Average Cost of Wedding Flowers
Weddings are a rite of passage, but as any future bride and groom know, paying for them is a major headache. From the venue to the dress, wedding costs can be exorbitant, especially for couples dealing with other financial priorities.
Wedding flowers can be a pricey part of the big day, making up about 10% of a typical wedding budget . But what’s a wedding without a bouquet to toss?
Fortunately, there are ways to save on your wedding flowers without giving up your dream. Learn how you can find wedding flowers that fit both your budget and your vision board.
What Is the Average Cost of Flowers for a Wedding?
According to Wedding Wire, the average cost of wedding flowers is $1,500 with the majority of couples spending between $700 and $2,500. Other figures put the price higher. The Brides 2018 American Wedding Study found that flower costs doubled from 2017 to 2018, from $1,274 to $2,629.
Wedding flowers can vary dramatically from ceremony to ceremony but usually include the following :
• Bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids
• Boutonnieres for the groom, groomsmen, ushers, and ring bearer
• Corsages for the mother-of-the-bride and mother-of-the-groom
• Flower petals for the flower girl
• Ceremony floral arrangements including altar flowers or flowers for the wedding arch or chuppah
• Centerpieces for the reception
The average cost of wedding party flowers can vary depending on the number of people in the party. According to Zola , bridal bouquets typically cost between $100 and $170. Bouquets for the bridesmaids cost between $65 and $100 each. While boutonnieres or corsages can cost anywhere between $100 to $150.
Exact prices are determined by many factors including how many flowers you need, if those flowers are local and in-season and what kind of arrangements you want. Some flowers have short growing seasons and might be difficult to find at certain times of the year and could be more expensive.
If you plan on having elaborate decorations and floral displays, you’ll likely have to factor in a higher cost than someone who opts for more simple understated arrangements.
The cost of wedding flowers will also vary based on the location of the wedding, which can be an important consideration if you’re planning a destination wedding.
Picking Your Wedding Flowers
Flowers can add a bridal touch to almost any room and can add serious impact when your guests arrive. And they can be personalized to create a visual perfect for each individual bride.
But wedding flowers can be expensive, so your budget may influence the types of flowers you choose. Not every flower is priced equally and if you’re inexperienced, it can be easy to go over budget without knowing what your options are.
If you’re looking for flowers on the more affordable end of the spectrum, stick to something that is on the more local side that will be readily available at the time of your wedding. Some flowers, like peonies, are in bloom for a limited time period. If you want peonies outside of their normal blooming time, it’s likely that they’ll have to be flown in from somewhere else. That can increase the cost of your flower budget.
Hiring a professional florist can be more expensive than taking a DIY approach. One option is to buy flowers wholesale and creating your own bouquets and centerpieces a day or two before the wedding.There are online resources for the bride looking to DIY flower arrangements, but it could also be helpful to call on any experienced family or friends.
If you’re not confident about your DIY skills or don’t want the hassle, then you need to choose the right florist. Ask some of your already-married friends and family for florist recommendations. You could also peruse Yelp or Instagram and any relevant local hashtags to find florists in your area. If you’ve already hired other wedding vendors or are working with a wedding coordinator they might have a florist recommendation.
It may take a lot of searching to find the right florist . When you interview potential florists, describe your budget, how many flowers you need and ask them what’s possible. Take the time to do a bit of research and pull some inspiration photos that can give the florist an idea of what you are looking for.
Be upfront about your budget. Make it clear what you’re looking for and how much wiggle room there is. Sometimes a limited budget means you might have to be flexible with the exact flowers and arrangements. But an experienced florist can potentially help you achieve your vision, without busting your budget.
Most florists will prepare an event proposal with cost estimates. As you select the florist that is best for you, review the information closely so you and your florist are on the same page as the wedding day approaches.
Another way to save when it comes to your wedding flower budget—get creative. If possible, you could choose to double dip and use the bridesmaid bouquets for the centerpieces on the tables at the wedding reception. Or you could opt for succulents that can also double as wedding favors.
If you can’t afford to have all of your tables covered with your favorite flowers, you could choose a 50/50 split. Having tables with different arrangements will break up the visual line and make it more appealing. Or you could even opt for a non-floral table setting.
Paying for Wedding Flowers
Many couples pay for wedding flowers with their savings, receiving money from their parents or putting the bills on a credit card.
Using a credit card is a common way to cover the cost of wedding flowers and other bridal expenses. According to a Student Loan Hero survey, 61% of respondents said they’d use a credit card to help pay for wedding expenses . Only 21% said they’d use a personal loan for their wedding.
Before you rule out using a personal loan to pay for wedding expenses, consider that the average annual percentage rate (APR) on a credit card as of this writing is around 17%-18%. Unless you can pay your balance in full each billing cycle, that interest can add up.
A credit card only requires minimum payments. As long as you pay the bare minimum, you don’t have to repay the complete total all at once. But, you may end up paying a huge amount in interest if you’re not disciplined and motivated.
With a personal loan, your repayment schedule is laid out ahead of time. And with a fixed rate loan, your payments are set each month, which can sometimes simplify your monthly budget.
While you may even consider using a personal loan to help pay for expenses beyond the flowers, your overall financial health should govern whether this is a wise move.
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