Flowers are one of the most beautiful and memorable parts of any wedding, no matter the budget. They bring a romantic elegance to any space, they’re the perfect accent to any décor, and while the flowers themselves might not last more than a few days, they are captured in photos beautifully. So what’s the average cost of wedding flowers?
How much do wedding flowers cost?
Wedding flowers will run couples anywhere from $2,000 to $3,500 on average. That’s just an average though: if you have your sights set on a flower wall, a flower installation or an arrangement that requires quite a few flowers and added labor, you’re looking at more like $5,000 to $10,000-plus. In general, couples allocate about 10% of their overall budget to flowers. Surprised at the numbers? Flowers involve a lot more than the bride and bridesmaids’ bouquets and the altar arrangement! Here’s a breakdown of some common floral touches and the average cost for each:
- Bridal bouquet: $100 – $350
- Bridesmaid bouquets (each): $65 – $100
- Boutonnieres/corsages (each): $20 – $45
- Flower child and ringbearer: $15 – $75
- Flower petals: $65 – $100
- Altar flowers/flower arch: $200 – $400
- Head table arrangement: $65 – $150
Good to know: The above are averages. If you live in a metropolitan area, your costs are likely to be a lot higher. Another factor to consider is that most florists will quote you on your overall event or wedding design, rather than by the arrangement. So when you do go to chat with florists and find out pricing, expect them to send you proposals that tally it all up to account for all the necessities plus labor and hard costs.
Tips for saving money on floral arrangements
- Choose in-season, locally grown flowers. These are likely to be fresher and more affordable than exotic or out-of-season options that need to be flown in.
- Mix pricier flowers with cost-savings ones. Certain types of roses, peonies, and orchids can run up your wedding flower bill fast. Try mixing some of these in with less expensive freesia, baby’s breath or alstroemeria. These are still very elegant, and just speckling a few of the more expensive flowers throughout will give your arrangements a pop of excitement. Alternatively, you can try bouquets that go heavy on the green. Some exotic leaf shapes and textures can add plenty of intrigue to a bouquet!
- Mix flowers with other décor. Candles and delicate lights or lanterns are the perfect complements to some gorgeous flower arrangements. By making some mood lighting another focal point in your displays, you can save on your wedding flower costs. If you can get your hands on some interesting vases or other creative vessels, you can save even more by cutting down on the number of flowers while still maintaining visual interest!
- Reuse your ceremony flowers for your reception. You have every right to get the big, statement floral arrangements that your heart desires! But you don’t have to plan one for every table at the ceremony and reception. You can easily repurpose flowers used earlier in the day for later, and you can make huge cost cuts by doing so.
- Ask your florist for advice. Researching ways to save money on the flowers of your dreams will help you a lot, but your florist is the pro in this area. They’ll be able to suggest budget-friendly alternatives where it counts, and their experience will help to translate your vision to reality, whatever the theme or budget.
All about working with a wedding florist
Here’s your quick-start guide to finding and working with a floral designer.
What services does a wedding florist provide?
Your florist has your back through to the end of your big day; here are all the services they should provide:
- Consultation: This is where you sit down and discuss your vision for your wedding. What’s your theme? Color palette? Any particular flowers you can’t live without? Once you nail down these details, your florist will provide a proposal and quote laying out the arrangements they will provide.
- Samples: Before the wedding, a florist will oftentimes provide physical samples just to make sure you’re on the same page. Even if they don’t provide you with a full-on sample, they will, at the very least, show you examples and photos of past work to help you visualize exactly what yours will look like.
- Flowers: Your florist will take the time to carefully put together an order from growers to specifically cultivate flowers for shows and events—much better than what you’ll find in your local corner shop.
- Processing and storage: Once your flowers arrive, your florist will remove thorns and trim each bloom so that they’re display-ready. These will stay in a refrigerated storage area until your wedding day.
- Production: Design and arrangement are labor-intensive. There are typically multiple assistants and set-up folks involved in ensuring that your flower arrangements are picture-perfect.
- Delivery and installation: Your florist and/or their team will deliver your arrangements and set them up personally to make sure they look their best.
- Teardown: At the end of the day, after the last guest leaves, your florist will then come to collect all arrangements and associated décor.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring your Florist
- How many weddings have you done, and can I see a portfolio? Make sure your florist’s style and experience are a good match for what you want.
- Can you work within my budget?
- Do you have other events booked for the same weekend?
- How do you store and transport the flowers?
- Will you provide samples?
- Can you provide vessels and other décor, or will I need to source these?
When should I hire a wedding florist?
Since flowers are a main feature of all weddings and seasonal flower orders may be put in months in advance, it’s best to get a wedding florist on board as early as possible—at least eight months in advance.
Should I tip my florist?
It’s not as common to tip your florist, but it’s good practice to tip delivery and set up people who install your flowers on the day of your wedding. Don’t skip factoring this into your budget! It’s good to have everything covered. Also, even if you don’t end up tipping them, leaving them a positive online review goes a long way to helping their business grow.
