Why Natural Elements Could Perk Up Your Wedding Flowers

Instead of a standard bouquet, add some natural elements to the flowers you use to decorate the venue on the big day.

If you're tying the knot this year we know you may be trying to make sure your ceremony is as unique and original as possible.

While some of you may choose to wear a vintage wedding dress, others may opt for a more unusual mode of transport like a horse and carriage or Rolls Royce to get you to the wedding venue.

Plus, there are undoubtedly brides among you who decide to go all-out and get married in some far-flung, exotic location in a sunset ceremony on the beach.

Of course, all of these things cost money and as well as having a day to remember, you may be looking to stick to a tight budget.

One way in which you could do this is with your wedding flowers, as these are one aspect of a ceremony that can be highly personalised and still decorative, even if you decide to prioritise them lower down your budget.

As the Chicago Tribune reports, couples spent an average of $2,093 (£1,354) on sweet-smelling and beautiful blooms last year and although they undoubtedly looked gorgeous, there are some ways in which you can splash out far less on something just as eye-catching.

The news provider recommends introducing objects other than flowers into your arrangements and combining blooms with other natural items such as stones, shells and fruit.

Sharon Stimpfle, deputy site director of weddingchannel.com, said that when autumn rolls around, she often sees "a lot of succulent arrangements in a small vessel, inside in a vase filled with walnuts, pinecones or other natural elements".

"I've also seen people fill vases with fruits or other flower petals that are less expensive," she added.

While this could quickly reduce the number of flowers you need for your arrangement – which is bound to reduce costs straight away – there is another idea that could see you create a really special display while saving even more money and that's water.

You need to give your flowers plenty of the stuff if you want to ensure they look their best for the duration of the service, so why not go one step further and incorporate the element into your arrangements?

The Chicago Tribune suggests using a large-headed flower such as Gerbera daisies, gardenias or open roses and cutting them down so that only one inch of the stem remains.

Then, you can go wild and float some of these stunning and eye-catching blooms in large, shallow bowls of water that can be placed around the wedding venue. Take it one step further by adding floating candles and go for scented ones if you really want to create a delicate fragrance in the room.

Admittedly, introducing this much water does have the potential to end in disaster if there are youngsters running around, so you could stick with the natural theme and add other elements into your bouquets.

"You can use herbs - thyme is a good one, baby's breath or other natural elements," Ms Stimpfle says. "They can even double as guest favours."

Whatever option you go for, make sure you start planning in plenty of time, as this could take longer to arrange than a classic decoration. Take some advice from the Jamaica Observer and ensure you always have a plan B in place, just in case.