A Maine couple grew their own wedding flowers in a backyard garden

PC: Instagram (mariahreading) Mariah Reading and David Mainero decided to grow their own wedding flowers after learning that a single bridal bouquet would cost $400. The couple planted a 30-by-50-foot garden in Reading’s parents’ backyard in Hampden, Maine, in May 2026, hoping to avoid spending thousands of dollars on flowers for their September wedding.According to The PEOPLE, the garden had five long rows of blooms, including dahlias and amaranth, which they planned to use for bouquets, boutonnieres, and other arrangements. The project cost about $1,000 and required months of care, research, and patience. By their wedding on September 26, the flowers had become an important part of the celebration, giving the couple a personal way to prepare for their marriage.How a couple saved thousands by growing their own wedding flowersReading began exploring options for a wildflower-style bridal bouquet and was quoted $400 for the bouquet alone. As the couple was also saving to buy a house in the area, she estimated that wedding flowers could cost between $3,000 and $5,000, leading them to grow their own instead.Reading and Mainero created a garden in her parents’ backyard. The project cost...