Florist FAQ: How Much Do Wedding Flowers Cost? Pt. 1
Today we’re continuing our Florist FAQ series with one of the first questions potential clients ask, but one of the hardest to answer: “How much do wedding flowers cost?” It seems like a simple question considering many other aspects of wedding planning come with a straightforward price tag or a list of package options. Flowers, however, are a bit trickier because so many different factors come into play. As we always tell potential clients, everything from your must-have flower to your guest count can affect the amount you spend on flowers!
How much should I plan to spend on wedding flowers?
Ultimately, the answer to that question comes down to your vision and expectations for your wedding flowers. Do you only want flowers for your bridal party, or do you also envision them draping off a ceremony structure and towering over every guest table? Floral budgets are totally subjective; what one couple feels comfortable spending on flowers might be another couple’s entire wedding budget. There isn’t a right or wrong type of wedding, so there isn’t a right or wrong budget! However, it is important to have realistic cost expectations when it comes to flowers.
Pinterest, Instagram and wedding blogs are filled with gorgeous inspiration, but it’s easy to get caught up in pretty photos of flower walls and centerpieces draping with orchids and forget that there is a price tag attached. A popular statistic is that wedding flowers will cost 10% of your overall wedding budget, but unfortunately it’s a bit inaccurate. If flowers are a high priority for your day and you want those Instagram-worthy “wow” moments, you should plan to allocate about 20% of your overall budget to flowers.
Another big factor in your flower budget is your wedding party and overall guest count. More bridesmaids means more bouquets, and a 300 person reception will require more centerpieces than a micro wedding. That’s not to say you should cut back your wedding party or guest list, but if your mom is insisting on inviting distant relatives you wouldn’t know if you passed them on the street, the budget might be a good argument to trim the list just a bit!
Selecting Flowers and Greenery
Not all flowers are created equal, and not all blooms cost the same. If you’re dreaming of a day bursting with peonies, orchids, garden roses or ranunculus, you’re probably in for a bit of sticker shock because these beautiful, top tier blooms can add up quickly. We always recommend using these more expensive flowers in high profile areas of the day, like the bride’s bouquet or head table where they will have the most impact!
Color and season also play a big part in flower costs. If you’re getting married in the fall and want rich, bold colors like burgundy, plan to spend a bit more than you would for all white blooms. The same goes for red roses in February because they’re in demand for Valentine’s Day, and some pastels in the spring. It all comes down to supply and demand; trendy colors will be requested by more brides across the country, which means more florists will be ordering those shades, and farms are able to increase the price. When blush was at its peak popularity, Quicksand Roses not only became expensive, but difficult to get in busy wedding months.
Speaking of supply and demand, let’s talk about greenery. There is a common misconception that greenery is inexpensive filler, but as organic garden styles became more popular the price of greenery increased. Lots of brides think candle centerpieces with scattered greenery sprigs will be an inexpensive centerpiece option, but between the cost of the greenery itself and the labor to achieve that effortless look, this design can get expensive!
If you’re trying to stay within a certain budget, be open to suggestions from your florist of ways to keep the cost down while still achieving your desired style. Whether it’s mixing eucalyptus with more cost effective greenery or pulling in less trendy flower types, there are lots of ways to achieve an overall look without breaking the bank. A great example is carnations; they often get looked down on, but these “basic” flowers actually come in a wide variety of gorgeous colors! While you might not want to feature them in your bouquet, they are perfect for centerpieces where they can be tucked into a design; your guests will notice the color and not even realize they’re looking at carnations!
Mother Nature
In addition to seasonal demands and popular trends, forces outside of anyone’s control can affect the price of flowers. Only 5% of cut flowers are actually grown in the United States; the rest are grown internationally (most in South America, Holland and Kenya) which means flowers are traveling great distances before they ever reach your florist in the States. Natural disasters and “acts of God” can play a huge part in disrupting global supply chains like the floral industry. In recent years we have had to deal with hurricanes, floods, volcano eruptions, pest outbreaks and a pandemic, which disrupted the global flower trade. Natural events not only affect the availability of certain floral material but also will result in higher flower prices.
Types of Florists
As we discussed in our previous Florist FAQ post, there are different types of florists you can work with for your big day depending on your vision and needs. If you’re planning to DIY centerpieces and just want a professional to design your bouquets and boutonnieres, you might hire an “everyday” florist. This term refers to floral shops where you can pop in to purchase a bouquet, or call to have an arrangement delivered to your grandma. These types of shops typically don’t specialize in wedding work, but might offer packages for personal flowers and simple centerpieces that can be picked up or dropped off at your venue.
Belli Fiori is a custom floral and event design studio specializing in weddings. We don’t offer packages or a pricing menu, but rather sit down with each potential client to discuss their wedding vision, priorities and budget so we can create a proposal specifically tailored to that couple. We also offer a wide selection of rental décor, and often design custom floral installations for our clients. In addition, we have a crew of event staff who help us execute our events each week, so that our clients don’t have to lift a finger! Our teams will ensure that everything is perfectly set, and we return at the end of the night to pack up rental items.
If flowers are one of your wedding day priorities, you’ll definitely want to hire a florist who specializes in large-scale events. By hiring a floral and event design studio like Belli Fiori, you’re getting so much more than just flowers on your big day! In our next FAQ post, we’ll be discussing additional factors that play into the cost of wedding flowers, as well as the benefits of working with a wedding florist and everything that goes into bringing fairytale weddings to life. Stay tuned!
Kate & Chuck’s Vendor Team:
Photos: Shannon Duggan Photography | Ceremony Location: St. Francis Xavier College Church | Reception Venue and Cake: The Ritz Carlton St. Louis | Band: Griffin and the Gargoyles
Post by Kimberly Wallner