The Innovative Bride
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Looking for a low-cost way to have beautiful flowers at your wedding? Learn the secrets of getting up to 70% off and still having everything you want.
The Innovative Bride:
You probably already know that it's possible to rent everything from a wedding dress to veil, but did you know it's also possible to rent your flowers?
Flowers can easily account for $2,500 of a wedding budget, and that's just on the low end. Bouquets, centerpieces, floral cake toppers, boutonnieres, ceremony displays and corsages will cost you a bundle without even realizing it. But some brides are wising up. Ask your church or ceremony venue for the name of another bride getting married before or after you. Contact her family and arrange to meet with your family or fiancee. It's a nice idea to make it a group affair so everyone is involved and up to date on the latest plans. But if you have a difficult sister or in-law, you might want to leave them at home and go solo. You want to turn it into a positive experience.
Once you meet with the bride, explain that with the high cost of flowers, you're interested in 'renting' her flowers. I'd recommend shooting for 30% of her flower budget. You don't necessarily want to split the cost 50-50 if you didn't get to pick them out yourself. Also consider whether or not you want to use her bouquets. Some brides might be reluctant to share their special flowers, so be prepared to just negotiate for the larger pieces.
A Few Tips:
Pick a Bride Getting Married Before You. Your wedding day will be hectic and you and your family won't want to keep up with the rental flower arrangement. It will be easiest for you to just walk into the ceremony and everything will be set. Plus, you don't want to run the risk of the bride being upset if the flowers don't look just right. If she had them before you, then there will be excuse to look your way. It will also be an easier sell. She's finished with the flowers and while she's happily dancing at her reception, you'll be enjoying her flowers.
Get everything in writing. That includes cost, type of flowers included, duration of the rental, and who returns the flowers and where. You don't want any misunderstandings along the way. Even the most sincere of brides can get flustered and frustrated during the weeks leading up to a wedding. You want to make sure everyone is on the same page and happy with the arrangement.
Find out who the florist is. It's a good idea to make an appointment to look through his or her portfolio or ask for recommendations. You don't want to end up with wilted lilies and sagging baby's breath at your ceremony.
Pay on time. It's easy to get caught up in the magical frenzy of your wedding day and run off on your honeymoon to relax in the sun. By the time you get back, you'll be exhausted and ready to get back to your routine. Before you know it, you're getting angry calls from the other bride wanting payment for the flowers. Consider agreeing on a deposit before the wedding day or leaving a check at the church or ceremony venue for the bride's family.
With some innovative thinking, you can shave off thousands from your budget just from renting your flowers. Consider it time and money well spent. Your wedding day is just the first day of the rest of your lives together. Use a fraction of what you would have spent on flowers to pay off debt, invest in a much needed new car, or maintenance for your new home.
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