Let’s face it: one of the best parts of any wedding is the florals! From bright spring pastel tones to moody autumn shades of burgundy to earthy and organic greenery, the possibilities are endless for adding some “flower power” to your wedding day! But the downside? It can be one of the more expensive areas of your budget. Not to worry – we’ve got you covered! Scroll down to see expert tips for maximizing your floral budget and making the most of your wedding season.

Photographer: Rithy Tamba // Planner: Alston Mayger Events // Floral: Jodi Iverson Florals // Ring: Hutcherson Goldsmithing // Earrings: Kasa Kasama // Dress: True Society by The White Dress

Communication is everything with your vendor team!

“Communication is key here! You’ve hired your planning + floral design teams for a reason — they’re subject matter experts in their field(s). Be sure to let all involved parties know your hopes and dreams for floral so they can weigh in and help guide you. If you’re looking to prioritize re-purposing florals, your floral designer has to know this upfront to ensure they don’t construct anything that can’t be easily moved. Also, keep in mind that someone needs to be on-site to move the floral arrangement, which can result in an additional labor charge.” – Ashley Lachney, Alston Mayger Events

Photographer: Ben & Hope Photography // Planner & Designer: Sumptuous Events Paris

Seasonally, spring is king!

“In my book, nothing beats spring when it comes to the best wedding florals. Peonies, the fluffiest flowers of them all are in season and they are magnificent. There is a small window in mid-fall when they are available, but typically not as full and lush as they are in the spring into very early summer. They come in a variety of tones from neutral whites, ivories and blushes to more vibrant pinks and reds. Not only are they beautiful, but they are also quite large and can quickly fill a bouquet or centerpiece with fewer stems than other types of blooms. The perfect wedding flower in every way!” – Nora Sheils, Founder Bridal Bliss and Co-Founder Rock Paper Coin

Photographer: Adriana Mendez Photography // Wedding Planner: Mil Besos Costa Rica // Venue: Casa Puro Dieces // Florist: Stylos y Flores

If you’re picturing a greenery-filled day for your wedding, avoid a key time of year.

“If you have visions of lots of lush greenery everywhere, consider NOT getting married in May or early June! The #1 greenery florists use is smilax and it is out of season during those months!” – Stephanie Sadowski, SRS Events

Photographer: Katie Grant Photography // Wedding Planner: CCL Weddings // Venue: Villa Lario Resort // Florist: Honeycomb Affair

Be aware of what your floral goals and visions are, and ensure they’re realistic for your wedding date and budget.

“Not all flowers grow equally. If you love peonies, there’s a specific season you’ll need to get married in. If not, you’ll be paying $$$$ to get them shipped in from elsewhere, if they’re even available. Let your floral + planning teams guide you on what can give you a similar look if a bloom is fetching too many dollar signs at the market.” – Ashley Lachney, Alston Mayger Events

Planning: Wrennwood Design // Photography: Leah Daniels Photography // Venue: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens // Floral Design: Mibellarosa

When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with repurposing your florals!

“One way to maximize your floral budget and my favorite advice is to repurpose florals! Use all the florals from your ceremony and repurpose them to your head table or sweetheart table or any other reception table. It’s a great way to maximize those florals and guests will never know that you repurposed them. Oftentimes, you can even move other florals around if you have different spaces that guests transition to. For example, if you have a bar during cocktail hour and then it shuts down and guests move to the reception space, repurpose the florals from that bar to the main bar for the reception space. It not only saves money but creates less waste too.” – Kari Dirksen, CEO + Lead Planner, Feathered Arrow Events