There are so many different things to think about when it comes to organizing a wedding. The venue, the dress, and the catering are among the most important, but what about your wedding flowers?
This is something that many happily betrothed couples tend to forget about but, when you really think about it, your wedding flowers will take center stage. They’ll be a part of your bridal bouquet, your bridesmaids’ bouquets, your boutonnieres, and the centerpieces of your tables.
All of this can soon add up and, if you’ve not planned for them, your wedding flowers can easily eat up a large chunk of your budget.
So, how much do wedding flowers cost? And how much should you spend on them? It all really comes down to what you can afford, but there are some ways of getting some beautiful wedding flowers without breaking the bank. Keep reading to find out how!
What is the Average Cost of Wedding Flowers?
As we’ve already mentioned, the average cost of your wedding flowers will really depend on your budget. However, it’s a good idea to designate about 10% of your total budget for your flowers. This could leave you with $700 – $2,500 for flowers, depending on how much you’re planning to spend.
There are some factors to consider that may either increase or decrease the amount of money you’ve set aside flowers, though. First of all, the type of flowers you choose can cause the average price to fluctuate quite a bit. For instance, roses are notoriously expensive, while flowers such as tulips or daffodils come with a lower price tag.
You also need to think about how you’re planning to display your flowers. Placing bunches in Kilner jars is an excellent way to create a display without spending too much money. While hiring tall vases or intricately blown glassware will cost you more money.
Finally, you need to think about how many wedding flowers and floral displays you really need. It can be all too easy to get carried away and dream of huge centerpieces and long, cascading bouquets. But, once you’re faced with the reality of the cost, that dream can come crashing down.
To give you a better idea of how much wedding flowers cost on average, let’s take a look at some of the arrangements you most likely want at your wedding.
The Bridal Bouquet
This is undeniably the most important floral arrangement you’ll have at your wedding. As you walk up the aisle, you’ll want a bridal bouquet that is just as beautiful as your dress. And, unfortunately, florists know this and they’ll charge quite a lot of money!
An elaborate bridal bouquet can set you back anywhere between $350-$500. However, this is for huge, elaborate displays. If you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly, you can get a simple yet elegant bouquet for as little as $150.
You can bring the costs down even further by building a bouquet that features more foliage than flowers. This is also a great way to let each individual flower’s beauty shine through without being crowded out by other blooms. And, most importantly, it won’t pull focus from your dress.
The best thing to do when it comes to your bridal bouquet is head to an experienced florist. They will be able to help you create something magical for your special day while keeping your budget in mind.
Bridesmaids Bouquets
Bridesmaids’ bouquets aren’t as expensive as a bridal bouquet, but they can still set you back between $40 – $75 apiece. And, of course, the more bridesmaids you have the more bouquets you’ll have to buy.
Luckily, it’s quite easy to bring the costs of a bridesmaid bouquet down by choosing simple arrangements that feature more greenery than blooms. You can also keep the price of each bouquet lower by going for cheaper flowers such as carnations.
In fact, by going for a flower such as a carnation, you may find it easier to create a bouquet that better suits your bridesmaids’ dresses or your color scheme. This is because they come in a huge variety of colors.
Boutonnieres
While boutonnieres are often thought of as a fairly old-fashioned wedding accessory, there’s no denying that they do bring a certain level of sophistication and elegance to any suit. They’ll also look especially beautiful in your wedding photographs as the groom, best man, and groomsmen will have something to tie everything together.
You might think that, since boutonnieres are just a single flower, the costs would be pretty low. However, they can still cost as much as $50 apiece. However, some wedding florists may do a special deal depending on how many you need, or on how many arrangements you’re ordering.
Centerpieces
The floral centerpieces on display at your wedding reception will help to tie everything together, especially if you have a particular color scheme. However, they are one of the things that could potentially eat up most of your wedding flower budget.
The average price for a floral centerpiece is between $50 – $150. That may not seem that much, but when you start to think about how many tables you’ve got, the price can quickly add up!
One way to save some money here is to go for one or two large centerpieces placed on the head table. The rest of the tables can have the same flowers but in less extravagant arrangements.
You can also save money by forgoing floral centerpiece arrangements altogether. Instead, you can use something a little more creative such as potted plants, paper flowers, candles, or string lights cascading out of bottles.
Florist Costs
One way that you can save money on your wedding flowers is to do them yourself. However, you will have so much to deal with in the lead-up to your big day that it’s usually best to hire a florist to take care of your wedding flowers for you.
You’ll also get some professional advice when you hire a florist, and they’ll be able to tell you what flowers are in season and what would work best for your color scheme or theme. Not to mention, they’ll deliver them to the venue and set them up for you. That’s another thing ticked off your ever-growing list of jobs!
Hiring a florist isn’t the cheapest thing to do, though. On average, you can expect to spend between $700 – $1,200 for their services. This is on top of the flowers themselves. So, if you do intend to use a florist (and we recommend that you do) make sure you’ve got some money allocated for them in your budget.
How to Get Beautiful Wedding Flowers on a Budget
As you can see, wedding flowers can be an expensive part of your special day. But, there are some ways to save a few dollars and still create magnificent bouquets and arrangements.
Below, you’ll find some excellent ideas that will help leave some money in your budget for something else. They’re also a great way to keep your costs down if you’re trying to stick to a limited budget.
Choose Flowers That Are In-Season
You can reduce the cost of your wedding flowers simply by choosing blooms that are in season. Put simply, if you’re getting married in spring, go for spring flowers such as tulips or hyacinths. If you’re getting married in summer, go for summer flowers like gerbera daisies or sunflowers.
The reason this is much cheaper is that they are more readily available and, as such, they aren’t as expensive for your florist to source. In turn, they’re able to pass the savings onto you.
Reuse Flowers Throughout the Day
With a little clever planning, you can save some money by reusing your wedding flowers throughout the day. Any cut flowers that you used to decorate the ceremony venue can be cleared out and put on tables. You can also take down garlands and string them across the front of the head table.
Assign this task to your bridesmaids or groomsmen. Alternatively, ask your wedding florist if they wouldn’t mind making the quick changeover while you’re having your wedding photographs taken.
Create One Spectacular Focal Piece
If you have one spectacular flower arrangement that steals focus, nobody will even notice that there aren’t any centerpieces on your tables. This could be a flower arch over the head table or draped around an arbor outside. A massive single arrangement will also create the perfect place for your wedding photographs.
A large focal piece doesn’t have to be expensive either. Mix some cheaper flowers alongside more expensive one and use greenery to tie the whole thing together. You can also place a couple of small bottles with single stems of the cheaper flowers on the guest tables to pull everything together.
Make the Most of Your Venue’s Scenery
This is something that many people don’t do as they have quite a clear idea of what sort of flowers they want. However, take a moment to look at your venue’s scenery and you may find that you don’t need many flowers at all.
If your venue is outside, use the view as the backdrop to your wedding rather than splashing out on expensive flowers. Some wedding venues also have beautiful gardens where you can take your wedding photographs. And, since the flowers are already there, you don’t need to worry about getting any yourself!
Use Alternatives
We touched on this a little earlier, but there’s no written rule that says you have to use fresh flowers in your wedding. If you think creatively, you can save yourself some money and have arrangements that last a lot longer than flowers.
Dried flowers are a great alternative to fresh and they add a modern, rustic look to your wedding day. This is ideal if you’re going for a barn or fall-themed wedding. A lot of dried flowers retain some of their colors, too.
Silk flowers are another excellent alternative if you’d like to save money but give the illusion of having fresh flowers dotted around your wedding venue. They’re not as expensive as you might think either and, with a bit of online sleuthing, you’ll be surprised at what you can find for an affordable price.
Final Thoughts
There’s no denying that wedding flowers are expensive. But, they don’t necessarily have to be! Some careful budget, planning, and creative thinking can help you achieve the wedding flowers of your dreams without creating a huge dent in your budget.
However, regardless of how much you’re looking to spend, if there is one thing that we’d recommend it’s hiring a florist. They’ll be able to talk you through your options, find the perfect flowers for your wedding, and they’ll even set it all up for you! They’ll also keep your budget in mind and help you create something truly spectacular that you can actually afford.
