One of the biggest wedding expenses is wedding flowers.  Do it yourself and save money, it isn’t that difficult.  Whether you want to use fresh flowers or silk flowers you can create beautiful arrangements yourself.

Many people feel overwhelmed when they think of doing the flowers for a wedding.  It can be overwhelming if you are planning a huge wedding with a lot of flowers but if you are having a small wedding and are willing to keep your flowers in season and simple you can actually put together something beautiful and elegant with very little money.

Should you go with silk flowers or fresh flowers?  Only you can decide.  Think carefully about your ability to handle stress and to juggle things at the last minute.  Fresh flowers will need to be done within twenty four hours of the ceremony.  This means that in the stressful, active hours prior to your wedding, when you are potentially at your most emotional you will have the added stress of getting the flowers done.

High quality silk flowers look as good as the real thing in a situation like a wedding.  They last forever, literally, and you can either reuse the flowers for arrangements in your new home or you can put them up on Craigslist or eBay to sell them to someone else and recoup some of your money.

Another benefit is that you can make them well ahead of time; months if need be.  They will wait, covered and stored correctly, for your big day.

If you mess up with silk flowers it is easy to begin again.   They are sturdier than real flowers and can be manipulated many ways without fear of breakage.  When you remember that the cost is about half that of real flowers, silk can be a pretty appealing choice.

In fact, the only reason not to use silk is because…well…they are not real.

For some brides nothing will do but real flowers. They give off a wonderful scent and freshness and they look beautiful. There is romance and tradition involved when you use fresh flowers. If you are doing it yourself try to stay away from roses. They can be difficult to work with and may droop if not prepared correctly or the stems are out of water too long or the room is too warm.

There are certain fresh flowers that will last longer than others. Buying varieties that are in season are a better choice. They don’t travel as far, are fresher, and generally at their lowest prices.

• Alstroemeria
• Baby’s Breath
• Carnations
• Calla Lily
• Chrysanthemums
• Cosmos
• Daisy
• Delphinium
• Gladiolas
• Lily

There are more, but these give you a good idea of some of the more popular flowers for home arrangements. Be sure to talk to your florist early, and order early. Your florist can give you some great tips on making them last.

Always start out with a sterile vase or container and use the powdered bloom extender for cut flowers. Once the arrangements are in place try to keep the room as cool as possible.

Whether you are using fresh or silk you will need to make a choice about the colors that you want. Think about your wedding colors. By using these colors in your bouquet it is easier to create a smooth look.

Brides’ bouquets should coordinate with the dress. If you are going to be wearing white or cream, choosing mainly flowers that are the colors of the bridesmaids dress is a good idea. Accent the arrangement with a few flowers in the color of your own dress. The bridesmaids bouquets can be the opposite color scheme of yours. Long ribbons can also be used to add color.

A very simple, elegant, and traditional effect can be created by tying an organza ribbon around a single stem; rose, calla lily, tulip, iris, etc.

Look in magazines and cut out the bouquets that you especially like. Study them and see what it is about them that you like and how they are put together.  Again, keeping it simple is the best way to go.

You can find help on the Internet at the following places:

• Wedding Flowers Guide
• Do It Yourself Weddings
• Do It Yourself Centerpieces

Creating your own wedding flower arrangements and bouquets is a way to make the wedding a bit more affordable.