Hi there! Let's talk flower budgets!

I know budget is where most couples like to start, and honestly, it's where I like to start, too! In terms of planning, I'm an advocate for setting a budget early and sticking to it. This aids me in providing you with the best design recommendations possible.

There is a lot of flexibility when it comes to sorting through a budget for your wedding flowers. It’s important to know, as a couple, how important fresh flowers are for your wedding day – you may feel flowers aren’t a central focus for your day or you may feel your flowers are ‘the thing’ that will bring your unique day to life. Also, give some consideration to your venue: does it need the additional decor florals provide or is it a beautiful venue itself and you don’t need to go over the top?

In terms of budgeting, as a good rule of thumb, I suggest your floral budget account for 10-15% of your overall wedding budget. If, on the other hand, you are looking for Pinterest-worthy, abundant design, I would suggest allocating 20-25% of your total wedding budget. Some couples spend less or budget more based on their preferences. Remember, it’s your day and the day should reflect your taste and style!

Rough Budget Guide

Below is by no means a complete list. Like everything else wedding-related, there are so many ‘what ifs’ and ‘except this’ scenarios. The following is meant to be a rough guide to help you plan which items could be covered within your price range.

$1,500 – $3,000
Depending on the size of the bridal party, this will likely cover all personal flowers (bouquets, boutonnieres), a standard ceremony feature, as well as allow for some table decorations at the reception. Petite sized arrangements on each table or a collection of bud vases with feature blooms would help best fit within the budget.

Or, instead of table flowers, this could allow for a large feature at the ceremony (an abundant floral archway) or the reception Alternatively, if your bridal party only includes two additional people, this budget could allow for a ceremony feature element as well as a reception installation. We could then look at using candles to decorate the tables instead of flowers.

$3,500 – $5,000
This budget could cover the personal flowers as well as a feature element at the ceremony and the reception. It can also cover petite-sized table arrangements or bud vases with featured blooms for the table decoration as well as candles.

Or, if there is just one of either a ceremony archway and/or reception installation, there will likely be budget to cover deluxe sized table arrangements.

$5,500 – $7,500
This price range most often includes personal flowers, a ceremony floral feature, an installation at the reception, as well as deluxe sized table arrangements and candles for the tables.
Having said that though, if I am building a custom ceremony element, this budget may only account for personal flowers, the ceremony feature and a few touches at the reception.

$7,500 – $10,000
With this budget, we are often looking at a collection of personal flowers, large statement/impact pieces at the ceremony (for example, urn arrangements or an archway PLUS aisle flowers). For the reception, this budget could allow for large statement piece as well as premium sized table arrangements and candles for the tables.

Again, it’s almost impossible to provide all the details on each and every budget because every couple’s wedding is unique. The above looks to provide some guidance on what items can be accounted for within a budget. You’ll note I haven’t mentioned lots of the smaller pieces – flower crowns, cake flowers, rose petals, junior bridesmaid bouquets, gift table arrangements, etc. There are literally hundreds of permutations and combinations so I have left these out to try to keep things simple. Also, prices will vary quite a bit depending on the number of flowers used and how many premium blooms are to be included. Peonies, orchids etc. are more premium flowers and the budget needs to account for this.

It’s also important to be aware that labor charges can vary dramatically as well – each venue has its own rules on when set up can occur. All of this has an impact on costs for the day. Labor charges also change depending on the time of day I need to set-up/pack down as well as the day of the week.

I am truly super excited to work with couples regardless of their budget. I am always happy to provide suggestions on where the money is best spent, where to get ‘the most bang for your buck’ at your venue and how to make the greatest impact on the day.

Finally, remember every florist prices differently and it might be that florists in your area charge more for some items than I do. I'm simply looking to provide this as a guide to help manage expectations, please feel free to reach out for a free formal quote!

NEXT STEPS

Planning your wedding should be a fun and exciting time! If you are searching for your dream wedding florist and are looking for an expert to help you navigate the world of wedding flowers and floral budgets, I would love to chat with you and learn more about your big day! Inquire about my services via the contact page and see if Blushing Garden is the right fit for you!

With love,
Elizabeth

Header photo: Kirstie Veatch Photography