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Wedding Flowers: Inexpensive Ideas For Your Reception

Wedding flowers must be one of the most traditional decorations for any wedding celebration. Whether you're planning to get married in church, on the beach, in an office or on a hilltop, you've probably given hours of thought to your wedding flower arrangements.

But flowers for weddings needn't cost a fortune. There are many ways in which you can create sumptuous decorations cheaply and easily -- for example:

• borrow pot plants, shrubs and flowers from your neighbours or nearby plant nursery
• use realistic silk flowers in your arrangements
• compare prices online with those of local flower arrangers
• buy your flowers wholesale or from a market
• find out if there will already be floral decorations in the church or reception hall that you could use
• if another couple is getting married on the same day as you, find out if they would like to 'go halves' with you on the cost of the decorations

Alternatives to Formal Centerpieces

While centerpieces are some of the most popular wedding flower arrangements, there are other choices to help you stay within your budget. You could perhaps alternate floral arrangements with some of these other ideas to add variety to your decorations, as well helping you save money.

Popular alternatives to floral centerpieces include candles and fruit. Candles are a wonderful way of creating an air of romantic enchantment for your wedding and look particularly effective if your venue is dimly lit.

However, if you plan to hold your reception in the afternoon, with plenty of natural daylight, candles may not produce the appropriate dramatic effect.

You could purchase candelabras for each table for an elegant look, or consider the less formal appearance of floating candles in a large glass bowl.

You must ensure that any holders or bowls you use are heat-resistant, and also check with your venue for any restrictions they may have on the use of naked flames.

Fruit is another decorative choice -- and can be eaten later in the evening! Other edible choices include candy or chocolate lollipops. Use your imagination to display whatever treats you choose in an exciting way, using glitter, streamers or balloons.

Try to give an original touch to your centerpieces -- for example, by choosing something really personal such as hand-written poems or family photographs in ornate picture frames.

If you are having trouble keeping your flower costs down, mixing floral centerpieces with other kinds of decoration may be just the answer. Your choice of theme will help you to decide what's appropriate.

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