by Caroline Sumner

Created on: August 12, 2010   Last Updated: August 13, 2010

Weddings are often all about the flowers – the bouquets, the boutonnieres, the centerpieces, and all those other decorations that require flowers all grace the wedding day in droves. And with the price of hiring a florist often adding up to a staggering amount, many brides are unable to look at the flowers without hearing a cash register ringing in their heads. That’s no way to enjoy the wedding flowers!

One way to remedy the fear of the florist is, simply, not to have one. Rather, it may be a wonderful choice to use hand-picked wildflowers for your wedding instead! It would give the wedding a homespun and personal touch – and save you hundreds of dollars in the process!

Here are a couple of ideas for what you can do with wildflowers that can be found right in your own backyard:

DANDELIONS

Think these yellow flowers are just weeds? Think again! They are a beautiful color and look quite a bit like sunbursts. Paired with another flower, dandelions would serve as an excellent accent color. They are obviously readily available just about anywhere you look, and stem lengths often vary so much that you may not need to trim much in order to create a chic layered look. How precious would a flower girl look carrying a basket of these down the aisle? Another fun idea: instead of confetti or rice, have guests make a wish and blow white dandelions at the end of the ceremony!

QUEEN ANNE’S LACE

This delicate bit of flora is just as useful as baby’s breath. Queen Anne’s lace looks stunning tucked into an updo and elegant as a light and airy bouquet! It also makes a nice accent flower for an arrangement.

HERBS

Herbs like mint, lavender, and even basil can look beautiful. Make arrangements of various herbs from your garden and tuck them into little vases to make aromatic centerpieces for the tables.

VIOLETS

Because violets have such short stems, it can be hard to use them in arrangements. Instead, try floating blooms in glass bowls or preserving and attaching them to things like programs, menus, or escort and place cards.

CLOVER

Those vibrant purple blooms aren’t just rabbit food! They can make a sweet little nosegay and are the perfect size to serve as boutonnieres for the groomsmen. They also look pretty as accent flowers or as part of a small centerpiece.

LILIES

Lilies are found on the side of the road all over my town! Bright orange tiger lilies are readily available in ditches – take advantage of the blooms that are not on property lines and claim them for your bouquets!

So before you pull up those “weeds” or pass by flowers blooming on the side of the road, think again – they may be exactly what you need to dress your wedding to the nines! 

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