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Budgeting for Flowers

It is common to allocate approximately 10 percent of the total wedding budget to flowers, but you may choose to spend more or less, depending on your priorities. When you meet with florists, be honest about your budget from the very beginning.

The florist should be able to give you a good idea of what can be accomplished within your budget and offer you helpful advice and alternatives if your requests are unrealistic. If you’re not satisfied with one estimate, shop around; prices can vary widely among vendors.

Cutting Costs
Here are a few ideas to stretch your budget.

• Buy flowers that are in season: For an August wedding, asters and phlox from the farm down the road will be significantly less expensive than peonies, which are out of season at that time.
• Use less-expensive varieties. For example, thousands of daisies can make a wonderful display for the cost of two or three elaborate orchid arrangements.
• Find ways to make flowers do double duty. Bring the arrangements from the church to the reception, or place the bridesmaids’ bouquets around the cake table. You can even use pots of flowers from the bridesmaids’ luncheon again at the rehearsal dinner.
• Avoid a wedding date that coincides with holidays such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day, when flowers are at a premium.
• Choose simply constructed arrangements, which are more affordable than complicated wired bouquets.
• Don’t limit yourself to cut flowers; instead, consider garlands, foliage, potted plants or herbs.

Check out previous postings for additional ideas.

One Comment on “Budgeting for Flowers”

• Geny June 27th, 2009 4:40 pm

  Sad, but true we have to have a budget, for flowers bring so much to a wedding and it is easy to get carried away! Make sure you know where you floral designer lets you know where he buys his flowers from, Holland is the best place.

  Make sure, he is not buying old flowers, meaning that they go to the docks and pick up flowers that no one else wanted and they try and sale them, not a good ides and they will look bad at your wedding, TRUST ME. If you have a well known designer though, he or she will never, never do this, bu tit never hurts to ask questions, after all it is your wedding!

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