Planning your dream wedding involves making numerous decisions, from selecting the perfect venue to choosing your dress and, of course, designing your floral arrangements! 

One way to make the most of your floral budget is by repurposing designs throughout your big day. 

If you read my blog on budgeting recently, you’d know that I am a huge believer in repurposing floral designs to maximise your budget through thoughtful planning. I’m excited to share some key dos and dont’s of repurposing wedding florals. 

First thing’s first, what exactly is repurposing? Repurposing wedding florals involves taking floral arrangements from one part of your wedding day and using them in another. For example, you might move your ceremony flowers to your reception space, giving them a second life and allowing you to get the most out of your floral investment.  This practice is budget friendly as you don’t need to order a full new piece, and reduces waste too, making the most of your beautiful designs. 

At my floral studio, we offer a service to repurpose your ceremony features and flowers into the reception space. We will rehydrate and slightly redesign the pieces if necessary to ensure they look their best. This doesn’t mean we take the pieces apart and put them into bud jars or split them into multiple different arrangements; rather, we repurpose the entire pre-made arrangement to make the most impact. This process usually takes place during the cocktail hour, so it’s essential that the pieces are easy to move and set up quickly.  

For example, if you have ordered a grounded garden meadow as your ceremony option, this can be split and repurposed into multiple pieces, as they are originally multiple pieces put together to make one large ground meadow. Whereas if you’ve ordered freestanding arches, these can definitely be repurposed, but only in their entirety. This is because they are created directly onto a structure as one piece, so it can’t be taken or split apart.  If however, you choose to repurpose your freestanding arches behind the bridal table, you can use the bottom pieces as table ends (or elsewhere in the venue) as they aren’t seen from behind the head table.  Regardless of your option, I’d love to chat to you about what’s possible to ensure your floral budget is maximised! 

Now let’s get into the do’s and dont’s! 

Do: 

1. Focus on impactful areas 
2. Consider the season and environment 
3. Explore more bespoke designs that your florist recommends

Don’t: 

1. Overlook the logistics and what’s realistically possible 
2. Use bouquets as tablecentres
3. Skimp on the details 

Firstly, the dos! 

1. Focus on impactful areas: 

Instead of spreading your flowers thin across the venue, focus on creating impactful designs. A stunning ceremony feature can often be repurposed for the reception, saving you money while ensuring that your floral arrangements make a statement. For example, a gorgeous floral arch at the ceremony can be transformed into a backdrop for the sweetheart table, or as a moment around a grand staircase or cake table. This approach not only maximises your budget but also creates a cohesive feel. 

1. Consider the season and environment 

Choose your season, ceremony time and location wisely! Season and environment play a significant role in how well your flowers will hold up throughout the day. Our climate is so humid and warm, and unfortunately this isn’t ideal for dainty, whimsical florals.  We will always do our absolute best so that the florals look beautiful and so fresh for the ceremony, but if you’re really hoping to repurpose your florals, and this is something you truly value, opt for a ceremony space that is shaded or covered.  Remember that your flowers aren’t just in the sun from the start of your ceremony, they will be there from the time of set up, which could be hours prior. 

If you’re having an outdoor summer wedding, it’s important to be realistic and know that flowers do not like heat at all, so there mightn’t even be any arrangements to repurpose by the time it’s time to do so! In comparison, indoor winter ceremonies offer a more controlled environment, which can help your florals last longer and look better by reception time.  Most of the time, there is little to no change in the florals within this time.  Regardless of how hydrated and fresh the flowers are, the sun will always, and unfortunately, win. 

If you’re getting married in a warmer month (August–March here in SEQ), I recommend chatting with your florist about your options! If you have a beautiful ceremony feature but your ceremony is outside (even the wind can be a killer!), you might not be able to repurpose all of the pieces in their entirety.  Some flowers may wilt, meaning we may need to combine two or more designs rather than reuse them as is. (We’ll never put wilted or sad looking flowers on display, even if they’re from your ceremony!) That’s why trusting your florist is so important!

Considering the specific conditions of your venue and season when planning to repurpose arrangements is so important, but we will always work with you and let you know what’s realistic. 

1. Explore bespoke designs 

You’ll find examples in my price guide of what installations and features can achieve within different floral investments. Unlike generic packages, bespoke floral designs ensures that every arrangement is tailored to your preferences. If you are after table ends for your 4 reception tables, we can create a ceremony piece that is split up into 4 individual pieces, so you’re able to have a piece for every end! By offering bespoke designs and a personalised approach, we are able to create unique designs not only that reflect your style and make your wedding day truly special, but work within your repurposing goals. 

Now, time for our no-nos! 

1. Don’t overlook the logistics 

Repurposing florals is a fantastic way to save money and create double impact.  In saying that, it’s truly essential to consider the logistics, and it’s crucial to coordinate with your florist. 

For example, your ceremony feature might be designed to hang on a timber arch or frame, facing outward – but if you want to repurpose it as a head table arrangement, it won’t translate in the same way. A design created for height and depth when upright, will look completely different when laid flat, and could even end up blocking your view or covering you at the table. 

Other important factor to considers – does your florist need to book another freelancer to help move the designs? Are there stairs involved?  Can the designs physically be moved, or are they built on fixed structures? Will the pieces you want to repurpose actually work in the way you envision?

Timing is another key factor. Is the reception space a short distance away from the ceremony space, or will it take longer to move the designs? These details can make a big difference in how smoothly everything runs.

There are so many logistical details to think about, which is why it’s always best to plan ahead with your florist!

1. Don’t use bouquets as tablecentres 

While it might seem like a good idea to repurpose bridal bouquets as table tablecentres, this is probably the one item I am strongly against repurposing.  After a long day of being handled, tossed in the air for photos, out of water for hours, bouquets inevitably become bruised and wilted. Instead, opt for budget-friendly option like bud jar trios ($25 each), and consider keeping your bouquet in a vase of water (away from candles) to rehydrate so they look great for your big exit.  Further on this, if you’re getting your bridal bouquet pressed or preserved, the sooner it is in water and away from the action, the happier your preservation artist will be! 

1. Don’t skimp on important details 

Repurposing is great as you can save $ on florals, but don’t skimp on essential details that contribute to the overall aesthetic of your wedding. Relying only on repurposed flowers can leave key design moments feeling incomplete or underwhelming.

If you have a specific vision for your ceremony backdrop or reception centrepieces, invest in these key elements to ensure they create the impact and vision you’re dreaming of. Repurposed florals should enhance your wedding, not force you to compromise on style or ambiance. A well balanced approach – where repurposed your designs complement intentionally designed florals – will ensure your space looks cohesive and breathtaking from start to finish.  You only get married once! 

Every wedding is unique, and so are its floral needs! If you’re unsure about which pieces can be repurposed or how to make the most of your budget, don’t hesitate to ask – I’m here to help! My goal is to create a wedding that feels both beautiful and intentional while ensuring your floral budget is maximised and used wisely. 

This is where working with an experienced florist truly makes a difference – we understand the complexities of repurposing florals and can guide you in making the best decisions for your day. If you have any questions, just let me know! 

Here’s a flower quote I’m loving lately:

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett