Carolyn J. Braden • 4 Minute Read
DIY Wedding Flowers on a Budget: How I Made My Own Centerpieces
Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming — especially when you see the price tag for professional floral arrangements. I quickly realized that DIY wedding flowers on a budget was the smartest way to stay on track financially without sacrificing style for my 2003 wedding to my now husband.
Here’s exactly how I created beautiful, living wedding centerpieces using planters, geraniums, and fresh herbs from Lowe's — and how you can do it too.
Try wood boxes for cute wedding floral decor
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Support me as a creator and shop my links with no extra cost to you! I recently partnered with Lowe’s as a Lowe’s Creator as they’ve been our go-to DIY home improvement store for many years. If you shop or use my Lowe’s storefront here for pricing your own DIY wedding, Lowe’s will know I sent you, so thank you in advance.
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A potted orchid on every table would be gorgeous!
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Why I Chose DIY Wedding Flowers
Fresh floral centerpieces can easily cost $50–$150 per table. Multiply that by multiple reception tables and suddenly your flower budget is in the thousands. My husband and I were on a very tight budget for our wedding in 2003 and because I wanted specific things for our garden style wedding, I decided to create a lot for our wedding on my own. I found it was easy to spend a lot very quickly (oh, weddings can be very pricy!), and I didn’t have that option.
Instead, I wanted:
Affordable wedding flowers
Easy setup (no complicated floral arranging)
Long-lasting decor
Something guests could take home
That’s when I had the idea to use potted plants and herbs instead of cut flowers — and it completely transformed my wedding decor plan. I helped a co-worker years ago with her DIY wedding too, and you can see her cool rustic farm/backyard inspired wedding we designed here. If you know someone creative like myself, ask them for help with your wedding or special event after reading my tutorial here!
You can DIY a sign like this for your wedding too!
Bonus: My Wedding Flowers Became Gifts
AND MY CENTERPIECES WERE ALSO GIFTS FOR GUEST TO TAKE HOME! Think how much I saved on wedding favors! Due to having a summer wedding, guests got to take home my potted flowers and hanging plants for their own summer gardens and patios.
Want to create cut flower centerpieces? Try my super cute puppy flower arrangements here or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
Why Lowe’s Is a Hidden Gem for Wedding Flowers
Most people don’t think of Lowe’s when planning wedding decor — but they should.
Lowe’s carries:
Seasonal flowering plants
Pre-potted arrangements
Decorative planters
Indoor and outdoor greenery
Herbs and small shrubs perfect for centerpieces
They even have ready-made planter arrangements that can double as wedding reception table centerpieces — which saves even more time.
If you're planning a budget wedding, it’s absolutely worth walking through the garden center with fresh eyes. You’ll see endless possibilities.
These would be a great tropical flower for weddings
Cost Breakdown: DIY Wedding Flowers vs. Florist
Here’s why this method works so well for budget brides:
Traditional florist centerpieces:
$75–$150 per table
My DIY planted centerpiece method:
Approximately $20–$40 per table (depending on planter choice)
That’s potentially thousands saved — without compromising beauty.
I had similar hanging flower baskets like these at my wedding
More Budget Wedding Flower Ideas Using Planters
If geraniums aren’t your style, here are more ideas you can find at Lowe’s:
White hydrangeas in rustic pots
Eucalyptus plants for a modern wedding
Succulent bowls for boho weddings
Ferns for a romantic garden theme
Olive trees for Mediterranean-inspired receptions
Mixed seasonal flowering baskets
Potted roses
Small citrus trees (can be replanted in yards if you live in SWFL or a warm climate like we do!)
Lilies for great smelling floral décor
Box planters planted with colorful wildflowers
A lily can add a fragrance to your wedding day
You can also:
Wrap planters in ribbon or burlap
Spray paint basic pots to match your color palette
Add personalized plant tags as wedding favors
Mix heights using plant stands
A bonsai tree adds a simple modern element to a wedding
Why Living Wedding Flowers Are a Smart Budget Choice
They last long after the wedding
They double as wedding favors
They’re eco-friendly
No wilting throughout the day
Minimal prep time
Lower stress
For me, this DIY wedding flower idea made the reception feel warm, fresh, and personal — and no one guessed I saved so much money.
Lowe’s has so many cute planters that are affordable
My Budget Wedding Flower Plan: Planters + Geraniums + Fresh Herbs
1️. Decorative Planters
Shop or price all my favorite Lowe’s planters via my Lowe’s storefront here. I started with simple, neutral planters that matched my wedding theme. I opted for regular terra cotta pots because my wedding was in a flower garden in June. I wanted simple, and the terra cotta was just that since I incorporated all summer colors into our wedding.
Lowe’s was where was shopped in 2003, and to this day, they have an even better selection of flowers and pots. Lowe’s carries contemporary and trendy ceramic, metal, wood, and rustic-style containers that look elevated without a luxury price.
I recently planted mint for my house using Lowe’s planters
We bought lots of soil and had a planting party to have family help fill all the planters with the following plants about a week before the big day.
If you want my basket planter (for indoor use) seen here in this article (one I recently purchased and love), I bought it at Lowe’s. I also love this cute little happy face planter they had!
2️. Geraniums for Color
Shop or price more of our favorite plants via our Lowe’s Storefront here.
Geraniums were my hero flower for my wedding. They’re:
Bright and cheerful
Budget-friendly
Hardy enough to last all day (and beyond!)
Available in pinks, reds, whites, and corals
They instantly made each reception table feel vibrant and romantic. And many of our guests said they lasted through the fall….what a great long lasting wedding favor gift idea it was!
If you have a friend that has mint in their yard, you can root it in water than plant it for FREE herbs!
3️. Fresh Planted Herbs for Texture
To give the centerpieces depth (and the most amazing scent), I added:
Rosemary: add to chicken when cooking
Lavender : relaxes you when you smell this
Mint : add to drinks and some dinner recipes
Basil: add to pasta and pizza dishes
Shop or simply price all these via my Lowe’s Storefront here. The combination of flowers + herbs created a layered, organic look that felt upscale — but cost a fraction of traditional wedding florals. I also planted some inpatients in small terra cotta pots so guests could transplant them in their yards.
The herbs could also be used in home cooking, as I often do. So, it’s a wedding favor gift for the cooks in your life too!
My wedding centerpieces from 2003… I loved creating them!
How I Styled the Wedding Reception Tables
Each table included:
1–2 geranium planters
Smaller herb pots grouped around them
Wedding confetti, because, well, I love glitter
Simple personalized wedding favor notepads
Because the plants were already thriving in soil, there was no floral arranging required after I potted them. I simply arranged the planters for a natural, garden-inspired wedding look.
Bonus: Guests loved taking home the herbs at the end of the night! They were shocked when I was said “take them all home” and then they smiled and happily did.
This planter is super cute and at Lowe’s!
Final Thoughts: Budget Wedding Doesn’t Mean Basic
If you’re searching for DIY wedding flowers on a budget, think beyond traditional cut bouquets. Planters, geraniums, and fresh herbs created a wedding reception look that was elegant, memorable, and incredibly affordable.
Sometimes the best wedding hacks are hiding in places you least expect — like the garden center at Lowe’s.
Replant orchids if desired in any planters to match your wedding style
Take Action
If you try any of my ideas, let me know how it turned out—or tag me when you try them because I LOVE seeing your posts💚 If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
If you loved this article, we know you’ll love this one too: Custom Wedding Merch Guests will Obsess Over
Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.