When Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter, stars of the TV reality show “The Bachelorette,” were married on ABC last December, the lavish nuptials carried a hefty $4 million price tag. Flowers alone, it was reported, ran about $500,000, and florists say the bowers, banks and bouquets of tens of thousands pink and ivory roses inspired about-to-be-marrieds across the country.

“Once upon a time, brides came in and wanted white roses with trailing green ivy. That was the traditional look; it’s what everyone did,” says Jane Rynaski, owner of Just for You, a floral design company in Middlefield, Conn. “Now wedding flowers are more trend-driven.

Reality bites, though, when you’re a real life bride and groom working with a not-made-for-TV budget. But Rynaski says there are ways to get lower cost, high impact effects.

“Something as simple as a smaller wedding party can save you money, since fewer attendants means fewer bouquets and boutonnieres. Next, find a florist you feel comfortable with,” says Rynaski. “Let him or her know what your budget is, the colors you want and the look you’re trying to achieve. Then stay flexible. You’ll be surprised at the creative ideas they have on how to get the most for your flower dollars.”

Mixing less expensive flowers with pricier blooms of the same shade is a way to get a spectacular display at a lower cost. Deep blue hydrangeas, a current wedding favorite, are expensive at $8 to $10 a stem. Add in blue delphiniums to centerpieces or bouquets and you get same dramatic pop of blue for a lot less.

Remember supply and demand. Avoid scheduling your wedding close to any big flower holiday. If you have your heart set on a huge bridal bouquet of expensive flowers, choose smaller, coordinating color bouquets of less costly flowers for bridesmaids.

Using flowers that are in season is another way to save, as is making flowers do double duty at the ceremony and the reception. The Society of American Florists says bridesmaids’ bouquets can become table decorations; the bride’s bouquet can become the head table arrangement; the “throw-away” bouquet can double as a cake topper and pew markers can become festive bows on cars or doors.