Every Bride has a dream of what she wants her wedding to look like. Some want big and flashy, others prefer small and intimate. But what all brides want are pretty flowers to accentuate the day. Flowers for the alter, for the bridesmaids, the groom and groomsmen, for the flower girls (or boys!) to throw down the aisle, her own bouquet, centerpieces, cake table...and the list goes on and on and on! Read on if you want beautiful flowers for less than $500 bucks!

Not to fear ladies, I have a fairly foolproof solution! Don't hire a florist! Gather your best girlfriends, sisters, aunts and cousins and enlist your own private army of helpers. Here are my best steps to Do-it-yourself flowers at a 75% discount. Not for the faint of heart, there is a little work involved here, but if you want to save that money for the honeymoon? Yah, I thought so!

Step 1: Find the look you want from you favorite magazines. Clip about 4 looks you really love, share them with your fiance, mom, or whoever is helping you plan the wedding, and narrow it down to 2 looks you all really love. Research if those particular flowers and colors will be available in the season you are getting married in. If not, look for alternatives in the same color palette that could easily be swapped in.

Step 2: Research where your local Flower Mart is. Most metropolitan cities have downtown Flower Marts. Hint Hint...this is the EXACT same place the Florists go to! Instead of paying an enormous amount of money for a Florist to purchase your flowers, go do it yourself! All you need is a few helping hands to go with you and an SUV to haul them home! (I suggest lining the back of the SUV with a big plastic sheet before you go. You'll also want 2 or 3 big buckets with a low level of water in them ready for the flowers to make the trip home). Plan on going to your flower mart in the morning of the day before your event.(I know, I know, but if you're on a budget, you're probably a good planner already. Make the time and it will really pay off!)

Step 3: Plan out exactly what you need flowers for. Like I mentioned above...write a list of how many bridesmaids bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces etc. you'll need. Knowing how much you'll need to get beforehand will really save you time!

Step 4: Purchase your centerpiece vases. I suggest discount shops like the 99cent store or Ikea. You can buy in bulk and very cheaply. That way at the end of your reception you announce that the youngest or oldest person

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