For something that grows free in the ground outside, flowers can be stupidly expensive when it comes time to take them out of the ground and put them in your wedding. If you’ve got the wedding budget to drown your venue in heirloom roses and exquisite lilies, then you probably don’t need any help – but for the rest of us mortals who aren’t heiresses or members of a royal family, here are four super-simple ways to keep your flower power high and your flower budget low.

1. Stay away from February. Florists take notorious advantage of the rush for flowers on Valentine’s Day by hiking up the prices. If you really want to get married in February and you live in a cold climate, consider scaling back on your flower arrangements. If you live somewhere with mild or warm winters, consider going au naturale outside – greenery will be free!

2. Think seasonal! Forcing flowers to grow out-of-season takes lots of TLC – which can get expensive. Letting your florist know that you’d prefer to use seasonal flowers where possible can help cut down on the price tag.

3. Split the bill. Find out if another wedding party will be using your venue on the same day that you are. If there are two weddings booked, get in touch with the bride and see if you can coordinate your flower selection so each party can use the same flowers.

4.  Go for bulk. Check with your florist about renting large plants or even small trees/bushes to help fill in the edges around the venue and your reception location. Doing so can be significantly cheaper than filling in the space with floral arrangements, and will let you concentrate your floral budget where it’s most important, whether than be your bouquet, your reception tables, or an altar.