A neat little money-saving idea that Kendrick and I used for our wedding (we paid for the bulk of our wedding ourselves, so I have lots and lots of these tips for you):
Repurposing bouquets as centerpieces!
Since the reception was in a rustic, casual space (Clay Hill Farm in Ogunquit, ME – and yes, that’s our photo on their home page), we wanted low, cozy centerpieces that didn’t obstruct conversation. Our florist, however, told us that each centerpiece would run about $75, and so we saved money by leaving six of the vessels on the tables empty during the ceremony and asking the bridesmaids to place their bouquets on the tables to serve as centerpieces when they entered the reception (of course, they were welcome to take them home afterwards). This also served the dual function of preserving the bouquets during the reception (they weren’t dumped on tables or floors). I used my bouquet as the centerpiece for our sweetheart table.
For vessels, I saved money by heading to the New York Flower District and buying inexpensive (yet lovely) brushed-tin vases with brass handles (you can see two of them on the windowsill in this photo).
