How to Make Beautiful Flower Arrangements

I am doing a budget wedding. In my package, centerpieces are included so we picked out beautiful blue glass vases (blue is our color) with fresh spider mums and bells of ireland.
Because other flowers are NOT included, we are going to be using silk flowers for bouquets and corsages.
Here is my question- in my home I have a variety of beautiful vases in the same blue glass, just as decorations in my living room. Do you think it would look pretty to have them around as other decorations? As in, on the present table and place-card table, etc?
I love this idea, the problem is that the vases from home wouldn’t have the same flower arrangements as the centerpieces, I would have to either do silk flowers or stop at a grocery store and pick up flowers the day of, and there is no way to mimic spider mums either way.

Also, if I go with this idea, how do I make sure guests don’t take them home? I’ve heard that usually guests try to take the centerpieces, which is fine. I just don’t want to lose my personal decorations.
… like I said above, the centerpieces are already ordered. Those are set in stone.

I think the cons outweigh the pros.

You have to spend more money for the flowers, and if you are on a budget this is money that could be better spent elsewhere. Plus you have to worry about buying the flowers on that day and making sure the vases go home with you.

If you decide to do this, just put two or three vases on the placecard table and one in each bathroom. Not on the gifts table or elsewhere.

To save some costs I’ve been considering using silk flowers for my bridal party.

My brother & his wife used them for theirs and a friend of hers did the flowers, they were very nice and you really couldn’t tell the difference if you didn’t know and well.. I still have my bm bouquet 7 years later.

What I have been thinking of doing is using artificial flowers for the bridesmaids & brides bouquets and the decorations at the church and using fresh flowers for the mens boutonnieres and ladies corsages and fresh flowers for the centerpieces at the reception.

I’m not sure how much a savings that really would be or if I’d be better off just doing fresh flowers for it all?

I know to save on costs I could get fresh flowers from places like Sam’s Club, Costco and other bulk/wholesale places, but I don’t know the first thing about arranging flowers, I’m not all that crafty.

I really think that this is a once in a life time thing. I’m not saying splurge on expensive flowers but I do think that you should pay a little bit more and get all real flowers. I think if you have some real and some silk that you will be able to tell the difference. I know saving money is important (im planing my own wedding) but I recommend using real flowers. They look better and can be arranged so pretty. I guess its up to you. I would recommend having a florist arrange a set of real flowers and an identical set of silk flowers and you look at them and decide what you think will look best for you special day!

I was thinking some sort of small flower arrangement, idk anythin, just throw out any ideas.
Thanks

oh and no etching!
Andnit is for a girl!! Not wedding though

Shot Glass ~ meant for small amount of alcohol taken straight up, chaser for some,
http://www.shotglass.org/display.html
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_glass

you could try small miniature type of flowers, there are some that may fit nicely as a mini bouquet, or make fake flowers out of craft kits,

maybe place in a small jewelry box with a note and other related gift as memorabilia,

you could find small rum bottle or rum flavoring for cooking, and add candle and place-mat with another glass and small flowers, sort of like a mini tea set,

figure out a list of things she likes, pets, music, places, and find small miniature to go in cup with, and add personal note,

find label sticker kit and place sentimental quote on side of glass,

find clear liquid epoxy resin, and place diamond promise ring in glass, then fill with resin, as keepsake,

if glass already has personal history to it, you could mail it to her, parcel post or special delivery with message and gift card for somewhere , wine store, shoe store, movie tickets, sport tickets,

maybe don’t give it directly to her, but place it somewhere where she can find it, and have message and flowers or gift included.
..

I am planning a wedding in July and at first thought about doing the turquoise and brown wedding, but now I am leaning more toward turquoise, black, and silver…..I’m wondering, however, if the pink stargazer lilly flowers would look okay to incorporate in with flower arrangements??? Any ideas????

Stargazers are lovely, but they tend to have a … strong scent.

Also, if you plan on having them in your bouquets, make sure you tell your florist to remove the pollen. The pollen is orange and it stains. Easily.

If you really want bright pink flowers (which I think would be beautiful; my girls wore turquoise dresses and carried bright pink bouquets), you might want to consider:
roses: http://images.google.com/images?q=bright%20pink%20roses&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi
gerber daisies: http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&tbs=&ei=fAGKS7z6KsPJlAf-uMHPAQ&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=pink+gerbera+daisies&spell=1&start=0
aster: http://www.whitfillnursery.com/images/PowerPics/Nature/Pink%20Aster.jpg
zinnia: http://gloriapoole.com/photography/closeup-pink-zinnia-photo-by-gloriapoole@80206-20090702_102323_0156.jpg
alstromeria: http://static-p4.fotolia.com/jpg/00/10/15/37/400_F_10153790_lOnmbZjQ0DX8vqm7sdZyxXHFpVpaEPrp.jpg
hydrangea: http://www.johnstonplants.com/fl.shrub/hydrangea%20forever-pink%5B1%5D.jpg

i know there are a few like balloons, cards and sometimes candles..
What else?

Thanks (:

My family owns a flower shop and we opened up a gift shop within our boutique. In the gift shop we sell everything from Christmas ornaments to specialty chocolates to earrings.

Other ideas include…
coin purses
picture frames
jewelry
sweets
wreaths
decorative pillows

Best of luck!

Lauren