How To Have Your Dream Wedding Flowers Without Killing Your Budget

You know the saying, “If I had a nickel…”? Hands down, “How much do wedding flowers cost?” or “What should I budget for flowers?” are the most asked questions I get as a florist.

Since it’s always a topic of conversation, we thought we’d break down the skinny on wedding and event flower budgeting. Even more importantly, we will break down how to get the biggest bang for your buck on your special day. 

Although Google tells us that wedding flowers should be around 10 percent of your total wedding budget, this definitely isn’t a steadfast rule. 

Here’s how we recommend approaching wedding flowers:

Avoid the trendiest colors of the season. 

Do you love the mustard brown shades or those gorgeous dusty mauves?  So do we, and virtually every other bride currently shopping for flowers does too. Simple supply and demand drives up the cost of these sought-after blooms. Sticking with more traditional colors –  like whites, blushes, and lavenders –  helps to keep costs in check. If you’re loving a more trendy color, ask your florist how to incorporate pops of it without breaking the bank.  For perspective, a classic white and green wedding could be half the cost of a wedding using shades of mauve, terra cotta, or mustard brown this month. 

Splurge on memorable items that will matter to you.  

Even the wealthiest of clients have budgets and need to choose where to prioritize their dollars. We always recommend picking two or three “wow” moments to splurge on – whether it’s an incredible arch or a ceiling treatment of vining greenery.  More modest centerpieces, for example, can allow for big drama and statement flowers elsewhere. 

Labor is the number one hidden cost in weddings.

If you’re looking to maximize your wedding budget, we always recommend steering clear of items that take many hands, or man hours, to execute. For example, runners of hundreds of candles (hello hours of windexing) or repurposing ceremony flowers into centerpieces can double the number of hours staff are on-site at your wedding. 

Seasonal flowers aren’t necessarily cheaper.

Somewhere along the line, this myth spread like wildfire on Pinterest.  In general, the most expensive flowers are seasonal, especially those that are locally grown. For example, this time of year dahlias are double the cost of roses, and are triple the cost of hydrangeas. Work with your florist to figure out what’s most beautiful and fits within budget.  

Lean on your florist’s experience and expertise.

The single best thing you can do when selecting flowers is to work with a florist you respect and trust. Our most successful weddings are those where we’re given freedom to make recommendations and suggestions.