Understanding the cost of wedding flowers
When planning a wedding, understanding what to budget for your flowers can often be confusing and overwhelming. Very few florists have price lists and packages, and minimum spends will differ, florist to florist. We’ve tried to answer as many of your questions as possible when it comes to wedding flowers…
What affects the cost of wedding flowers?
There are a few things which affect the cost of wedding flowers and These may include:
1) Floral choice
The cost of flowers can really vary, and this won’t necessarily be due to the size of the flower. Working with a florist who can design with budget in mind is really important. Don’t be afraid to share your budget expectations early on. Your florist will want to make it work for you.
2) style
The style of your flowers will affect the cost. Why? It is due to the time it takes to make the arrangement. Not using foliage and reflexing roses adds a significant amount of time into the creation process. Your florist will factor this into their prices.
Some florists overall aesthetic is wild and foliage-full, the time to create these designs is significantly less as it’s less about the detail.
If you like intricate, artistic designs, your flowers might cost more.
3) The number of guests
Bigger venue = More areas to decorate
Lots of tables = Lots of table flowers
4) access times for set-up and removal
Check with your venue when your florist can get in to set up your flowers. If you want a large ceremony installation, your florist will need several hours to do it. If your florist can only access your venue, for example, at 10:30 and you have a 1pm ceremony start time, that only leaves approximately an hour and a half for set-up (as you have to consider early guests, cleaning and photography). You will therefore be paying a premium for additional labour to have it made in time. Work with a florist who will advise on alternative options which won’t necessarily increase the cost. For example, opting for a design which can be made off-site may be a more appropriate option.
Understanding from your venue when everything has to be removed is important. Some venues allow your florist to remove the next day, some the night of. Either way, you’ll have to pay for a team to go back to the venue to remove the florals.
Common flower myths
LET’S DEBUNK SOME COMMON MYTHS SURROUNDING WEDDING AND EVENT FLOWERS.
Foliage is cheap and most cost effective. Whilst it’s true that foliage can create more substantial designs for a lower cost than flowers, foliage isn’t actually ‘cheap’. Foraging seasonal foliage during the late spring and summer months is definitely cheaper. However, during the months of November and April, only imported foliage is really available. And to create those large substantial designs you need a lot of it.
Dried flowers are cheaper. Wrong, very wrong. Dried and preserved flowers are much more expensive than fresh flowers. This is due to the extra processes involved. Be prepared to spend 2 to 3 times more if you opt for dried. The same applies to faux but times this by 10!
If you add the word ‘wedding’, the price triples. This is a common misconception surrounding the prices of weddings in general. When it comes to wedding flowers, flowers are typically more expensive than general event flowers. But, there is a reason. Usually weddings require a lot more work. Your consultation times are usually longer, the designs are usually bespoke, and there are often more restrictions when it comes to set-ups. Some flowers are also more expensive. For example ‘white’ flowers are premium, versus other colours.
Weddng suppliers do not profit more on weddings versus other event types.
How much should you budget for your wedding flowers?
Rule number 1: you should only budget whatever you feel comfortable spending
Traditionally, the general rule of thumb is to allocate 10% of your wedding budget on your flowers. However, with the increase in flower costs and everything that comes with the process, this is sometimes recommended at 13% to 15%. However, the percentage allocation may not be proportionate if you are having a small intimate wedding or an extra large 200-person wedding. You also should weight up your priorities, so if flowers are important, allocate higher, less important, allocate less.
If you are at the early planning of your wedding, do some research first. Contact a few florists and understand their minimum spends and what that would typically get you. Be transparent from the beginning and don’t ask every florist to create a bespoke proposal for you as this takes them hours, sometimes days.
We’ve tried to breakdown some typical prices, however, bear in mind the above points:
Bouquets £150 to £350 for bridesmaid and bridal
Buttonholes £15 to £25
Bud vases £30 to £45
Table Arrangements typically £250, can be more for larger scale designs
Large arrangements like bar displays, meadows for signage approx. £350
Floor meadows £250 for foliage-based designs, up to £350/£400 for flower heavy displays
Mantelpiece designs typically £500 per metre but can vary depending on foliage to flower ratio
Urns typically £350 upwards
Installations such as freestanding columns and arches can be anything from £1000 upwards, but as a guide £500 per metre.