Written by Stephanie with Romee Willow Florals

Spoiler Alert: Your $8000 flower budget does not get you $8000 in flowers

Many couples are often surprised at how much wedding flowers cost. It’s not as simple as picking up flowers from Costco or Trader Joe's and expecting the same result as hiring a professional wedding florist. When you hire a professional florist, you’re paying for much more than just the flowers. We’re Romee Willow Florals, an artful and eco-friendly wedding and event florist in Chicago. We’ve been in the business for over 10 years, and we want to give you some insight into wedding flower budgets. First, let’s start with a breakdown of where your flower budget goes:

Concept Curation

Part of your budget goes towards concept curation. This includes the time and expertise the florist invests in proposal writing, developing a color palette, and creating an overall design aesthetic that matches your vision. Florists also write detailed floral recipes to ensure the designs are cohesive and meet your expectations.

Sourcing Hardgoods

Florists source hardgoods like vases and candles, which are essential for creating the overall look of your wedding. These items need to be carefully selected to complement the floral arrangements and the venue's ambiance.

Sourcing Flowers

Sourcing flowers is not just about buying them; it involves years of experience in purchasing from different farms and wholesalers. Florists know which varieties are best for durability and appearance, ensuring that your arrangements look stunning throughout your wedding day.

Studio Costs

Maintaining a floral studio involves various expenses. Your budget helps cover the cost of housing the flowers, renting necessary items, and paying for utilities and coolers to keep the flowers fresh.

Labor Costs

The labor involved in creating your floral arrangements is substantial. Experienced floral designers bring their expertise, creativity, and artistry to your wedding, ensuring each arrangement is beautiful and unique. Additionally, studio helpers manage the cleaning, organizing, and packing of all hard goods.

Transportation and Logistics

Transporting your flowers and rental items to the venue requires logistical planning. Your budget covers truck rental and travel expenses for delivery and pick-up, ensuring your flowers arrive safely and on time.

On-site Labor

Setting up and breaking down floral arrangements at the venue involves considerable labor. Florists and their teams work diligently to install the flowers according to the design plan and dismantle everything after the event.

Post-wedding Clean Up

After the wedding, there’s still work to be done. Florists clean candle wax, wash vases, and handle the composting, recycling, and sweeping necessary to leave the studio in good condition.

Ok, so now that you have an overview on what all goes into a flower budget (not just the flowers themselves), let’s get into some ballpark numbers you can expect to be quoted for your floral and candle decor:

Personal flowers

Personal flowers are the flowers that your bridal party and families carry/wear. Here’s what you can expect to pay for each item…

Bridal Bouquet: $250-$300
Bridesmaids’ Bouquets: $100-$120
Boutonnieres: $20-$30
Corsages: $35-$45
Bridal hair flowers: $50-$100

Wedding arches/Ceremony Backdrops

Wedding arches are a huge trend and have been for quite some time. They are reminiscent of an overgrown garden, a gateway to a new beginning and a perfect frame for all of your ceremony photos. So what affects the cost?

There can be quite a range in cost for these babies. It all depends on how much area is being covered with flowers and how dense you want it. If you want the structure to show through in some places- it won’t cost as much. If you want a really lush and full covering of the entire structure, it’s going to be more. If you want just greenery, it’ll cost less and if you want mostly flowers it will cost more.

Take for example, a deconstructed arch. It’s where the arch isn’t complete- it doesn’t meet at the top. This one cost about $2000. Most deconstructed arches start at $1500 and can go up to about $3000. If you don't have this in the budget, I would suggest doing an arch that shows some of the structure- so it’s not completely draped in flowers and greenery. Those arches can start around $700 and go up from there.

Centerpieces

There’s a lot of variety in dinner table centerpieces, in both design and price. Something cool about dinner table centerpieces is that a lot of times you can repurpose them, and have them be multifunctional at your event. For example, you could use low floral centerpieces to line your ceremony aisle, and then your florist can move them to dinner tables during the room flip. Here is some pricing you can expect to pay for centerpieces…

Low floral centerpiece: $150–$250
A collection of bud vases: $100-$180
Tall floral centerpiece: $350-$500
Candles and greenery: $80-$120

Hanging floral installations

Hanging floral installations are typically a statement piece, hanging over the ceremony area, dance floor, or another prominent spot. These start around $1000 and go up to $3000 or more, depending on how large and elaborate you want it to be.

Final thoughts…

If you’re reading this, and thinking, “okay, I am just going to find the cheapest florist and book them”, we REALLY advise against that. Price matching florists is something you shouldn’t do because of the following reasons:

Different florists have varying ideas of how many stems should go into an arrangement. One florist might quote 15 stems for a centerpiece, while another quotes 25. This variation significantly impacts the cost and the final look of your arrangements.
Even when using the same type of flower, such as a white rose, the variety chosen can affect the price. Different varieties of white roses have different costs, and florists select them based on factors like durability, size, and aesthetic appeal.
Florists with more experience tend to charge higher rates. This is because their expertise allows them to create more luxurious and eye-catching designs. Their experience also means they’re more likely to troubleshoot effectively and deliver results that exceed your expectations.

Instead of just focusing on price, make sure to look at the florist’s portfolio to ensure their style matches your vision. Their past work will give you an idea of what they can create for your wedding. We also suggest checking reviews from previous clients to gauge their satisfaction and the florist’s reliability. Finally, make sure to choose a florist who understands you and your vibe. A good rapport will make the planning process way smoother and more enjoyable.

If the price is about right and you feel a connection with the florist’s work and ethos, then go ahead and book them! Your wedding flowers will be a reflection of their artistry and your vision coming to life.

What to Consider When Figuring Out Your Wedding Floral Budget