How Much Do Flowers Cost for a Wedding?
Flowers are one of your wedding’s most beautiful features. They set the mood for your ceremony and provide timeless elegance to your decor. From the bouquet you’ll carry to the petals scattered along the aisle, each flower adds beauty, romance and wonder to your special day. But in addition to their beauty, flowers can also be expensive. The average couple spends over $1,000 on flowers alone. That can be problematic if you’re planning a wedding on a budget. Fortunately, it’s possible to have beautiful, romantic luxurious flowers for your wedding without breaking the bank. Here’s everything you need to know about how much wedding flowers cost, along with how you can save money on your special day.
The average cost of wedding flowers
In general, most couples spend around 8-10% of their wedding budget on flowers. According to Weddingwire, the average couple in the US spends between $750 and $2,000 on wedding flowers with most couples averaging $1,500.
Source: Wedding Wire
The price of individual floral arrangements can vary. According to Thumbtack, a simple bridal bouquet costs around $150, while an elaborate bouquet can cost anywhere from $350-$500. Table runners made from greenery cost $300–$400 for a 6-foot table, and an altar bouquet averages around $500.
The exact price will vary depending on a number of factors. However, it is possible to save money over the national average with a little know-how. Let’s take a look at why wedding flowers can cost as much as they do, along with how you can save on your floral arrangements.
Why do flowers cost so much?
There are a number of factors that affect the cost of wedding flowers and decorations, especially when using a professional florist. Labor is one of the biggest factors. The price of a professional florist doesn’t just encompass the cost of the flowers themselves. It also reflects their labor involved in putting together floral arrangements.
Having multiple flower types will also run the price up. Most florists buy flowers in bulk at wholesale prices. Using multiple flowers increases the amount that the florist has to buy, so you end up footing the bill for the extra cost of supplies.
There are other considerations to bear in mind, such as the current season and your geographical location. If your wedding is in the winter, fresh sunflowers will be hard to come by. As a result, they’ll be more expensive. Exotic or tropical flowers like orchids are more expensive than flowers that can be grown locally. Some flower colors are rare or can’t be grown naturally, such as blue roses. There are other miscellaneous expenses to be aware of, such as delivery, set-up, and clean-up fees.
Ways to save money on your wedding flowers
If the cost of flowers from a professional florist seems overwhelming, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways that you can add romantic one-of-a-kind beauty to your wedding without having to expand your budget. All you need is a little time and creativity.
One way to save money is by using artificial flowers instead of real ones. Faux flowers are made from materials like silk, foam, or paper. They come at a much cheaper price than real flowers and have the added advantage of longevity–they won’t wilt.
A box of 25 roses can cost well over $50 in the United States. Whereas, you can purchase a box of 25 3” foam roses from Ling’s moment starting at $11.19. That’s around $0.44 per flower–more than 4 times cheaper than real roses. This can allow you to use more flowers in your wedding decorations, or use rare or out-of-season flowers without increasing your budget.
Another excellent way to save money on wedding flowers is to DIY your floral arrangements yourself. Labor is one of the biggest expenses at a traditional florist. You can cut out this expense altogether by crafting your own bouquets, centerpieces, and decorations for your wedding. A simple bridal bouquet from a florist costs around $150, while an 11” DIY bridal bouquet from Ling’s moment starts at $89.99–a savings of around 40%. Creating a DIY bouquet with wholesale Ling’s flowers costs even less. You can put together a beautiful bouquet for as little as $65.
DIY decorations come with the added benefit of complete control over your floral arrangements. You can make sure that every petal, leaf, and stem is exactly the way you want it. It’s an excellent way to personalize your ceremony and make your decorations unique.
Other ways to save
If you’re still looking for ways to save on wedding decor, there are plenty of other tricks you can use.
One way is to reuse decorations from your ceremony at the reception. Recycle bridesmaid’s bouquets for table centerpieces, or use the bouquet from your altar at the head table. This can help you save money and create a cohesive look for the occasion, although you’ll need to enlist someone to move the decorations for you.
Another money-saving tip is to intermix your flowers with other decor pieces. Fabric, candles, ribbons, lace, and other design pieces can elevate your wedding decorations without raising the price of your floral budget. This also comes with the benefit of variety. Incorporating multiple elements can help create a cohesive, beautiful whole.
You’ll be surprised by how easy it is to make custom decorations, too. All you need is time, creativity, and a little know-how. Check out our library of DIY tutorials for inspiration and pointers.
And if you’re not an expert crafter, no worries. Ling’s moment offers a line of premade floral arrangements in countless beautiful styles. You could save an average of 30-75% over a traditional florist without sacrificing style. It’s an amazing way to have stunning bouquets, garlands, arch flowers, table decorations and more wedding floral arrangements for all your special Ling’s moments.
You can also browse Ling’s moment’s Instagram and Pinterest pages for more beautiful wedding inspiration. Feel free to tag us when your creations are done. We’d love to see the beautiful things you make!
