Just like every part of wedding planning, selecting your florist can be overwhelming, and it’s crucial to choose a florist who truly captures and conveys your vision. While finding the right fit might seem daunting, a well-planned flower budget can ensure your vision comes to life beautifully.
According to a Forbes 2023 article on wedding budgeting, couples listed budgeting as their number one stress whilst wedding planning. But despite the typical wedding costing nearly $35,000, the average wedding budget begins at only $27,550 – and couples will spend, on average, 26% over whatever their original budget was. On top of that, the average couple in Queensland will spend $12,504 on their wedding venue – and this has gone up by 19% in the last year alone. YIKES!
So, the big question is how much should you spend on your wedding flowers?
I’ll break it down in a few points below.
The cost:
There are many factors to consider, and it’s challenging to give an exact figure for your wedding flowers since each couple has unique values and different financial situations. However, a standard rule of thumb is to allocate 15% of your overall wedding budget towards florals. This should cover all the basics (personal flowers, a small ceremony feature & simple reception blooms). If you want your florals to be a significant part of your day, (ie freestanding arches, tablecentres for every table, bar and welcome sign meadows etc) consider allocating around 20%-25%. Percentages are often easier to work with than fixed numbers, as your overall spend and guest count can fluctuate. It also means that regardless of your final decisions, your flowers will always be in proportion to the rest of your space and size.
I am also a big believer in repurposing designs to maximise your budget. Why should you order everything twice for both your ceremony and reception when you can pay a small fee for us to transform your flowers and repurpose them into your reception space? For example, a beautiful ceremony grounded meadow can often be repurposed into your reception space, as table ends, just like how garden meadows down the aisle can become table centres. By working together, we can ensure your budget is used wisely for the most impactful results.
Prioritise Impact:
When it comes to budgeting and setting priorities, I advocate for “less, but better.” There’s nothing I advocate for more (besides choosing a florist you love!) then focusing on one or two impactful areas to create a real “wow” factor, and don’t worry about the rest. Seriously. This approach allows you to maximise your floral budget for the most significant effect. Consider (and this may be a hot take…) passing on the 11 buttonholes for all your grandparents and cousins, the wishing well posy, and the little baby’s breath tied to the pew chairs.
Strange, right? A person whose job is to generate sales, is suggesting for you to spend less? Why?
Not only are corsages and pew posies outdated and not aligned with my work, but I also encourage my couples to leave out what might be unnecessary items because it allows more budget for impactful features. If of course you have the capacity and we have covered all the areas you want, then go your hardest! But if you feel stretched with your budget, I guarantee you won’t look back on your wedding day wishing you had an extra buttonhole. Instead, you might wish you had invested more into your ceremony feature or added a few extra bud jars, which would have enhanced the ambience and overall feel of the day.
My business focuses on a specific style, and you choose us because we excel in what we do, and because you trust our input. This means I can always offer suggestions based on my experience that will not just complement and work with your vision, but also honour and respect ideal investment.
Trust Your Florist:
When you choose us, you’re selecting our experience, expertise, and reputation. Our prices reflect our high quality, unique design style, quick and transparent communication and meticulous planning. However, if you have any hesitations, I would love to discuss any questions you may have to ensure you understand and trust our approach!
Choosing a florist who can truly capture and convey your vision is crucial. While finding the right fit might seem daunting, I recommend selecting a florist based on your confidence in their style and their understanding of your vision, rather than solely on fitting everything into a specific budget. You also might find that after discussing with florists, what you are after isn’t aligned with your ideal budget, and that is completely okay. The best thing you can do is lock in a florist who you love and trust (as they most likely book out quickly anyway!), and then chat about what possibilities there are, with them.
My goal is to make your floral planning as easy and straightforward as possible. Planning your floral budget doesn’t have to be stressful. We work with all budgets, but it’s important to be realistic about expectations. If you can communicate your budget clearly, we’ll provide options that align with it!
