Planning wedding flowers can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re watching your budget but still want beautiful blooms. In Tennessee, seasonal availability and real stem costs matter more than pretty Pinterest boards. This guide breaks down practical ways to stretch your wedding flower budget without sacrificing beauty, with real examples and honest pricing so you know what to expect before you inquire.
1. Choose Statement Pieces
Instead of spreading your flowers too thin, invest in one or two focal arrangements that guests will remember. A stunning bridal bouquet or a ceremony arch creates impact, while smaller details can be simplified. Remember, people are there to see YOU. They aren’t going to frown if the reception tables aren’t dripping in blossoms…although that does sound romantic!
A vibrant ground floral arch designed by Sweet South Flowers for a late-summer wedding at Hidden Springs Venue near Cleveland, TN. This design featured large focal flowers: garden roses, chrysanthemum and dahlias.
2. Repurpose Ceremony Flowers
Those aisle arrangements, altar flowers, or ground arches can easily move to the reception. It’s a smart way to double the value of your blooms and keep the beauty flowing from “I do” to the dance floor.
A Realistic Wedding Flower Budget Example
To give you a realistic picture of how couples stretch their flower budget, here’s a real example from a late-June wedding using a mix of professional design and DIY arrangements:
• Garden-style bridal bouquet: ~$200
• Bulk blooms for bridesmaid bouquets: ~$250
• Bulk blooms for bud vases: ~$250
• Coordination fee: ~$50
Estimated total: ~$750
For comparison, having all bridal party bouquets and table arrangements fully designed and installed by a florist often ranges significantly higher, depending on flower choices, quantities, and labor. By choosing a hybrid approach — with a professionally designed bridal bouquet and bulk blooms for simpler arrangements — couples often redirect a portion of their floral budget while still achieving a cohesive, intentional look.
3. Embrace Seasonal & Local Flowers
Flowers are at their most beautiful (and most affordable) when they’re in season. Choosing blooms that are naturally available in Tennessee during your wedding month ensures freshness and value. If you MUST have a certain flower in your wedding, ask me, farmer-florist, when it is naturally in bloom.
Farmer-Florist Tip! Peonies bloom April–early June in Tennessee. If you dream of peonies, consider a spring wedding date. For dahlias, late August–early October is perfect!
Dahlias grown at Sweet South Flowers in Cleveland, TN — a fall favorite for Tennessee weddings.
4. Be Flexible with Your Flowers
Having a color palette and overall style in mind is often all you need! This gives your florist the freedom to design with the freshest, most beautiful blooms available for your wedding date. Because nature doesn’t always follow a schedule, being open to different flower varieties allows your florist to get creative while still staying true to your vision.
5. Focus on What Matters to You
This is YOUR wedding. Can I get an Amen? Make it you. Love bold color? Soft pastels? Dreaming of a romantic garden style? Share your vision with me and I’ll help you polish your plan! Often the “wow factor” comes from thoughtful design, not just the flower price tag.
The key is knowing where DIY makes sense — and where a little professional guidance can save both time and money.
Sweet South Flowers offers boutique nature inspired floral design that is personal, natural, and authentic. If you’re planning a wedding in Cleveland or Chattanooga, let’s start with a free 20-minute call to dream up your flowers together.
Did you know? We also offer a la carte wedding personals!