We overheard someone give this advice to another couple and took it with much success -- for flowers on a budget, pick one flower and use it for everything. It makes a statement without needing all the bells and whistles a florist might offer for extra $$$. Plus its the most manageable way to create your own centerpiece having no floral arrangement skills! We used hydrangeas. Had the florist prepare bouquets & bouts & corsages, then ordered tons of extra stems to assemble our own centerpieces. The centerpieces ended up costing an average $15-20 including the vases, verses the $50+ it would have cost to have the florists prepare. Good luck!