When you include seasonal flowers in your wedding, you receive the greatest quality blossoms at a lower cost. This guide can help you save big on your flower budget no matter what time of year you plan to tie the knot.
There are various expenditures related with wedding planning, ranging from the venue to the invitations and beyond. Florals are one of the more expensive components of a wedding, with the average bridal bouquet costing $150 — and that doesn’t include centrepieces, bouquets, boutonnieres, and other floral displays.
When all is said and done, the average couple should budget $700 to $2500 for flowers.
When you include seasonal flowers in your wedding, you receive the greatest quality blossoms at a lower cost. This seasonal flower blossoming guide can help you save big on your floral budget no matter when you wish to tie the knot. Because blooms are more affordable during their peak season, you’ll get the best quality at the best price.
When you order in-season flowers, your florist will not have to compete with other businesses for a popular, limited-quantity bloom. It also saves money on shipping because florists may readily hire local vendors.
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Wedding Flower Costs on Average
Whether you choose a minimalistic wedding or go all out with a bright, brilliant palette, your wedding flowers may be one of the most gorgeous aspects of the day. A wedding ceremony typically includes the bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, and altar flowers, to name a few. As guests enter the reception, they are welcomed by gorgeous blossoms used as centerpieces, garlands, and even on the cake. The possibilities are endless! However, there are so many floral accents to pick from that it can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to integrating this décor component into your budget.
Before making any floral decisions, make sure to plan your wedding flower budget ahead of time. This will assist you in determining your must-haves, desires, and classic floral design characteristics to avoid. How much do wedding flowers cost, though? What is the greatest place for a couple to begin when developing a budget? Continue reading for ideas and methods from floral and wedding planning experts on how to better understand the average cost of wedding flowers, how to save money on flowers, and a few sample budgets to get you started.
The Average Cost of Wedding Flowers
The average cost of wedding flowers can vary greatly depending on how many flowers you require, the type of flowers you select, and whether or not they are in season. Although there are no set rates for wedding flowers, Caitlyn McCloskey of Sea Lily in Malibu, California, gave a range of prices that couples could expect to pay for specific floral items.
A bridal bouquet costs between $150 and $350.
A bridesmaid bouquet costs between $65 and $125.
Flower girl petals are $65 for a bag. Boutonnieres cost between $24 and $45 while pin-on corsages cost between $32 and $48. $48–$65 for a wrist corsage Flowers for the reception: $75–$250
Altar flowers range in price from $75 to $500.
$150–$250 for the arrangement next to the sign-in book; $65–$125 for the arrangement next to the place cards; and $65–$150 for the centerpiece on the head table.
A sweetheart table garland costs $12–$45 per foot.
A centerpiece for a guest table might cost anywhere from $75 and $400.
The cost of cake flowers ranges from $25 to $150.
A flower crown costs between $45 and $125.
How to Cut Costs on Wedding Flowers
Though wedding flower budgets can be expensive, there are ways to keep flower costs (relatively) low while still maximizing your overall wedding budget. There are eight different ways to save money on wedding flowers.
Combination of Expensive and Low-Cost Flowers
To get the look for less, use everyone’s favorite fashion rule: Mix high and low! “One of the prettiest ideas I have ever seen was the bride who had white roses and bushels of baby’s breath,” says Ani Keshishian, creative director of Anoush Banquet Halls & Catering and L.A. Banquets. “She had flowers on one table and baby’s breath on another, and you couldn’t tell the difference in her pictures. It was absolutely beautiful and added a lot to the wedding atmosphere.” If you don’t like alternating, Jennifer Arreguin and Natasha Burton, cofounders of Swoon California in Santa Barbara, recommend using a lot of filler, such as stock and greenery, with pops of pricy and cherished flowers, such as David Austin roses or peonies.
Use lights and other décor in addition to floral arrangements.
Flowers are romantic, but votives and illumination are not, and they can help you keep inside your budget. “Instead of focusing solely on blooms, you might use personal items for the table displays, such as photos, recollections, or lanterns,” Arreguin and Burton suggest. Another wonderful option if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on flowers? Look for one-of-a-kind vases that can accommodate fewer flowers. Choose products that, when combined with other design components, such as the above-mentioned candles in multiples, will create a stunning centerpiece, advises celebrity event planner Michael Cerbelli, CEO and president of Cerbelli Creative.
Reuse the wedding ceremony flowers at the reception
Isn’t it true that you sometimes have to go big or go home? So, if you want huge, flashy arrangements, go ahead and get them, but try to use them in a variety of ways. “These arrangements can be put on staggered columns to offer a lovely backdrop for the wedding,” says Scoobie West of Scoobie & Company. “During cocktail hour, they may then be easily relocated to the reception space.”
