Traditionally it is the parents of the bride who pay for the wedding flowers, with the exception of the bridal bouquet, which is paid for by the groom himself. However, modern weddings do not necessarily follow this tradition. Whether you are paying for your flowers yourself or have parental financial help, it is good to have a budget in place from which you can begin your search for an affordable florist.

So how much should you set aside for flowers? Typically around 5 to 10 percent of your total budget should do it, but you can really spend as little or as much as you like. Prices will vary throughout the year depending on the wedding date, and the flowers that are in season, as well as varying from florist to florist.

One tip to keeping the cost of your wedding flowers down is to opt for flowers that are in season. In-season flowers are cheaper than those that are out of season and need to be shipped in from abroad. You can do some research into flowers and their seasons at several websites online, or talk to your florist about what will be in season come your wedding day.

A great way to cut down on the cost of your flowers, as well as being kinder to the environment, is to select locally grown flowers. Flowers that grow close by are cheaper to transport than exotic varieties and will last far longer as a result. Talk to your florist about local stockists and try local flower markets and farms to see if they can help too.

Choosing simpler floral arrangements, displays and bouquets will means less work or your florist, and so you will pay less for their labour. You can choose some fantastically elaborate arrangements, but these take time and effort and will cost more as a result. If you are wearing a simple, sleek gown, then a simple bouquet can actually look better than an elaborate one.

If you book your wedding at a time of year that is traditionally busy for florists, your wedding flower costs will rise. At times such as Christmas, Easter and Valentines Day, florists are in high demand and their services are stretched, the demand for flowers is high while the supply of flowers is also stretched too.

A simple way to reduce the amount of flowers that you need to buy is to make use of the flowers you use at your ceremony at your reception too. Be creative and be willing to break up larger arrangements and bouquets to use around your reception venue. Flower girls posies make excellent table centrepieces too.

If you have a particular flower that you want to use, but find it expensive, try to use it sparingly. Carrying a single Lily can be just as beautiful as carrying a whole bouquet, while a few flowers arranged in a tall vase can be just as dramatic as a large table centrepiece.

This guide to budgeting for the floral costs of your wedding in Northampton was brought to you by Maricruz Tennill, a professional wedding planner. They recommend checking the Interflora website for a list of qualified florists in Northampton, where you can get a better idea of costs involved.