JJC horticulture professor offers tips on wedding flowers on a budget

JOLIET – It's impossible to "overdo" wedding flowers.

So says Donna Theimer, professor of horticulture at Joliet Junior College. Flowers, more than any other accessory, give that oh-so-important romantic feel most brides want, Theimer said.

"I don't know any bride that doesn't want people to walk into a room and be 'wowed' by the decorations," Theimer said.

To get the most "wow" for the money, Theimer suggests keeping the following in mind when selecting wedding flowers.

Budget by timing: June is still the most popular month for weddings – which drives up floral costs. So does hosting the wedding on Mother's Day weekend and the weekends before and after that holiday, Theimer said. The least expensive times? Fall and days not considered traditional for weddings, such as Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons, Theimer said.

For optimal prices, try to book the florist six months in advance instead of waiting "until the last minute,” she added.

Budget by variety: Despite worldwide market availability for many varieties, brides do "pay through the nose" for tulips in March and April, even as they "turn their noses" up at less-expensive carnations. Why is this? Because many brides assume color choices are limited to red, white and pink, which is untrue, Theimer said.

Not only are carnations a budget-friendly choice – as are daisies and chrysanthemums – carnations come in a wide array of natural colors, including purple, Theimer said. Hydrangeas are "breathtakingly beautiful" in fall and less pricey during that time, she added.

Color: Most brides are "techno-friendly" when it comes to social media sites, which often post examples of options on wedding flowers. The problem occurs when brides bring those photos to florists and expect to match those colors, which often have been altered digitally, Theimer said.

Brides having their hearts set on colors not found in Mother Nature should know florists can artificially enhance those colors with spray-on products, Theimer said. The look is not "thick and gloppy" but translucent and natural; it brings out all the "subtle striations" in the petals, she said.

Do it yourself: Not recommended, even though Theimer teaches students how "to do" wedding flowers. Creating your own floral arrangements is more than selecting and arranging. It's also picking up, cleaning, safely packing to prevent tipping and spilling, and then transporting to the church and also to the banquet hall, Theimer said.

Once at the reception site, it also means waiting for the linens to be changed out from the previous event and for the clean-up and set-up crew to complete their duties. This often leaves just an hour to prepare the room (o=if the bride has plenty of friends to help out) – not the best game plan on wedding day, Theimer said.

Fragrance: With many flower now bred for longevity, overwhelming fragrant flowers are less common than in days past, Theimer said. Still, it's good to keep that highly scented variety – like geraniums or lily of the valley – on the guest table can change the flavors of the food being served, she added.

Mason jars: Whether wrapped in burlap or hand-painted, mason jars resonate with today's brides, Theimer said. If using them, select jars to complement the flowers. For instance, Theimer said, if the jar has a 4-inch opening on top, it will require a large flower to fill that space, Theimer said.

Scale: Flowers do more than lend elegance and romance to the banquet space. They "set the room to human scale." Meaning, a very large room with high ceilings can feel oversized if centerpieces contain bud vases or tiny flowers, Theimer said. Large table displays – such as those comprised of Calla Lilies – help eliminate that sense, she added.

Some florists will caution against it, Theimer said, as it blocks the view of other guests. However, Theimer feels that if people are sitting around a 72-inch table, they run the risk of shouting to each other, despite the size of the centerpiece. It’s more polite, she said, to speak to those closest and then circulate amongst the other guests.

Sustainability: Trendy on the east and west coasts, thinking "sustainability" when selecting wedding flowers is impractical in the Midwest because of the lack of supply, Theimer said. That's because the main grower of cut products is in Beloit, Wisconsin, she added.