You could make circlets/headresses etc. They take very few flowers.

Look around outside for standing arrangement fillers. Pussy willow is all over the place growing (nice in a pedestal), hyacinths are out and about too.

Surely your college would allow you to get your own flowers with the money. It's your project afterall and if it all goes t**ts up, you have no one to blame but yourselves. Would they mind?

__________________