Understanding budgets for Wedding flowers & how to maximise it

If anyone is to understand how expensive weddings are, it's your florists, photographers, make-up artists & anyone else in-between. We know how much we are charging for our services, so we can only know or imagine how much you are paying for others.

Having completed many weddings under my own business, Lou Botanica, over the years, I love it when brides come to me only wanting the 'essentials' and giving me full creative control for their wedding flowers. Why? Apart from removing a significant amount of stress trying to order and buy specific flowers, it allows me to stretch your budget much more which equals to you, the bride, getting more for your buck. Let me explain.

Flowers are a natural, perishable product of the Earth. When we buy it from markets early in the morning, it's already in the process of dying. If we have purchased locally grown, seasonal blooms, they have likely been cut from their garden bed a day or two before that market morning. If we are buying something out of season that has been imported overseas, they have likely been cut up to a week ago, even longer during busy periods like Valentines day (3+ weeks to be exact from a reliable source in the industry). This is an important thing to note as florists are usually buying your wedding blooms up to four days before your wedding day to begin preparations, depending on the size and scale of your wedding.

Now if we do a quick analysis of just that information, I think we can make an honest connection that something locally grown is probably going to be cheaper than something grown and transported from overseas (whilst being treated and managed to keep them alive!). Of course that's not to say that all locally grown flowers are always 'cheaper' to buy, sometimes it is quite the opposite, but in my experience they are fresher, better quality, more unique and pleasing to the eye, and I do think they equal out to being much cheaper than the imports. (And if you are buying in season flowers, they are cost effective). Lets also address the elephant in the room regarding the costs of flowers - have you ever tried to grow flowers before? If not, I'd highly recommend going to Bunnings, buying a pack of seeds and giving it a go. I think it helps people understand and appreciate the complexity and work that goes into growing flowers, let alone a single one!

This topic between imports and locally grown is something I could write a whole other post about, so I will get back to how we can stretch our budget for wedding flowers. When you are planning your wedding I think flowers is an exciting part of that process for some people. But before you jump ahead and start enquiring with florists, I would recommend you have the following information planned and booked first:

• Date of wedding

• Where your wedding is being held, and how many guests and tables you are having (including how many guest per table, what shape of the tables, table measurements)

• Your dress and bridesmaid dresses (important for colours and materials of the dresses)

• Bridal party numbers (bridesmaids and groomsmen)

• Having a few inspiration pictures of your flower style/colours/choices

• A budget in mind (!!!)

I know the first 5 points will be relatively easy to get together for the most part, and I understand the last point is a grey area for a lot of people generally.

"I don't know how much flowers cost", "What is the average amount people spend?", "I really have no idea at all! I couldn't even give you a ballpark figure".

Again, I get it. It is hard, it is confusing, it is frustrating. But for florists, you will do them a world of help by providing some sort of budget to get your quote going, otherwise there is a lot of back and forth emails and no one likes that, not even the florists. So, where do you start?

Lower Budget ($500-$3,500)

If you are looking at a lower budget because you are having a smaller wedding, you really don't care about flowers at all, that's all you can afford, or you just need some or you just want very minimal, simple - include that in your enquiry! I can't speak for all florists and their businesses, but most budgets are workable you just have to trust and work with your florist, not against them.

Things to consider if you are within the $500-$3,000 budget range:

• Choose a local florist who works/resides in that area, not an i.e. city florist who would have to travel 100kms+ to your wedding location (you're paying not just for flowers - it's petrol, wages, insurances, shop/studio rent etc. The closer your florist is, the better)

• If your budget is under $1,000 I'd recommend going to local flower shops first in the area of your wedding as well as wedding/event florists online.

• Don't overthink or get particular about what flowers you want included in your arrangements - focus more on colours and styles, and let your florist pick the blooms. They will know what is most cost effective, in season and best for your budget.

• Keep things simple. Table arrangements? Think clusters of bud vases. Bridal bouquet? Think smaller in size or embrace foliage's to get size and wildness. Arrangement for the ceremony? Don't even think about having an Arbour full of flowers, think some simple but effective foliage floor arrangements or a couple of modest arrangements on some pedestal flower stands (or pick a location with an already stunning backdrop!)

• Trust your florist and their expertise. Flowers are a luxury item. Babies breath is not cheap, apart from the common thought it is. Florists know what will work with your budget and what won't. The best thing you can do with a lower budget is put all your trust into the florist and take their guidance. Minimise specifics and your florist will create something beautiful for you that aligns with your budget. You wouldn't ask for a Mercedes for a second hand Toyota price. The same works for flowers.

• Lastly, think about what else you are spending on everything else. If flowers feel like more of an important part of your day maybe you could go for cheaper options on other parts of the day. There are always alternatives to everything, get creative! Prioritise your budget where it is most important to you.

Higher Budgets ($3,600-$10,000+)

Now this is a whole other ball game, but I say with respect that I feel a lot of the same rules apply apart from a few exceptions. I still recommend to have a more set budget figure in mind as opposed to saying "I can spend $5,000 to $9,000 on my flowers". Of course the higher the budget, the more blooms and elaborate you can go, but there is still a large difference between those two figures. Figure out what you feel comfortable spending and start there. I can say (for my self at least) that anything above $3,600 is a generous budget depending what you are after (it still wont get you Royal wedding vibes sorry, that's more of a $10,000+ wedding budget!).

Same rules apply as above, but with a few tweaks:

• Find a florist who you love and adore their pieces of floral artwork. If there is a florist you have been screenshotting for months - contact them! I'd be maybe the first to publicly declare that florists don't totally love being shown other florists work along with the "can you make it look exactly like this?" We all have our own styles in floristry, so find a florist who you like best and enquire with them. You will get exactly what you are after going with the florist you like instead of an attempted spin off.

• I'd still personally advocate for going with florists local to the area if you can. Same thing, you are paying for petrol, wages etc. so if there is a decent trek from your florists shop or studio to your wedding location, a chunk of your budget is going towards that. (which is totally worth it if your booking your favourite florist!)

• Try and still focus on colours and styles, not particular flowers. With a bigger budget I'd definitely say pick 2-3 blooms you really love and would like included in your arrangements, but try and still keep an open mind and trust in your florist. Sometimes we really can't get the flowers you are after based off seasons, weather and supply issues so avoid a bit of stress and go for colours not particular blooms if possible.

• With specifics on styles, shapes, heights etc. try and have that figured out before going back and forth between emails/calls with your florist. It's best to decide what you need for your day + how you wish for them to look and leave the rest to the florist. You will receive the best outcome for your flowers on your wedding day if there is minimal changes in details such as colours, numbers and types of flowers. Be quite certain with what you are after before you start enquiring.

• Trust your florist!!! This guide always a applies, it will keep you and your florist more relaxed resulting in better blooms and a stress free day for everyone. Having a wedding day in the middle of a scorching summer and all you want is hydrangea? I'd say think again and trust your florist, they'll know what will last in that hot heat.

Flowers can be such a special part to anyone's day especially weddings. I do believe that all in all, the best thing you can do is surrender, keep the details simple and trust the business' you are booking and let them do their job for all parts of your wedding day. For anyone's wedding you book a photographer you like, you buy a dress you love and a cake that tastes delicious; why is it any different for flowers? Find a florist that makes you mesmerized, trust them and book them - they'll do the rest.

I hope this post has been of help for some of you. Please feel free to write a comment or share with a friend you know is getting married soon. Our wedding days are meant to be the one of the best days in your life - keep it stress free and it will be! Surrender and trust your vendors!!

Signed,

Abbey