When it comes to weddings, flowers play a huge role in setting the tone and atmosphere of the day. They serve as a key feature that ties together all elements – attire, stationery, venue, styling – and ultimately, conveys your aesthetic and the overall feel of the event. However, I often find that the cost of wedding flowers can be a shock if you aren’t in the industry.
Growing flowers, especially in Australia’s challenging climate, incurs high costs. Remember, from the moment a seed is planted, we’re paying for the grower’s above minimum wage.
So, why do wedding flowers cost what they do? You may have already read my previous blogs on minimum spends and why I can’t offer single bridal bouquets, (if you haven’t click HERE) so now let’s break down the exact cost of a bridal bouquet!
Now more than ever we are being more considerate, thoughtful and sceptical with money. It’s so important to know exactly what you are paying for! It’s one thing to say a flower bouquet costs x amount, but I think it’s another thing to actually know why and how. Let’s get into it!
Consider one of my signature garden bouquets. My classic bouquets are abundant with high end fresh florals varieties, and typically compromise of around 16 different flower varieties to achieve the whimsical and handpicked feel.
I have never strayed away from using lots of different flower shapes/sizes/varieties in the designs, as this is what gives my signature garden bouquets that super whimsical and romantic handpicked sort of feel that everyone loves.
Below is a breakdown of each flower I used in this particular bouquet, and how much it costs to buy its bunch. Keep in mind that that us florists need to buy the full bunch of flowers, not just the stems we use.
RECIPE:
– Cosmos: $16 per bunch
– Purple Delphinium: $25 per bunch
– Blue Delphinium: $25 per bunch
– Queen Anne’s Lace: $15 per bunch
– Dahlia: $14.50 per bunch
– Lemon Carnation: $16.50 per bunch
– Pink Carnation: $16.50 per bunch
– Hydrangea: $25 per bunch
– Pink Lisianthus: $13.50 per bunch
– Yellow Lisianthus: $13.50 per bunch
– White Spray Rose: $33 per bunch
– White Hydrangea: $30 per bunch
– Pomponi Gerbera: $16 per bunch
– Peach Rose: $33 per bunch
– Lemon Garden Rose: $98 per bunch
– Chamomile Daisy: $15 per bunch
This brings the total to $405.50 wholesale. This is with absolutely no mark up or accommodation for labour to curate the vision and recipe, source and collect the flowers, prep and clean the stems and design the bouquet itself.
After adding a roll of trailing silk ribbon ($21.90 wholesale) for a roll and a 10% GST of $42.84, the wholesale cost escalates to $470.17. Craaaazy!
With the industry standard of a 4x markup for profit to run the business and cover expenses, the retail price of this bouquet would be around $1,880.56… Absolutely crazy, right? That is because the full bunch needs to be bought in order to create the design, not just 1-2 stems. Of course I would never charge this, and that is why I implement a minimum spend, to ensure I am able to use the full bunch / the unused flowers in other designs, and of course only price my designs for the flowers I use!
There really is a laundry list of expenses needed to stay afloat as a wedding floristry business. Some include fridge hire, van hire, fuel, insurances, studio rent and hire, hardgoods and inventory (candle holders, bud jars, tools etc), website, POS system, client management subscriptions, marketing, water, electricity (imagine running x2 commercial flower fridges 24×7!) and of course – the flowers! These business-related costs need to be accommodated for, and these come out of the flower markup. This markup is essential for my business’s sustainability. The flower spend doesn’t just cover the cost of flowers, but also covers the overheads associated with running my business.
Investing in a skilled floral designer for your wedding ensures meticulous attention to detail and top-quality blooms. My expertise can not only elevate the aesthetic of your special day but also guarantee a stress-free experience, allowing you to cherish every moment without worrying about the finer details! Choosing a capable and experienced florist is an investment in creating unforgettable memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.
And for those who are itching to know, this big and beautiful bouquet was was $375 <3