Choose wedding flowers that are in season and grown in your area.
Choose flowers that aren’t out of season or inappropriate for the climate in which you’re being married. Furthermore, locally grown alternatives are typically less expensive and fresher than specialty varieties that must be shipped from afar.
The best option is to select Volume
“Full-petal flowers take up a lot more space than smaller blooms,” says Francesca DiSalvo-Follmer, owner of Pure Luxe Bride, a wedding planner. Erica Taylor Haskins, cofounder of Tinsel Experiential Design, appreciates using towering floral branches like cherry blossom and forsythia to create a vivid, voluminous design.
Use only a few different types of flowers
The higher the price, the more the variety. Instead of overloading your floral arrangements with a multitude of flowers, keep it simple and stick to a few varieties. This will save money and keep your florist from ordering in bulk.
Plants Should Be Taken into Account
Consider using potted plants or herbs as centerpieces, suggests Jyl Deering of Deering Events, so that visitors (or you) may transplant them at home. Palm trees and hardy desert cacti are also wonderful choices for creating a statement without relying on flowers. Succulents and terrariums are also good options.
Be open-minded and consult with your florist
When in doubt, consult with your florist. According to event planner Kristine Cholakian Cooke, owner of Simply Charming Socials, your florist should be able to present you with some beautiful options that meet your visual requirements while also being more accessible for your date. “We always find that women who are more open-minded when they come to early floral sessions can learn a lot about flowers and topics they didn’t know about,” Cooke adds. “At the end of the day, the results can be breathtaking and unexpected.”
Select a venue that is inherently beautiful
Choose a venue that is naturally beautiful. Select a windswept beach, a lovely garden, or a forested forest as your wedding backdrop, and then add subtle floral accents to complete the look.
Select one or two “Wow” moments to use in your presentation
It is not necessary to put flowers on every surface during your reception. Instead, place a few spectacular centerpieces in important spots and keep table arrangements modest. Here are some suggestions for creating “wow” moments:
Seasonal Wedding Flower Guide
Use this flower blooming chart to determine which flowers are in season before you go to the florist. Keep in mind that flowering seasons are influenced by weather, environment, and a variety of other factors, so check with your local florist before placing an order. After you’ve reviewed our flower blooming chart, keep reading for bouquet options organized by wedding season. If you know what month your wedding or pre-wedding celebration is, you may easily jump to the specific season for flower ideas.
Spring Flower Inspiration
Spring marks the beginning of the year’s most abundant blooming season. As the weather begins to warm, plants begin to bloom in beautiful pastel colors. You’ll want to take advantage of the fresh blossoms as they bloom for a springtime wedding. It’s the perfect time of year to add pinks, peaches, purples, and cream into your wedding color palette.
Cold fronts and long winters might cause the flowering season to be delayed, reducing the richness of your blossoms. Keep this in mind as you select your spring bouquets. Contact your florist a few weeks before the wedding to see if you can still save money by buying locally produced in-season blooms, or whether it’s better to buy them because of the weather.
Here are some of our favorite spring blooms:
Ranunculus
This large-petaled flower is common in wedding bouquets. Its petals look like rose petals, but they are very delicate and tissue-paper thin. Their color palette is appropriate for every season, and despite their spring bloom, they are inexpensive and plentiful, allowing you to utilize them all year!
Bluebell
Bluebell wildflowers are a lovely addition to your design. These brilliant blue bulbs are connected with fairy enchantments in British folklore and thrive in woodland areas. The dark tones of this flower make it a gloomy accent to any bouquet, making it suitable for a garden-inspired design.
Poppy
Poppies have a short flowering season that finishes in May due to their affinity for milder temperatures. If you’re getting married in the spring, this crinkly spring bloom will brighten up your bouquet. Although the petals vary in color, the center is usually brilliant yellow, making this wildflower an excellent addition to a bouquet for a casual outdoor wedding.
Peony
This huge flower is used in bridal bouquets. Peonies feature light-colored petals that are smooth and fluffy. The petals have a strong aromatic perfume, and when the weather warms, they begin to erupt, making them a great choice for a springtime wedding. Because they are Megan Markle’s favorite flower, they are also suitable for royalty.
Summer flower inspiration
Summer is the best season for vibrant colors and prolific blossoming. Many flowers that began bulbing in the spring bloom at their peak during the hot summer months, providing you with a wealth of options.
It’s also an excellent time to incorporate tropical, warm-weather flowers into your wedding bouquet. Bright, exotic floral arrangements are a great way to provide a summertime feel to your wedding. Remember that, with all of the sunshine, heat waves and dry spells are more common this time of year, which may impact the blooming season of some flowers.
