How to Repurpose  Ceremony Flowers

One of the questions we hear most often from our couples is: “Can we reuse our ceremony flowers at the reception?” The short answer is: absolutely!

Your ceremony is one of the most meaningful and visually impactful moments of the day—so it’s worth investing in flowers that feel truly special and elevate your wedding photography. But because the ceremony itself is usually just a short part of the celebration, it can feel like a shame not to enjoy those gorgeous blooms for the rest of the day.

The good news is, with a little planning, many of your ceremony flowers can be seamlessly transitioned to your reception. Not only does this stretch your floral budget, but it also gets you maximum floral impact throughout your celebration. Here are a few of our favorite ways to repurpose your flowers:

Your arch is likely the biggest floral statement of the day. After the ceremony, it can frame the reception entrance, sit beautifully behind the sweetheart table, or transform into an Instagram-worthy photo backdrop for your guests.

Photo courtesy of Loop Flowers

reception entrance

sweetheart table

photo backdrop

Those statement altar pedestals don’t have to stay put. They’re stunning when moved to the reception entrance, set on a welcome table or bar, or placed at the base of signage like an escort card display.

reception entrance

WELCOME OR ESCORT TABLE

BAR or buffet table

The flowers that lined your ceremony aisle can be relocated to ground the sweetheart table, accent the stage, or bring a lush touch to reception signage.

Photo courtesy of Daisy Daisy Florals

SWEETHEART TABLE

band or STAGE

DINING or cake TABLE

welcome or escort signage

Garlands are a versatile floral treatment that can be used to define the altar. After the ceremony, they can be draped over the reception entrance, styled behind a bar, or laid down the center of reception tables for a lush centerpiece.

Photo courtesy of Raven and The Willow

reception entrance

bar back

sweetheart table

dining table

Chair markers (whether they’re florals or greenery) can move with you to the reception, dressing up your sweetheart chairs for a personal and romantic detail.

Photo courtesy of Philippa Craddock

sweetheart chairs

Repurposing does require coordination. It’s important to take into account the day’s timing and the event layout—ensuring there’s enough time and space to comfortably transition ceremony flowers without disrupting the event and your experience. With the right plan, our team (or your planner or venue coordinator) can handle moving and resetting arrangements so the flow feels seamless for you and your guests. 

While repurposing allows our couples to maximize their floral budget, there may be a labor cost to account for the time and manpower required for a smooth transition.

At Carmel Gardens, we love helping our couples make the most of their floral investment. With creative planning, your ceremony flowers will set the tone and bring beauty to your entire celebration.

When we design your florals, we take repurposing opportunities into account—making sure arrangements are created in a way that allows them to move easily and still look intentional in their new home.

If you’re looking for creative ways to repurpose your ceremony florals, we’ve gathered some of our favorite ideas and real wedding examples into a dedicated Pinterest board. It’s full of inspiration to help you visualize how arches, altar arrangements, and aisle flowers can transition beautifully into your reception.

FIREPLACE MANTEL

signage BASE