What Is The Average Cost Of Wedding Flowers?

February 15, 2018 Carolyn

Now that you or your other half popped the question (and said Yes) comes many others. One of them is: what is the average cost of wedding flowers?

Yes, flowers are a must at a wedding as a bridal accessory. It’s also a beautiful way to decorate a venue. However, you must first determine your needs before committing to anything.

As a matter of fact, flowers can be pretty expensive but there are also great alternatives to avoid spending a fortune on them.

What Are Your Needs?

Here are some questions you must first answer as they will influence the overall cost:

♦ Do you want artificial, dried or fresh flowers?

♦ How many boutonnieres, wrist or pin-on corsages, bouquets (bride, maid of honor, flower girl, toss)?

♦ Do you want seasonal flowers or specific ones?

♦ Are you willing to do it yourself (bulk buy) or would prefer a pre-packaged deal?

♦ What are your needs in terms of centerpieces and decor?

Average Cost for Pre-packaged Wedding Flowers

Let’s consider 3 different options and their specific characteristics to provide an estimated cost of your flower needs.

Characteristics

⇒ Bouquets (bride, bridesmaids, flower girls)/centerpieces – Consider these as interchangeable as they include about the same amount of flowers, greenery, tulle, and ribbon.

Not surprisingly, bouquets and centerpieces are the most expensive elements since they contain 80% more flowers than boutonnieres and corsages put together.

⇒ Boutonnieres (groom, fathers, groomsmen) and wrist or neckline corsages (mothers) – These items are similar in terms of the number of flowers and material they are made with.

Note that some corsages design include more flowers and are consequently more expensive. As mentioned earlier, corsages and boutonnieres are the most affordable pre-arranged elements.

⇒ Petals – Loose petals can be used in many ways to decorate the tables, church aisle or used as confetti for petal tossing.

Option 1

3 to 4 Bouquets or Centerpieces
2 to 4 Corsages
3 to 6 Boutonnieres

Total: $200 to $300

Option 2

4 to 6 Bouquets or Centerpieces
4 to 6 Corsages
8 to 12 Boutonnieres

Total: $400 to $600

Option 3

8 to 12 Bouquets or Centerpieces
6 to 12 Corsages
10 to 20 Boutonnieres

Total: $600 to $1000

What Is The Average Cost Of Wedding Flowers? – Wholesale

In general, the best way to save money when you need a large number of flowers is to buy in bulk.

However, you must be willing to do it yourself. Therefore you will need to put friends and family at work so you don’t have the burden of doing everything on your own.

Most online florists offer the possibility of buying pre-packaged or wholesale.

Another advantage of buying wholesale is that you usually have a large selection of flower colors and varieties to choose from.

Expect to pay around $600 for enough flowers to make 8 centerpieces 1 bridal bouquet, 2 bridesmaid bouquets and 4 to 6 boutonnieres and corsages.

Flower Price Fluctuations

Flowers are a perishable good that needs specific and continuous care in order to be at its best on your big day.

In fact, the prices vary according to many factors like the blooming season, their resistance to all kinds of weather circumstances, if they’re cultivated in greenhouses or open fields, where they are shipped distance traveled to get to you, etc.

That’s why many people are now turning to the florists that deal with farms directly instead of working with intermediates.

This helps them provide the most popular flower varieties at the lowest prices.

How to Save on Your Wedding Flowers

To know what is the average cost of wedding flowers you must take into account many aspects.

On the other hand, if you want to save money you may need to make some compromises. Here are some ideas to help you make a budget-wise decision:

Choose flowers that are grown locally according to the rusticity region where you live;

Mix annuals and perennials to lower the cost;

Choose large inflorescence to make your flower arrangements look fuller with less;

Avoid companies that use intermediates. If possible buy from flower growing farms that provide a professional and reliable wedding flower service;

Minimize the use of flowers for centerpieces by using other decoration elements and ornaments;

Reuse the flowers from bridesmaid bouquets and those used to decorate church pews as table centerpieces;

Use inexpensive and uncommon greenery to create a unique bouquet structure;

Add some adornments like pins brooches to create a spectacular bouquet instead of going for a dramatic flower arrangement that usually costs a fortune.

What is the Average Cost of Wedding Flowers

The following are some other optional ideas you may want to include in your floral decoration budget:

Table centerpieces
Ceremony (church pew or chairs)
Wedding arch
Toss bouquet
Petals to decorate the tables, the church aisle, use as confetti, etc.
Altar arrangements

Article Summary:

Price will Fluctuate Depending on These:

If you choose to have fresh, dried or artificial flowers
Adding more flower accessories like boutonnieres, wrist corsages, toss bouquets, petals, …
Seasonal flowers or flowers that are not grown locally
Pre-packaged deal or DIY
Including flowers in your decor and table centerpieces

Fresh Pre-Package Wedding Flowers Inclusions and Cost

Between $200 and $300

Bouquets or Centerpieces: 3-4 units
Corsages: 2 – 4 units
Boutonnieres: 3 – 6 units

Between $400 and $600

Bouquets or Centerpieces: 4 – 6 units
Corsages: 4 – 6 units
Boutonnieres: 8 – 12 units

Between $600 and $1000

Bouquets or Centerpieces: 8 to 12 units
Corsages: 6 – 12 untis
Boutonnieres: 10 – 20 units

Buying Wholesale to Save Money

Buying whole sale usually means paying less than you would for the same amount of flowers (from the same variety) in a pre-package deal.

The price is lower because the vendor does not need to prepare the different flower arrangements. In other words, it’s a great option if you were already thinking about doing it yourself.

Furthermore, you will have access to more flower variety as opposed to pre-packaged flowers.

Most online sellers offer both pre-packaged or bulk buying options so you can easily compare prices.

Simply, make sure to plan if you do it yourself ahead especially if you have a large number of flower arrangements to make. Also, take into account that you will need a refrigerated space to store the flowers.

What Makes Fresh Flower Price Fluctuate

Blooming season;
Resistance to harsh weather, insects, diseases;
Grown in green houses or open fields;
Locally grown or imported.

Saving Tips

Pick flowers that grow easily where you live and that don’t need to travel long distances to get to you;
Lower the overall cost by mixing flowers that grow back each year by themselves (perennials) with flowers need to be replanted (annuals)
Choose large flower blooms like hydrangea, peonies, or lilies to make your bouquets look fuller without the need to add a lot of flowers and greenery;
Whenever possible, deal with flower farms that have experience in providing flowers for wedding celebrations;
Create flowerless centerpieces with decorative elements and ornaments;
Don’t leave unused flowers behind like those used to decorate the ceremony venue. Repurpose them instead as table centerpieces;
Find foliages that are visually unique to make your bouquets look stunning without using expensive imported flowers;
Turn your bouquet into a work of art by adding beaded pins, brooches, and acrylic crustal string to give it a sparkling look.