From the quantity and scale of your desired bouquets and centerpieces to the types of flowers you would love to include, a lot will impact your wedding floral budget. With so many variables, no wonder it can be hard to know how much you can expect to spend on wedding flowers! Figuring out how much to budget for wedding flowers isn’t an easy process…which is why we’ve enlisted the help of an expert. Anne, Pittsburgh wedding florist and owner of the Fox and the Fleur, is here to share her best advice on how much to set aside for this aspect of your celebration, as well as ways you can make the biggest impact with your investment.
From Anne of Fox and the Fleur…
Wedding flowers can be one of the most beautiful parts of the wedding day. I’ve had the pleasure of working with many brides and families to make their special day exceptionally beautiful, memorable, and colorful. We love coming up with artful and unique approaches to arrangements, bouquets, and installations that will be remembered by guests for years to come.
One of the most frequent questions we get from brides is understandably, “How much is this going to cost?” Not surprisingly, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. So much of the floral cost depends on the specific varieties of flowers used and the scale of the event. We thought that we would offer a few tips and tricks to help you better understand the average cost of wedding flowers and how to save without compromising style.
Ultimately, we want the planning process to be fun and enjoyable. For us, working with different ideas and visions is what keeps us expanding our creativitiy and new ways of doing things. Here is what couples can expect certain floral items to cost, because we know people want to see real numbers on paper!
Average Costs of Wedding Flowers***
- Bridal bouquet: $125 – $300
- Bridesmaids bouquet: $60 – $125
- Boutonniere: $12 – $25
- Wrist corsage: $35 – $65
- Flower crown: $25 – $85
- Altar flowers: $200 – $600
- Cocktail table centerpieces: $20 – $75
- Dining table centerpieces: $75 – $300
- Cake flowers: $45 – $125
Creative Solutions to Save on Wedding Flowers
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Mix high and low. It’s amazing what a few specialty florals (think peonies, parrot tulips, anemones!) can do when mixed with more common, everyday varieties like standard roses, carnations, and daisies. The high/low mix ends up looking layered and chic, taking the arrangement from ordinary to interesting and unique.
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Use filler and greenery. We love using lots of mixed, textural greenery in our designs. We also love incorporating things like grasses, pods, branches, and even weeds! When greens and grasses are complimented with a few expensive, coveted flowers like David Austin roses, the whole look becomes effortless and high-end.
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Remember candlelight. Not every table needs to have flowers! By alternating between tables with gorgeous arrangements and clusters of candles, you can create an elegant and romantic atmosphere while saving on cost. Linens and glassware can also be details that add to the overall design without breaking the budget on florals.
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Think about multi-use. There are many places to reuse the ceremony flowers at the reception. For instance, if you’ve used large floral urns at the altar, they can be moved to either side of the stage flanking the band, or even the escort card table or the bar. Transferring bridesmaids bouquets to vases for spots like cookie tables or lounge areas can be another great way to leverage budget.
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Get creative. There are ways to make a big impact without a big budget. Single variety arrangements or towering branches like cherry blossoms or forsythia make striking statements as centerpieces. One or two “wow” moments like a floral wall or hanging garden installation can be a floral home run. Clusters of potted plants can make fun and inexpensive centerpieces that guests can take home with them as favors. Thinking seasonally is always smart. Getting peonies in January versus May or June can be twice the price.
How to Work with Us
As for how this whole process works, we typically receive an inbound email or call from a bride or wedding planner. We then send out a basic wedding questionnaire and have a 30 – 60 minute call from which we can craft a comprehensive floral proposal. That proposal includes a description of the overall floral aesthetic, varieties of flowers we plan to use, and an itemized budget. Once a proposal is approved, a deposit is made and the date is confirmed on our calendar. An in-person or virtual design consultation takes place to see the venue, go over details, and provide a sample floral arrangement.
For even more beautiful work from Fox and the Fleur, visit their website or check them out in the Burgh Brides Vendor Guide.
***Please note that the above information is reflective of Fox and the Fleur’s pricing only and may not be representative of other Pittsburgh wedding florists. This pricing is current as of the original publication date for this blog post and is subject to change.
