It’s easier than you think to save money on florals!

Got a big event coming up? The party planners at Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering work with some terrific florists we would happily recommend to you. On a tight budget? Our “floral partners” will be honored to work with you and within your budget – just as we do.

That said, sometimes folks want to DIY it for the fun of it – or to save resources.

Here are some tried and true ways to save money and get the beautiful looks you want:

• Order cut flowers in bulk from Costco, Sam’s or BJ’s. The caveat is you’ll likely need someone that knows how to arrange various types, colors, and sizes of flowers together – to keep centerpieces looking great.
• Buy silk florals from craft places such as Micheal’s or Hobby Lobby. Use fake flowers where no one will notice (such as on stage, in large arrangements, on chandeliers, and the like).
• Don’t be afraid to mix fake flowers with real flowers! Silk flowers make sense when dealing with flower types that fade or wilt quickly.
• For less formal events, make your centerpieces season-appropriate. Buy them at a local farmer’s market or use cuttings from your garden – and those of your guests. People love to share their homegrown roses, lilacs, daisies, ferns, peonies, dahlias, tulips, iris, and sunflowers. Put them in mason jars tied with ribbon or jute and offer them as gifts at the end of the party.
• For weddings, you can make the wedding party bouquets and boutonnieres yourself – or with the wedding party -- which can be a lot of fun! You’ll need more flowers than you think – plus garden shears, ribbon, and even rubber bands, It can take a lot of time – but can be a memorable pre-wedding activity – and way more affordable (and memorable) than ordering from a florist.
• Go minimalist with smaller amounts of stunning colorful flowers and pair them with a lot of candles.

Plan ahead. Practice on a few centerpieces or bouquets ahead of time. Pull together some Idea Boards and try different colors together.

No matter how you choose to pull together your floral decor, remember that fresh flowers have a relatively short shelf-life after being cut. Be sure to keep them in water, and preferably in a cool place (such as an on-premises refrigerator) until right before the event.

Most of all, have fun with your preparations. Flowers signify joy and love – which is what your event is really all about!