What Are the Cheapest Flowers For a Wedding?

All flowers add extra elegance to make a wedding celebration even more special, but the cost of said blooms can be staggering. Fortunately, for couples on a budget (and who isn’t?), there are plenty of cheap wedding flowers that can embody any aesthetic you want to achieve. With so many areas of wedding planning to consider, all of which cost money, it’s nice to know you don’t have to skimp on style if you’re trying to figure out how to do wedding flowers cheap.

When deciding on which flower you’d like for your wedding party bouquets and decorations, consider the season, number of flowers, and floral arrangements you’d like to have. All of this factors into how much your wedding flowers will cost. There are countless ways to incorporate these flowers, either on their own or mixed in with more expensive varieties, to help you save on spending when it comes to planning your wedding day.

Among the least expensive wedding bouquet flowers are:

• Alstroemeria
• Baby’s breath
• Carnations
• Chrysanthemums
• Daisies
• Gladiolas
• Sunflowers
• Tulips

Alstroemeria

Though not often referred to by its official name, alstroemerias are a go-to among florists and wedding venues when working with couples who have a tight budget. These flowers are commonly known as Peruvian lilies and come in a wide variety of colors, which makes it easier to match the colors of your wedding. Their delicate look is perfect for a spring wedding, when they’re in season, and are striking enough to stand alone.

For rustic wedding flower ideas, use antique jars or vases to hold alstroemerias as centerpieces. When using them as part of a bridal bouquet, mix and match various shades of the same color to complement the rest of your chosen decor. The sweet simplicity and shape of the alstroemeria adds an elegant touch to any wedding—without driving up the cost.

Baby’s Breath

Once heavily used as a filler flower, baby’s breath has recently made a comeback as a classic choice for all wedding styles. It’s usually paired with other colorful flowers, but can be used on its own to make a statement for rustic or ethereal wedding inspiration. Get a burst of white from these tiny buds and make the most of your flower budget.

Many brides like to use baby’s breath for floral crowns for their bridesmaids and flower girls to wear during the ceremony. Others like to use them as decoration for a canopy at an outdoor wedding. They can also be used for boutonnieres and corsages for important members of your celebration, such as ushers, wedding musicians, and officiant. Don’t discount baby’s breath for being one of the cheapest wedding flowers around; they can add so much for so little.

Carnations

Carnations have a classic appeal that fit right into most wedding decor. Their long-lasting blooms and sturdy stems make them a fine candidate for outdoor wedding celebrations, in particular. They come in several natural colors, but can be dyed to coordinate with your bridesmaids’ dresses. The unique petal shape of carnations are a great addition to any bridal bouquet.

They work as a partner for other, more expensive types of flowers to fill a bouquet or can stand alone as a full floral arrangement. Carnations also serve as sweet touches when placed on reception tables, alongside the guestbook, or at the entrance of your wedding ceremony.

Chrysanthemums

The lush blooms of chrysanthemums have an expensive look to them without the high price tag of other bulbous flowers. Chrysanthemums come in stunning, rich colors like orange and magenta, making them an optimal choice for fall weddings. This exotic-looking flower blooms in autumn and early winter for those who are struggling to find seasonal flowers on a budget.

They look elegant floating in bowls of water at your reception site. They easily dress up an otherwise plain wedding cake. And they’re a gorgeous option to add to your wedding party bouquets. As one of the more affordable wedding flowers, it’s nice that chrysanthemums are so versatile.

Daisies

No flower is quite as pure as the daisy. A bouquet of daisies tied with a lace ribbon offers a romantic touch that works for outdoor ceremonies. They easily dress up a venue and are one of the most affordable wedding flowers there is, making it a win-win for any wedding budget.

Use sunny orange and yellow daisies to add pops of color to a spring or summer wedding, or opt for softer colors like pale pink and white for a subtle flourish. They can be transformed in many ways and bring life to any centerpiece or bouquet. Plus, daisies often carry a sentimental value, which only adds to their overall appeal.

Gladiolus

The long stems and rows of buds on gladiolus make an extravagant statement without breaking the bank. Their appearance is majestic with a modern and elegant allure. Place a few stems in clear vases and pair with tea lights on guests’ tables for a chic, evening glow. Due to their size, these flowers are often best kept for decorating purposes at the reception. The good news is you don’t need many to create a stunning look.

Though they come in multiple colors, choosing white gladiolus as your main wedding flower complements the formality of a black-tie wedding celebration. They’re striking and need little other fanfare to create a stylish centerpiece. When you’re trying to keep the number of floral arrangements to a minimum for the sake of your budget, you’ll get more bang for your buck with this impressive choice. Think quality over quantity when considering gladiolus as your chosen flower.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers immediately brighten up any space with their bright petals. They are the ideal flower for a low-key wedding celebration—think flower field, city garden, or backyard ceremony. Couples who appreciate a rustic aesthetic will be drawn to the tried-and-true sunflower for all areas of their decorating needs. In fact, some couples have been sticking to a sunflower wedding theme to keep the aesthetic bright. Gather a few sunflowers into a bouquet and tie with a white, satin ribbon or a strand of burlap fabric for homestyle appeal.

As far as cheap wedding flowers go, sunflowers never go out of style. Their bright petals and big blooms automatically exude a feeling of happiness. Have your flower girl pluck the pretty yellow petals as she walks down the aisle, or pass out single sunflowers in small jars or vases as a favor for guests. No matter how you use them, sunflowers are a priceless choice that costs very little.

Tulips

Nothing says spring quite like tulips. An obvious choice for many weddings held during the warmer months, tulips have a timeless beauty to them and are one of the most popular spring wedding flower options as a result. Amp up the level of sophistication with a bouquet of white tulips wrapped with a black ribbon, or get colorful with a variety of tulips to work in with your other flower arrangements. Like many of the other options available, you don’t need many to make things look magical.

Use tulips for boutonnieres, add single tulips to colorful vases to line your reception tables, or grab a few bunches from your local farmers’ market as a fresh addition to your wedding celebration. For couples who are planning a ceremony at City Hall or a luncheon at a favorite spot where they’ll exchange vows, tulips instantly add polish to the day without costing too much.

Save Money on Your Wedding Flowers

No matter what kind of wedding you have in mind, the budget is one of the first topics of discussion. If you’re looking for areas to cut costs, flowers are the way to go. Choose from these cheap wedding flowers and get creative when brainstorming ideas for your bouquets and decorations.

The most important thing is to communicate your budget and preferences with your florist. Or, better yet, engage the talents of a close friend or family member to create DIY designs. As an added way to save, transfer flowers used in your ceremony to your reception. You can also select smaller bouquets for your bridesmaids to carry—or even nix them altogether.

When it comes to how you want everything to look, even the cheapest wedding flower will elevate the atmosphere and make it brighter and more inviting. It’s all about how you incorporate them into your decor and make them your own. You can’t go wrong when choosing any of these flower options. They’re all stunning in their own right and will look beautiful in whatever way you decide to use them.

For more resources on finding the best wedding flowers, see our other guides:

• Unique Wedding Flower Alternatives
• Wedding Flower Checklist
• How to Find an Affordable Wedding Florist

If you need help budgeting when you create a wedding registry, the experts at Zola are more than happy to guide you through successfully!