April showers bring May flowers. And what do May flowers bring? Weddings! (Although you get half a point if you said, “Pilgrims.”)

Springtime is not only the start of wedding season but also the time when a variety of flowers begin to bloom! However, not all brides want to include traditional blooms in their nuptials.

For some, it’s the cost. According to weddingwire.com, the average cost of wedding flowers in the U.S. is around $1,500 for small- to medium-sized weddings and up to $5,000 or more for large weddings. That’s a hefty chunk of change, especially if you’re getting married on a budget. If you’d like to save money on your flower budget, consider visiting dollar or craft stories to find inexpensive fake flowers and reducing the overall amount of flowers you use for your wedding, i.e., choose a centerpiece that doesn’t use them.

For others, it’s environmental concern. The largest environmental impacts of cut flowers are associated with energy expenditure used for transport and refrigeration of the flowers, according to Green Business Bureau. If you’d like to reduce your carbon footprint, choose flowers from local growers so they are shipped a smaller distance. You can also choose native, in-season blooms, which require less energy to heat, cool or water the flowers to mimic their natural environment. And there’s always a wooden, paper or silk flowers, which you can then reuse to decorate your home.

Another reason couples choose not to include flowers in their wedding is that they simply don’t care for them. If you’re still looking for something for you or your bridesmaids to carry down the aisle so you don’t appear empty-handed, consider lanterns, fans, balloons or purses. Some brides have even incorporated puppies and donuts!

Bottom line: You don’t need to have flowers at your wedding. Get creative with your decor and bouquet alternatives to personalize your wedding and stand out from the crowd! And to learn more about how brides are “bucking tradition,” read our blogs on first dances, rings, wedding cakes, the bouquet toss, the garter toss and whether white is always right.