Here are a handful of our favorite blooms for the spring and summer
Sunflowers
You can add a vibrant splash of summertime to your wedding with this classic wildflower that resembles sun rays. Sunflowers bloom in July and are relatively inexpensive due to their abundance. Sunflowers are also a good luck symbol, so include them in your floral arrangement will help your marriage get started to a bright and cheerful start.
Snapdragon
Snapdragons blossom in the cold spring months, so early summer is the ideal time to enjoy them. This flower’s scented petals and tall stalks are native to the Mediterranean. Snapdragons come in a variety of brilliant hues and are perfect for mixing with larger flowers such as roses and peonies.
Orchid
You may start your honeymoon early with this tropical gem. While many orchid varieties bloom throughout the year, the summer months lend them a distinct seasonal flavor. Orchids have bright petals that look like butterfly wings, and their long life span makes them an excellent bouquet choice. Use luxuriant greenery and sparkling bulbs to create a lush, tropical flower display.
Dahlia
These June blooms are dreamy because they are bright, vivid, and distinctively fashioned. While they bloom in late May, their blossoms bloom throughout the summer and early October. Dahlias, with their large blooms, low cost, and variety, are a practical and effective addition to your bouquet.
Beautiful Fall Flowers
Flower season slows as the cold air comes in. In the autumn, plants and trees lose their leaves, and the foliage takes on wonderful jewel tones. At this whimsical time of year, flower crowns are an excellent way to include boho aspects into your wedding day. Seasonal embellishments such as twigs, feathers, and berries can all be incorporated in floral arrangements.
Many summer blossoms continue to bloom until early fall, so you’ll still have plenty of options despite the shifting colors of autumn. Several cool-weather bulbs, which have been hiding from the summer heat since the spring, will also make a comeback.
Here are some of our top picks for a fall wedding bouquet:
The King of Protea
This show-stopping floral will take center stage during your wedding. The national flower of South Africa is a tropical flowering plant with a huge crown, spiky petals, and a dazzling long stalk. Despite its light pink color, the uniqueness of this flower makes it a great addition to a melancholy fall arrangement.
Amaranthus
The phrase “love lies bleeding” refers to this unusual longtailed plant with a long Aztec heritage. Even after drying, these petals retain their vibrant harvest colors of pink, red, and green. The velvety blossoms will seem sensual and gorgeous as they cascade down your bridal bouquet.
Chrysanthemum
This lovely flower, often known as mums, symbolizes autumn abundance, making it a wonderful choice for your autumn wedding! Mums are available in a variety of hues and floral shapes, providing brides with numerous options. They’re also easy to grow in late summer, making them a low-cost bouquet addition and a lovely flower for fall gardening.
Delphinium
This summer bloom will be accessible until the end of October, making it an excellent choice for an early autumn bridal bouquet. You might opt with a more typical autumn color palette, or you can surprise your wedding guests with flashes of gorgeous blue petals mixed in with more traditional fall tones.
Winter Flowers that are Inspiring
Many blossoms are killed by frost in the winter. Include sturdy stems in your winter wedding to celebrate their capacity to thrive in the cold.
This season’s theme is delicate decadence, which can be found in everything from your wedding cake to your floral display. To make a spectacular presentation, combine neutral flowers with vibrant red and green accents. You can also add festive holiday ornamentation such as pine cones and crimson berries.
Here are a few winter floral options that are both stunning and long-lasting:
Hellebores
These blooms, popularly known as Christmas roses, can bloom as early as December. Hellebores have a long and distinguished history in Greek and Christian mythology. These plants are a natural choice for a wonderful winter wedding presentation due to their frost tolerance and beautiful, lush petals.
Anemone
These bulbs, also known as windflowers in Greek mythology, are a symbol of love between Adonis and Aphrodite. This, paired with their eye-catching petal colors, including deep plum, makes them excellent for a winter wedding.
Eucalyptus
The beautifully textured leaves of eucalyptus make it an ideal choice for a winter bouquet filler. In recent years, delicate foliage has been increasingly popular in bridal bouquets. These Australian native leaves offer a deep, aromatic perfume. They are endemic to Australia and grow on trees. They look fantastic fresh or dried, so buy them fresh or stock up ahead of time.
In the garden Winter Roses are a favorite wedding flower because they represent love and beauty. They also bloom all year, making them a lovely and fashionable choice for any season. Winter Garden Roses bloom in December, so these soft, delicate petals won’t break the bank while still giving exquisite color diversity all winter.
