Whether you are planning a beach theme for an indoor ceremony, or setting up a seaside venue for your wedding, beach flowers are a must. There are infinite varieties of flowers to choose from in colors and shapes to suit every taste and budget. With a little careful planning, you can treat yourself and your guests to a stylish floral display…without draining your savings account.

Try these strategies for creating a winning beach wedding floral design on a budget:

Types of floral arrangements

First you need to decide the number and type of flower arrangements you need for your wedding. Beach ceremonies can include loads of flowers or none at all. Traditional weddings normally include the following: Floral arches, a wedding bouquet, a bouquet for the bride, a basket of flowers for the flower girl, corsages for the bridesmaids, boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen and floral arrangements for reception tables. Some couples include corsages or boutonnieres for close relatives who attend the wedding. Beach flowers are also often used to create an aisle or path leading to the ceremony.

Tip: You’ll need fewer flowers for a beach wedding because you will be surrounded by the natural beauty of the setting. If you have a limited budget, you can get by with flowers for the bride and groom only. Replace the bride’s bouquet and groom’s boutonniere with colorful Hawaiian-style leis to enhance the beach theme.

Budget

The average couple spends $2000 for flowers for their wedding. Beach flowers don’t need to cost that much, unless you choose to splurge.

After tallying up the number of floral arrangements you need, decide on tropical flowers, non-tropicals or a mix. With this information in hand, you are ready to obtain price estimates from florists and nail down your budget.

What to ask florists

Unless you have experience arranging flowers, this job is best left to the professionals. Ask wedding planners, hotels or other recently married couples in the area to recommend florists. Try to identify at least three potential florists. Meet with each florist in person. If this is not possible, interview them by telephone.

Tip: Ask each florist the questions below to narrow your search and identify the one that’s perfect for your wedding:

What services do you offer for weddings?

Are your designing services included in the cost of the flowers?

What experience do you have designing floral arrangements for beach weddings?

Can you show me examples of arrangements you have designed specifically for beach weddings?

Beyond the cost of the flowers, what additional charges should I expect (delivery, setup, etc.)?

How far in advance do I need to place my order?

Can you give me a firm price quote instead of an estimate?

Compare answers and quoted prices. Choose the florist who provides the most satisfactory answers to your questions AND offers a reasonable price in comparison to their competition.

Here are additional money-savers:

Use locally grown flowers

Stick with flowers that are indigenous to area where you’ll be getting married. Locally grown flowers do not have to be refrigerated and shipped which means that florists typically sell them for a lower price. This lets you achieve a sumptuous look for your wedding with a smaller budget.

Tell your florist the color palate you plan to use for your wedding. This includes the color of decorations, the brides dress and the clothing to be worn by the groom and wedding party. The florist can then recommend local flowers that best complement your wedding theme.

Repurpose your flower arrangements

To cut your budget, use the same flowers for both the wedding ceremony and the reception. Arrange ahead of time for your florist (or a few close friends) to immediately move flowers from the ceremony site to the reception location.

If you decide to go this route, choose flowers with strong, waxy blooms such as antherium, heliconia, orchids and calla lilies. These hold up best in heat and will look fresh through the ceremony, the reception and for a few days beyond.

Use plants and greenery in addition to blossoms

Ask your florist to use potted plants and local greenery generously in your floral arrangements. These are less expensive than cut flowers. For example, palm fronds are beautiful, dramatic and plentiful. Depending on the location of your wedding, you may be able to find some local greenery on your own…for free.

To stretch your budget even further, include potted plants such as African violets, smaller orchids, and tillandsia, and give them to guests as thank-you gifts.