What's the Average Wedding Floral Budget? How to Cut Down Cost?

 Favorite

There are many costs to figure out when planning a wedding, including what you can spend on flowers. From the bouquet to decorations, flowers are a must on the big day. Don’t be surprised when it comes time to pay your florist, and instead, prepare with knowing average wedding floral budget and ways to cut down unnecessary spending.

Average Wedding Floral Budget

Your overall cost of flowers will depend on the type and amount of flowers used, but a good estimate for the average cost of wedding flowers is between 8 and 10% of the total event budget. This means your flowers could be anywhere between $500 to $10,000; but again, the cost of flowers will depend on a number of factors, such as seasonal availability, size, color, and more. In 2015, wedding flowers cost between $1,921-$2,101 for weddings in the US, but the region in which you live play a big role, too. Whether you are working with a wedding planner or venue that can help facilitate your arrangements also affect the costs.

Breakdown of Wedding Flower Costs

Depending on the size and style of your wedding, you may not use all of these elements. Most weddings will have:

  • A bouquet for the bride, average $50 to $200

  • Bouquets for the bridesmaid, each bouquet averages $20 to $50

  • Corsages for bridesmaids and/or boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen, each averages $8 to $30

  • Floral hair decorations, such as a wreath, crown, or hair pins, each average $15 to $40

  • A bouquet for the bride to toss, average $20 to $50

  • The flower girl’s bouquet to carry or petals to toss, average $20 to $35

  • Flowers for the altar at the church (or ceremony location), each arrangement averages at least $50

  • Flowers for pews and guest seating at the ceremony, each average $10 to $40

  • Centerpieces for the reception, each averages $40 to $150

  • Decorations for the cake, like a topper, average $30 to $100

Additional Flower Costs

While the above uses for flowers are common to most weddings, keep in mind that there are a number of additional places to use flowers. If you don’t factor these costs in, you’ll be surprised at the total bill. Some popular choices include:

  • Decorative floral wreaths

  • A floral arch for the wedding ceremony, or a flower wall (Kim and Kanye used one)

  • Floral accents and petals placed around tables

  • Larger arrangements or strewn petals to further decorate walkways and exteriors for ceremonies and receptions

  • Flowers to decorate the bridal suite, and inside and outside cars and limousines

  • Additional arrangements and décor for restrooms

How to Choose Your Florist

Choosing the right florist can be the best way to make sure you keep your flower budget within your guidelines. Your decision will ultimately rest on what areas you are willing to sacrifice on. For example, if you want most of the elements included in the average wedding floral budget, you may want to work with a wholesaler who can help you arrange for all of your flowers at bulk prices. The downside? You’ll likely have to choose from pre-formed arrangements, and you will probably only have more standard flowers as your options.

On the other hand, working with someone local means you can tailor every element of your arrangements to the way you want. Not to mention, someone who is local will have resources for obtaining locally-grown seasonal flowers, which may cut down on costs some more.

How to Cut Down on Wedding Flower Cost

Again, this will vary from event to event, but be aware of some things that you can do to cut down on cost.
  • Choose the types of flowers wisely: If cost is a factor, go for flowers that are easy to find everywhere, like daisies or carnations. If you want to go more exotic, expect to spend more on your flowers.

  • Go with what is in season: If you choose in-season flowers from close to your location, you’ll cut down on shipping costs needed to get flowers from far-off places.

  • Consider your colors: You may love blue and orange, but for a winter wedding, you’ll have to ship flowers from afar. The harder the color is to find, the more expensive it will be.

  • Size matters: How big each arrangement or bouquet is will obviously affect the price. There may be certain areas like the bridal bouquet and the centerpiece for the bride and groom’s table that you don’t want to skimp on, but cutting down on the size of other pieces will help your budget.

  • Think about details: If you can compromise on some details, your budget will go further. A floral centerpiece tied with a ribbon will cost less than an elaborate cascading display. Similarly, consider simpler ways to fashion bouquets to cut down on cost.

  • Plan ahead: If you wait until right before the event to order flowers or change arrangements, you’ll probably be faced with much higher additional fees.

  • Decide on your setup: Depending on the locations of your ceremony and reception, and the proximity to your flower vendor, you may end up having to pay additional deliver fees that can quickly add up. If you can arrange this on your own, you may save more. Also, it goes without saying that they more complex your floral arrangements are to set up, the more they will cost.

  • Balance your arrangements: Use more exotic or flashy flowers sparingly for accents, and rely on flowers and sprigs that are less expensive to fill in arrangements.

  • Accent without flowers: Not all of your arrangements need to be 100% floral – consider swapping out bows and candles for some of the space in your centerpieces.

  • Pare it down: The original list of considerations for the average wedding floral budget can easily be pared down. Skip flowers in the restroom, or throw the actual bouquet that went down the aisle at the reception. You can also spread out floral arrangements for table centerpieces – not every table needs a grand arrangement.

  • Relocate and reuse: There is nothing that says you can’t use the same flowers for the ceremony and reception. Find ways to transport arrangements and to repurpose things like the bouquets carried by bridesmaids.

  • Supplement with fake ones: You can also balance your use of real and fake flowers – such as those made of silk – which also double as excellent mementos for guests and the bridal party.

  • DIY: There is no reason you can’t enlist some friends to make the arrangements yourself. You can order individual flowers at far less than arrangements, so if you’re creative, save the money and do it yourself.

The average wedding floral budget may be higher than you expected, but with these tips and tricks, you can cut down your cost. However, always keep in mind how quickly flowers costs can add up, so don’t leave anything to chance and plan ahead.