Saving Money on Prom Flowers

Spring is filled with so many different, exciting things, but the best ones of all during the Spring is all the rights of passages for teens, especially the Prom. All the boys are getting nervous with having to ask the girls out. All the girls are getting excited with picking out that perfect dress, shoes and accessories. The planning and preparation for Prom night can be so thrilling, and yet drain the parents wallet really fast as well. I would like to help cut costs a little bit when it comes to Prom flowers. If you try to one or more of these steps I am sure you will walk away with a little more money left over, because lets be real people, kids don't remember the corsage as much as the other items for the night and truthfully you hate the idea of spending an arm and a leg on flowers that will just die within a week.

Flower Saving Tip #1
Fake Flowers:
Most florist will automatically make you a fresh flower arrangement for that night without asking you what you think about it. Main reason is because fresh flowers are more expensive and this is a way for the florist to make more money off of you. DO NOT hesitate to ask your florist for an artificial arrangement. It could possibly cut you bill in half and the best part these flowers will last for years to come and memories will never go wasted. Just remember when placing your flower order to ask them if they carry artificial arrangements or if she/he could subsidize with artificial flowers.

Flower Saving Tip #2:
Pick Your Own:
Is there someone in your family that has a garden, or possibly do you have one of your own? If so, and you have to have real flowers, then the fresher the better and the ones in the backyard can totally be worth clipping. For the boys flowers you could cut just one flower from the garden and for the girls corsage you could pick a few more. Make sure you cut the stems at medium length for the girl and shorter length for the boy and at an angle to last longer. Pick out some ribbon at your local craft store that matches the dress and the tuxedo. Wrap the ribbon tightly around the stems of the flowers. Stick a safety pin through the boys flowers in the back and then onto his tux, and for the girl, she can now carry the flowers as a small bouquet. Oh yes, I almost forgot to secure the ribbon on the flowers, take a small dab of super glue to mend the end together.

Flower Saving Tip #3
Use Your Head:
This idea is for the girls only. We all have seen the routine corsages that either pin on your dress, wrap on your wrist or even carry as a bouquet in your hands, and all those ideas are great, however when you place flowers in your hair instead of putting them in the same old places then you have saved yourself a lot of money!

Artificial flowers work best for this style (my own personal opinion) and the price is also easier to deal with as well. Head over to your local craft store and pick out one single stem flower that best matches your style and also the color of your dress. Depending on what type of flower, and how big it is, the price can range from $1 to $5. Once you have your flower bought take it with you when you go to the hairdresser that day of your Prom hair appointment and ask your stylist to incorporate the flower into your hair style. She or he will know how to make the flower stay in place securely and you will walk away with a fantastic flower arrangement. The best part of this is you won't have to worry about knocking it off while you are dancing or moving around!

Flower Saving Tip #4
Go Green:
When you are at the florist and you are racking up in your mind the cost of the flowers you may want, try thinking a little simpler. Ask your florist what type of arrangements he or she can do that only involves foliage (greenery). When you subtract out a fresh rose or any type of fresh flower then you are subtracting out that cost. Most florist will be able to meet your needs when it comes to a foliage arrangement that will be perfect for you, and who knows you may start a great trend.

Flower Saving Tip #5
Discount Day:
When you are at the florist ask her or him if they are having a wedding (or any other occasion) on or around the same day they will be making your arrangement. If they are, do not be afraid to take leftovers. Most florist will waste more then they use when they are making big arrangements for occasions like a wedding or birthday party and more then likely they will just toss those flowers in the trash wasting them money. They will be more then happy, IF YOU ASK, to sell those flowers to in a Prom arrangement as long as the flowers they are using for the other parties will be the type of flowers you will possibly want. On top of that tell them that if they are planning to just toss the leftovers to the side then you will be more then happy to pay half for them since they will be no use to the florist anymore. You will be surprised at what you can get, when you aren't afraid to ask!

Flowering Saving Tip #6
Did Someone Say Sam's Club?
In the economy we are in these days, it is OK to look outside of going to a florist come Prom this year. You need to save your money in all aspects that you can and if that means going to Sam's Club, Walmart or your local grocery store for a bigger discount then the florist has, then by all means go there! When you go to a florist you are not only paying for the flowers and everything that goes into the arrangement, but you are also paying for their labor when it comes to arranging them. Most discount stores like the ones I named above do not charge you that extra labor cost and lay a bottom line fee just for the flowers, mainly because these flowers are already made up and ready for you to buy. No need in having to put your order in weeks ahead of time! Money saving and time convenience if you ask me!

If all else fails with these ideas you can do one more option and that is to opt out of flowers all together. Like I said in the beginning of this article, most kids are not going to remember the flowers on the night of the prom. Really, who ever said "Did you see her corsage on her wrist!" Most kids are talking about the hair, dress and shoes. So if you are OK with no having flowers then there is no need to worry about them in the long run and that is the best way to save money. However, some kids just want them and if they do I hope one of these ideas helped!