5 Tips for your Wedding Flower Budget
What is a realistic wedding floral budget?
There really is no easy answer, as wedding florist pricing varies by season and region. A general rule of thumb is that your wedding floral budget should be between 8-15% of your entire wedding budget. But, that's not always the case.
We often chat with clients who have done some research; read an article online, talked to their wedding planner but are still a little shocked at the total cost of wedding flowers. There are a lot of misconceptions on the actual price of flowers. You can buy a bouquet at the grocery store for $25 dollars, so why do wedding flowers cost so much more? Well, for starters, think of what you are buying. What was actually in that grocery store bunch? A lot more time goes into the design, the selection, the colours and the actual arranging of wedding flowers. And of course we need to make sure everything arrives on time and in one piece!
Here are our top five tips for setting a realistic wedding flower budget:
How much do you actually WANT to spend? Are flowers your only decor elements? Do you love flowers and have dreamed of having a wedding full of your favourite blooms? At the end of the day you want to feel comfortable with your budget. When you have a number in mind, it’s much easier for a florist to design something that fits within your budget instead of going crazy with the possibilities.
Expectation Vs. reality. A lot of clients have beautiful pinterest inspiration boards with flowers draped on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. While we appreciate inspiration, be open to other suggestions. Instead of an entire room filled with flowers, opt for a statement piece behind the head table or an installation. We often have tips and tricks to help you make the biggest overall impact.
So what about the actual numbers? That’s what you really want to know right? You may have googled “the cost of wedding flowers” and read that an average bridal bouquet ranges from $150-350. There are a number of different factors to consider when looking at this range. Is this in Canadian dollars? How big is this bouquet? What time of year is your wedding? Are your flowers in season? How experienced is your florist? Do you like their style? If your favourite flower is a peony and your wedding is planned for October, then you will be paying a premium as this flower is out of season and likely imported.
Does your quote include Delivery, Set-up, Teardown and Taxes? If you have chosen not to work with a wedding planner, it is important to consider these three labour costs. Most florists will include delivery and set up, but teardown is not always provided. The last thing you want to be worrying about at 1am is who is going to clean up your reception space.
Focus on your priorities. We often suggest focusing on floral elements that will be photographed the most and that will make you happy. Bridal bouquets, ceremony backdrops and head tables are three key elements to focus on. We can help you design and discover areas where elements can be re-purposed to maximize your floral decor. Do you have a large wedding party? Repurpose bridesmaids bouquets for centerpieces.
It is important to select vendors that you like, not always the cheapest option. You want to feel confidence and trust that if, and we mean IF something goes askew, you will be none the wiser - and still have your amazing special day! You will be working with this person for the next few months so you want be sure you mesh with their personality, and can come to them for whatever need arises.
Read our other blog post on Ways to maximize your floral budget: Versatile Floral Elements
your flower loving friends,
Emily & Liana
