TIPS ON FLORAL SAVINGS
From choosing the right site, to creative cutting back, we have multiple ways to reduce your floral budget. Here are some ways to keep your numbers and blood pressure lower.
1. Location, Location, Location: Choose ceremony and location settings that are already naturally beautiful with trees and planted flowers galore.
2. Garden Party: If you want your decorations to be all about the flowers, why not make it a garden wedding at a local botanical, public, or hotel garden?
3. Keep It Simple: Go for sophisticated, unique arrangements such as elegant calla lilies in glass vases or bowls containing floating candles and gardenias. These arrangements are elegant, understated, and relatively inexpensive. Consider using flowering plants like African violets or daffodils in terra cotta pots tied with a lovely colorful ribbon.
4. Single And Loving It: Have each bridesmaid carry a single stem tied with a beautiful ribbon instead of a full bouquet. For your décor, fill a pitcher with daisies for a fresh, simple arrangement.
5. Champagne Wishes: Orchids and lily of the valley aren’t the only beautiful buds on the vine. Go to the flower market and see for yourself. There are other less expensive flower options: dahlias — big fluffy flowers in yummy colors — zinnias, sunflowers, daisies and baby’s breath to name a few.
6. Avoid The Holidays: We’re not asking you to be a bridal Grinch, but flower prices usually go way up around holidays. Be sure to choose your wedding date with this in mind.
7. Season’s Best: Flowers are always better priced when they are in season.
8. Buy in Bulk: Found a great price on a flat of tulips? Grab all you can and use them everywhere! Garden rose bushes in flower boxes are also available to rent, and as a double treat, make a beautiful and substantial camouflage for the front of a stage or bimah.
9. Recycle: Transfer the flowers from your ceremony to your reception. Similarly, re-arrange the flowers from your rehearsal dinner for your cocktail reception.
10. Light It Up: Trade floral centerpieces for elaborate candles on every reception table. If a floral touch is a must-have, sprinkle rose petals around the candle holders.
TIPS ON RECEPTION SAVINGS
Cutting reception costs doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. With some simple streamlining and strategic spending, it is completely within the realm of possibility to realize your dream wedding within your spending limit.
One of the biggest money savers is to choose a naturally beautiful reception site that won’t require expensive décor. An ornate ballroom, breathtaking beach, or glorious rose garden can each stand on it’s own without additional embellishment.
You can also trim costs by limiting your menu to a single entrée, or holding your reception outside of the dinner hour. A brunch, luncheon, or cocktail reception is considerably less expensive than a dinner, and an earlier hour will usually net you savings on your location.
Beverage costs can be reduced by bringing in your own liquor, limiting an open bar to the cocktail hour, or by hosting a soft bar of wine, beer, and soft drinks.
Choosing favors that serve a dual purpose — such as mini frames that hold seating cards — can create savings, or you may choose to forego favors altogether in order to put more money towards other aspects of your event.
Using non-floral centerpieces with candles or fruit, or utilizing inexpensive flowers will slash your floral bill, and plain white-on-white linens and china create a clean, cost-effective look that is perfect for a wedding.
Finally, ask your site manager about possible courtesy upgrades to your package, such as free parking for guests. You won’t know unless you ask, and all you have to lose are additional costs.
(and this blogger)
Miryam Heiliczer made Aliyah with her husband in 2005 from Baltimore, Maryland. She has been a manager and coordinator in the healthcare and social services field for more than thirty years. She has been designing corporate events, parties and weddings since her own chassanah using creative and innovative ideas to bring joy and elegance to even the most budget stretched client. She’s learned how to cut unnecessary costs without compromising on superior quality and service.
Miryam was the founder of several organizations, including “Hope Abounds”, a non-profit in Washington, D.C. dedicated to providing advocacy, counseling and other services for victims of domestic abuse and violence. She is also a certified bereavement counselor for families going through the grieving process.
Since she has been in Israel, Miryam has been creating beautiful weddings, bar /bat mitzvahs, Sheva Brachas, a non-profit organization’s fundraising banquet, floral décor for a seminar. She does research on every aspect of the event to ensure you are well informed about all the decisions you need to make. Miryam prepares a detailed proposal with several options for you to choose from. You decide and we make it happen.
Miryam has always had a compassionate side to her and enjoys making people feel good about themselves, adding to their joy and sharing in their sorrow. What grander way to add to that joy than by assisting a Bride and Groom on the most important day of their lives! (Well, helping to deliver a baby to a former bride ranks right up there at the top)!
For your special event, she will be there every step of the way during the entire process, keeping you on track, on time and relaxed. From first consultation until the guests say “good-night”. Miryam is your ally, advocate, friend and confidant. She is Tov Maod.
Kol Tuv,
Wishing you the best of Love, Life, Joy and Traditions! “L’Chaim”
Miryam Heiliczer
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