Repurpose Ceremony Flowers!
With 15 years of experience as a professional wedding planner, I've seen couples make decisions that I often need to advise against. A frequent concern is the budget for the ceremony flowers and decor. It may seem logical to skip them since you and your guests will only be in that area for a short time. But let's dig deeper and explore some options that won't take away from the main purpose of your big day (the ceremony!).
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When browsing Pinterest for ceremony florals, it's easy to get lost in elaborate, expensive designs. While some elements can't be reused later in the day, most can be repurposed with some advance planning. First, let's identify what can't be easily moved. Then, we'll explore the many options that can be, with tips for a smooth transition. To show the beauty of your reception space in photos, don't use any of its focal points for your centerpieces or arrangements. I'll explain this below.
WHAT TO AVOID:
Any decor that cannot be EASILY moved without being disassembled and then reassembled in some way.
This often (but not always) includes floral…
1. .. attachments to an arch or chuppah
2. .. small arrangements that hang on individual chairs
3. .. garlands that run along the backs of chairs
4. .. arrangements that are specifically designed to look like they're cascading or floating.
5. .. designs with all loose flower pedals - it is not going to be quick to pick them all up and move them..
WHAT TO FOCUS ON:
Specifically, speak with your florist about how to make the decor easy to be moved!
The ideal arrangements that can be moved would be ones that are…
1. .. not individually affixed to anything individually(ask for arch/ceremony flowers to be in ‘cages’ or something similar so they can be moved as an ‘arrangement’ of sorts)
2. .. arrangements ‘stand-alone’. They are in their own vessel/vas/container and can be easily picked up and moved.
3. .. in containers arranged for easy pickup and walking, even if part of a larger one. Head-of-aisle arrangements or ground arches can be designed this way.
Your planner or friend in charge of moving these items should quickly and quietly remove them from the ceremony site, and place them wherever you plan to repurpose them.
Do not use them as centerpieces in the reception space
The best time for your photographer to take photos of your reception is during a very brief window at cocktail hour. It's usually around 5 to 10 minutes, occasionally 15 if you're lucky. If you use these florals for centerpieces it will likely disrupt your photographer's ability to capture the perfect shots of the space. And after all this time and money invested, you should have amazing photos to look back at.
WHAT TO REPURPOSE THEM AS:
You'll want to use these in areas where guests will interact, but that would otherwise be lacking in decor. If I have multiple arrangements, I'll specify in the day-of schedule which key areas to focus on first, and then let the planner decide where to put the rest. The key places to include are:
The Bar(s) &/or Food Stations (they must be small or out-of-the-way enough to not disrupt the caterer’s work)
Entrance/Exit to and from the reception space
The gift/guestbook table
Small arrangements can be used in the bathrooms
In front of the band or DJ
Accenting the dance floor's edge (be careful with placement to avoid tripping intoxicated dancers)
At the ends of the head table
In front of the sweetheart table
We've also placed ceremony arches & chuppahs behind couples. If the ceremony and reception are in the same space, we simply position the couple in front of the arch during the room transition.
Escort Card Table. These tables can easily seem barren, this is a great way to elevate them! Then they can be repurposed once again!
As a ‘filler’ - if your venue has a boat, cart, or other fun large piece of decor you can fill it with flowers, ceremony florals are perfect for this.
Incorporate some into your photo booth!
A Memorial Table - If you have loved ones who are no longer with us and want to create a table with photos and/or keepsakes to honor their memory, adding some flowers can make it even more meaningful.
A Lounge Area could use them as a nice centerpiece to elevate the space
At the base of a seating chart is sometimes a great place for a larger arrangement.
Fabrice Tranzier Photography
We also sometimes bring them to cocktail hour and then move them to the reception.
This adds so much to your reception space without breaking the bank or sacrificing your ceremony design. As a wedding planner in the Hudson Valley with over 15 years of experience doing weddings across New England and destinations, I can attest to this.
I am happy to share what I've learned with you!
Here are some additional photos of florals brought from the ceremony to be repurposed at the reception!
