diamond rings in bright Easter-egg colors, perfect for your springtime wedding gala. Cards are easily custom-printed and include pre-cut ribbon to affix the rings. Sold in sets of 20.

Dolphin Place Card Holder $19.95 <br><font color=red>Clearance prices are good only while supplies last. Item regularly priced at $19.95.</font><br><br> A chic seating solution for your wedding by the shore, these dolphin place card holders double as wedding favors. After the party, these charming, silver-plated dolphins hold photos, recipes, or love notes with finesse. A tiny slit in the fin holds wedding place cards (not included). 3" l x 1 1/4" h.

Shell Place Card Frame $1.95 Guests at your beach wedding will love these seashell frames, whether theyre used as place card holders or as picture frame favors to take home (or both). The faux-sand resin frames are adorned with realistic faux shells and come individually boxed with 2 x 3 place cards.

Shell Place Card Holders $19.95 Whether your wedding is by the sea or you just wish it were, show guests to their seats with these silver-plated shell place card holders that also make great take-home gifts. Pack of 12; each measures 1" x 3/4" x 1" high. Place cards not included.

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