There are several ways to cut costs in the floral department. I will touch on several of the easiest ways. Keep in mind that just because this is a wedding, does not necessarily mean you have to use great gardens of flowers. Sometimes, less is best. Read on for more floral cutting tips.    
       
    It's All About Sharing    
       
    Check with the church to see if another wedding is scheduled on the same day as yours. If so, ask the other couple about sharing the expense for ceremony site flowers. The florist can make arrangements in neutral shades of white or ivory and can add colored ribbon to make each arrangement more coordinated with that wedding's specific colors. You could luck out and find a couple who shares your color scheme. This can save you half the floral bill for the ceremony site. A good friend of mine learned that the church was booked for another wedding the same day as hers. Karen called  the other bride, they met with the florist, and they were able to split the bill in half. Each bride had truly beautiful church flowers at only half the cost.    
       
    At the ceremony, have the pew markers designed to double as centerpieces at the reception. I recommend this frequently to brides, and they all love the idea of having wonderful pew markers and equally wonderful centerpieces. Transporting the pew markers can be a problem, but it's nothing that your florist and wedding coordinator can't handle.    
       
    For that matter, transport any flowers you use at the ceremony to the reception. Why spend all that money on flowers for guests to enjoy for only 30 minutes? Again, your florist and wedding coordinator can take care of this detail, or you can ask a trusted friend.    
       
    Au Naturel    
       
    If you're being married in the spring or summer, you can eliminate the cost of a large, expensive bridal bouquet by gathering wildflowers the morning of your wedding and tying them with a lovely ribbon to coordinate with your colors. You need to be careful that the flowers you're gathering will be open and blooming when you go pick them so they'll look perfect when you walk down the aisle. With this in mind, you might want to make sure that you've located a good spot for flowers ahead of time.    
       
    Apprentices Wanted    
       
    If you live in a large metropolitan area, check to see if there is a local floral design school. Many times, students at these trade schools will gladly produce your wedding flowers for the cost of materials so that they can gain the experience and a letter of recommendation.    
       
    Save Bucks Covering Blemishes    
       
    If your reception facility needs some ''plastic surgery" to cover flaws in the room (marks on walls, exposed pipes, ugly pictures that cannot be removed), use balloons instead of flowers or greenery. The balloons are cheaper, will cover more, add a festive party look, and can be assembled the morning of the wedding.    
       
    Keep It Simple    
       
    Select flowers grown locally, and use only flowers in season. Instead of carrying a bouquet of roses, you can carry a single rose or a small floral arrangement on a family Bible or prayer book.    
       
    Some of the prettiest arrangements I've seen in churches have been assorted greenery mixed with candles. There were no flowers present, just an assortment of greens,  palms, ferns, and plants, intertwined with votive candles. This type of arrangement should be less expensive than using all flowers.    
       
    Flowers for Rent    
       
    Check with your florist about the possibility of renting centerpieces. One couple on a tight budget had 20 tables to decorate for the reception. They found a florist whose daughter had recently married, and he rented his daughter's silk arrangements to them. The arrangements were lovely, and no one was the wiser.