How Much Do Flowers Cost For A Wedding

Posted In: Weddings

By Jim Campbell | Updated on February 15, 2024


How much do flowers cost for a wedding? You’ll need to know this question when planning for your big day. Typically, the cost will vary depending on your needs and style, but the average cost is about $1,500, with most couples spending around $700 and $2,500.

Since time immemorial, weddings have been associated with floral and flowers. They add romance and color and bring everything together for your big day. Most brides and grooms get bewildered when they learn the costs and all that’s involved in the floral process.

Although fickle, they can be costly if you don’t do your due diligence. Many options are available, and this can be daunting for some couples. There’s much to be factored in, including travel expenses, setup, decorations, bouquets, and repurposing. This guide will offer you a complete picture and an estimate of how much do flowers cost for a wedding. Let’s get started!

Factors to Consider When Selecting Wedding Flowers

Wedding flowers may seem like an easy addition, but they are a sizable list when written down. It involves a lot of planning and work, such as consultations, back-and-forth emails, designing, and for some weddings, a team of around five florists to bring out your dream wedding. Below are some floral facts to consider:

Do Your Research

It’s always important to select the type of flowers you want for your theme, along with the variety and amount. Unsurprisingly, the more flowers, the higher the costs!

Consider Seasons

Research whether the type of flowers you want are in season or not. Note that the costs will be higher to import flowers if you decide to use them out of season. When sure of a particular flower, think about using the same flower throughout since the florists must order a minimum quantity.

Think About Big Calendar Dates

If your wedding coincides with busy florist calendar days or December, budget at least 10% more.

Extra Costs

Always have some reserve cash for the extra costs such as setup, removals, delivery, and transfer.

Bridal Bouquets

The bridal bouquet is the centerpiece of any dream wedding and is usually larger with more details. The bridesmaid will also have their bouquets which are usually smaller but complements the bride’s. Also, most couples prefer arranging extra smaller bouquets for the bouquet toss. As a result, the main bridal bouquet isn’t thrown or damaged and can be conserved if the couple decides so. The bride’s bouquet costs between $100-$400, while the bridesmaid’s bouquet is between $80-$300.

Boutonniere

The grooms and groomsmen are not left behind in the floral details. Most modern weddings include them to add to the spice, and you can have the boutonniere on their tuxedos or suits to match their wedding partners. Although smaller, they are a great addition to any wedding and can still be included for parents. The boutonniere cost ranges anywhere from $15-$60 each.

Something for the Flower Girls

Most weddings include flower girls or boys and if you decide to go this route, consider what florals they’ll need. These could be flower wands, flower crowns, or petals to throw as they walk down the aisle. These are exciting and popular options to add, so be sure to consult with your florist.

Table Centerpieces

Your table decorations are one of the most significant factors to consider when it comes to wedding flowers. The table centerpiece, as the name suggests, impacts the entire setting. Traditionally, most couples have used petals scattered on tables, a bunch of flowers in vases, or a raised feature that keeps the guests engaged throughout. All these options are great and will play in your floral decorations.

Further Styling and Decorations

From the table centerpieces, flowers and florals are commonly and heavily used in other stylings and decorations for your wedding. Are you considering having flowers on the walls, tents, or lining the chairs at the ceremony? These arrangements can combine floral and greenery elements and will be put together by a professional florist with the experience and skills for the best combination. If you decide on these, you’ll need to consult your florist and include them in your flower budget.

Other floral additions can include:

  • Corsages for mums
  • Floral crowns
  • Thank you bouquets for mums
  • Floral Arches
  • Pew Ends
  • Floral Pillars
  • Foliage Garlands
  • Dressed Candelabra

What Services DO Wedding Florists Provide?

As observed, wedding flowers and floral decorations require a lot of work, and you’ll most likely need to hire a wedding florist. To get a good idea of how much you’ll be spending and whether you need one or several, let’s look at the services wedding flowers provide:

Consultation

Meeting up and discussing your vision for the wedding, venue, desired color palette, wedding styles, and the type of flowers you prefer. From there, your florist will give you a proposal for the arrangements they will create and the budget.

Samples

After signing the dotted line and before your wedding, your florist might also provide sample arrangements to ensure you’re satisfied and give you a glimpse of how your wedding day flowers will be.

Flowers

A sizable chunk of your wedding flower budget will go to purchasing the flowers. It can take several hours to put the flowers together. From experience, the flower quality will be far better than those you would have purchased at a grocery store.

Flower Processing and Storage

Once the flowers arrive at the florist, he or she will take several hours to a day to process the flowers, which includes counting the flowers, taking thorns off, etc. They will also store them in a refrigerated enclosure to ensure they remain pristine on your wedding day.

Labor and Production

Each arrangement takes skill and time to design to ensure a magical appearance. It’s quite a long process that will probably require several hands on deck.

Delivery and Set Up

Your florist and the team will bring the arrangements to the venue, and a lot of work will be required to ensure the ceremony and reception looks amazing. You need a picture-perfect arrangement from the altar to the reception table.

Cleanup

After your dream wedding and when you’re thinking about that tantalizing honeymoon, your florist and the team will return to the venue, remove all the vessel arrangements, and help with clean up.

From the above services, it’s clear that a wedding florist is invaluable. It’s recommended to hire him or her in the early stages of the wedding planning process, usually eight months before D-day. To ensure you get the best of the best, start by reading florists’ online reviews in your location, and settle for a few that you’d like to work with.

A Price Guide Depending on Your Budget

Usually, décor, wedding flowers, and lighting take about five to 10 percent of the wedding budget. Therefore, be sure to plan to spend carefully. It’s common for you to spend about 5% of your total budget on flowers, but this will depend on how extravagant your decorations and theme will be.

A basic breakdown:

  • $20,000 budget = $1,000
  • $30,000 budget = $1,500
  • $40,000 budget = $2,000

How To Save Money On Wedding Flowers

If your average cost for wedding flowers is beyond your budget, there are several ways to have budget-friendly but amazing floral arrangements. These include:

  • Mixing flowers with non-floral items such as candles or greenery
  • Reusing ceremony arrangements such as altar arrangements and bouquets in your reception
  • Choosing seasonal flowers

FAQs

How much do wedding flowers cost?

The average cost is about $1,500, with most couples spending around $700 and $2,500

How much does a bride’s bouquet cost?

The cost varies depending on the type of flowers, the arrangement’s size, and the complexity. The average cost of a bridal bouquet is $160.

How much does a bridesmaid’s bouquet cost?

These tend to be smaller and cheaper than bridal bouquets, costing an average of $70.

When do I hire a wedding florist?

You should hire a wedding florist in the early stages of the wedding planning process, usually at least eight months before D-day.

Should I tip my florist?

Usually, florists do not get tips, but you can tip the delivery guys who set up your floral decorations and arrangements at least $5 to $20 each.

How much budget should I allocate for wedding flowers?

Around 5-10% of the total wedding budget

How do I find the right wedding florist?

The first idea is to read their online reviews to see their experience and previous work and ensure they’re within the wedding location. Once you’ve settled with a few, you can reach out to them and ask them about their experience, previous work, extra fees, and any other questions to put your mind at ease.

So, there you have it! Whatever amount you decide to spend is up to you, but at least you have an idea of the typical cost of flowers for a wedding. You can use the given numbers to determine your budget and eliminate surprises.


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