Dream Flowers vs Your Wedding Budget

Paging through books, magazines or browsing the web are great ways to get ideas for wedding flowers. In pictures you see the best of the best. The biggest, the fanciest, and usually, the most expensive. But what should you really expect when pricing wedding flowers? This is the question I am asked the most, "How much does it cost?" and it is a valid question. Weddings come with budgets, and if you don't buy flowers all the time, the cost can surprise you. There is nothing I hate more than disappointing a bride when she realizes her dream flowers will cost way more than her budget will allow.

A few weeks back I wrote about why flowers cost what they do(read more here). Today I am writing about what you should expect for the average costs when pricing wedding flowers. The prices featured are based on an overall industry standard. Please, please, please remember these prices are only a guideline, each wedding and florist will be different.

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Bridal Bouquet $150-300, Hand-tied bouquets are less expensive than cascade simply because of the amount of flowers needed to create. Likewise if you use roses, carnations and mums you will save tremendously over garden roses, orchids, calla lilies and peonies.

Throw Bouquet - $25-50, sometimes the florist will include the throw bouquet as a promotional item.

Bridesmaid Bouquet $75-150 each, again the more expensive the flowers, the more costly the design. Some ways to save money here, reconsider the number of people standing up(less people=less flowers) or have the bridesmaids carry a single flower bloom instead of a bouquet.
 
Flower Girl Flowers- $45-200, At the lower end you have a simple basket with petals or a small bouquet, pomanders are super cute but average about $95 and then you need to consider if you want flowers for her hair. Add it all up and now you know why they call her the flower girl.

Corsages - $15-30 each, Generally pin-on corsages are less expensive than wrist corsages. Although the don't have many flowers they are labor intensive.

Boutonnieres - $10-20 each, Like the corsages you are paying more for labor than flowers.

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Alter Flowers - $150 and up, depending on the scale of the design. The really big designs are usually closer to $300-400. These are great arrangement to re-purpose. It may cost extra, but consider having them moved to the reception. 

Aisle Flowers - $10-15 each for the basic bow with a few blooms, a small hanging arrangement $35-50 each, a hanging pomander $95-125 each. To save money here some couples choose only to decorate the pews reserved for immediate family, some decorate every other pew. Again, if your a bit creative you can re-purpose these too. 
    Petals for the aisle can run $45 - $500 depending if you just want a small basket full for the flower girl or if you want one of those intricate designs laid out as part of the decor. It goes with out saying, the longer the aisle the more petals needed.

Showy Entrance Pieces - If you want to WOW your guests as they arrive or have a showy piece next to the seating card table figure about $300 and up.

Centerpieces - The low full designs, vary from $ 75-300 each. If you choose the right flowers and use more fillers you can keep it on the lower end but it you want the garden roses and orchids like shown in the magazine photo shoots, you will have to open your purse a bit wider.
    As for the tall, elevated designs, they can take hundreds of flowers to create. Sometimes they even need to be assembled on site and require extra labor to be completed in time, for these, expect to pay $200-500 each.
    Simple bud vases or smaller vase arrangements run $20-75 each and may be all you need, especially if you are decorating a long rectangle table.

Cake Flowers - $75-200 Depends on how many tiers the cake is, the coverage of flowers, and if you need a floral topper.

Delivery/set-up/breakdown - Expect to pay up to 25% of the subtotal for these additional services. Make sure you ask your florist about these charges so you are not caught off guard.


The best advise I can give you is to sit down with your florist and discuss your options. Be upfront about your budget and please, now I am asking as your florist, make sure your budget is reasonable.  More often than not, your florist will be able to create the look you are after with flowers you can afford. 

If you wedding is in Wisconsin, Blooming Envy would love to hear from you. Contact us today to schedule a meeting.

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