For Flower Power, Think Beyond Blooms.

Many brides today want their floral arrangements to make a big statement at their wedding, but they may not have a big floral budget. I'm even finding that flowers are taking center stage, sometimes even over the quality of food and beverage. (Heed my warning here...don't let this happen to you! The food and drink your guests will be consuming is BY FAR more important that the flowers they'll be gazing at the few short hours before the bell strikes and the ball is over).

But, you can have beautiful, rich and full floral designs without spending a fortune, if you stick to a few basics.

First, buy only flowers that will be in season during your wedding. Out of season flowers will cost double or triple because of the conditions needed to grow them in during their off season and because of the scarcity of the blooms' availability.

Second, trim your list of flowers down to two or three main blooms. Some of the richest wedding designs I've seen have been as simple as large urns full of beautiful, fluffy, overflowing hydrangea in different tones of one or two shades. The look is soft but bold and having a single flower increases the impact of that flower when the number of stems is multiplied. Even the lowly carnation is making a comeback in large quantities. It's strength in numbers folks!

And frankly? I love it!

Third, keep your color palate choices to a minimum of four, and make sure at least one of those colors is kept out of the floral arrangements and used as an accent, such as in ribbon tied around your vases, favor boxes on the tables, in the linens or on the rims of plates or glasses.

My favorite new trend? Small bud vases interspersed down a long table runner full of edible treats or gifts for your guests, such as bread sticks, bottles of olive oil or champagne, salt and pepper cellars, cake plates stacked with fruits and veggies or small petite fours and candies, even favors! Using inanimate objects along with flowers is a great way to set off unique or large single blooms.

This can also be done in such a way to lend either a formal or informal feeling to the table depending on what types of single containers you use (silver, glass, etc.) and what types of blooms and other items you use.

Want something completely out of the ordinary, but still elegant? Try using lovely succulents planted in wreath forms, laying flat on the table with candles in the center. Or plant them in large containers a few months before the wedding and let them fill in beautifully for a grand statement on a green color palate (which would be rich and warm on top of chocolate linens with a touch of gold or bold yellow). These even make great attendant or guest gifts!

Or, try planted grass containers in the center of your tables with paper butterflies on wires coming up out of the grass, or a few single Gerber Daises popping up to add a touch of color and whimsy.

Using non-floral items associated with your theme in your arrangements can help secure your vision while adding another dimension of visual interest to your arrangements that is unexpected but very effective. Try grapes for a Tuscan theme, or feathers for a Farm House wedding.

You don't have to break the bank with your flowers to get the affect you want, you may just need to do a little research and think outside the box!