If you don’t follow a strict wedding budget, you may be unable to order what you want or end up overspending on flowers.

With more than 15 years of experience in event designing and floral arranging, I’ve helped numerous couples achieve their floral dreams while sticking to their budgets. For this reason, I’m going to explain how much you should budget for wedding flowers and how to plan for it.

How Much to Budget for Flowers for a Wedding?

Generally, couples should expect to allocate about 8%-10% of their overall wedding budget to flowers. This would mainly cover the bride’s bouquet, bridesmaids’ bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, and ceremony and reception arrangements. However, the actual cost will depend on factors like the types of flowers, the complexity of the arrangements, and the season.

At the end of the day, a well-planned floral budget can make the difference in ensuring your wedding day is as magical and memorable as you’ve envisioned. Likewise, it’s crucial to communicate your budget with your florist to ensure you get the best possible value for your money.

Wedding Flower Budget Allocation Breakdown

When planning your wedding flowers budget, it’s essential to consider each aspect of your floral needs. In this section, I’ll break down the different categories for you.

Flowers	Budget Range
Bridal bouquet	$150-$350
Bridesmaids’ bouquets	$80 -$125
Pin-on corsage	$25-$48
Wrist corsage	$35-$65
Boutonnieres	$24-$45
Head table centerpieces	$60-$160
Guest table centerpieces	$70-$400
Altar flowers	$75-$500
Cake flowers	$20-$100
Cards and guest books	$100-$200
Flower girl petals	$25-$60 per bag
Flower crowns	$40-$120

Bouquets

The cost of bridal bouquets varies depending on the types of flowers you choose, as well as the arrangement’s size and complexity. Meanwhile, the bouquets for bridesmaids tend to be smaller and cheaper.

• Bridal bouquet: $150-$350
• Bridesmaids’ bouquets: $80 -$125

Corsages

During consultation and planning, I explain to couples who should wear flowers at weddings. In this way, you can better see why you can allocate a smaller budget for corsages, as they are way smaller and less complex than bouquets.

• Pin-on corsage: $25-$48
• Wrist corsage: $35-$65

Boutonnieres

Like corsages, you only need to set aside a smaller budget for the boutonnieres of the groom, groomsmen, and your fathers.

• Boutonnieres: $24-$45

Centerpieces

Budgeting for the centerpieces can be tricky for some couples, especially when they need help deciding between having simple designs and opulent, towering flower arrangements. During consultations, I usually recommend this average budget allocation for centerpieces.

• Head table centerpieces: $60-$160
• Guest table centerpieces: $70-$400

Ceremony and Reception Decorations

The budget floral decorations for the ceremony and reception also depend on the design’s complexity. To help ease wedding planning anxiety, I typically give a price range allowing couples to customize their decorations without exceeding their budget. 

• Altar flowers: $75-$500
• Cake flowers: $20-$100
• Arrangements next to place cards and guest book: $100-$200

Flower Girl Petals and Floral Accessories

Petals and other floral accessories are optional these days. However, if you want to keep this wedding tradition, you can still allocate a small amount for them.

• Flower girl petals: $25-$60 per bag
• Flower crowns: $40-$120

Understanding Wedding Flower Budget

On average, flowers take up a significant chunk of a couple’s wedding budget. Depending on the number of arrangements and complexity, couples can allocate 8% to 10% of the wedding budget to flowers. These are the different factors that can affect how much to budget for wedding flowers.

Season

Certain blooms are less expensive during their peak growing period, while others can skyrocket in price during off-season months. For example, if you’re getting married in spring, you may find that flowers like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are more affordable. 

Meanwhile, summer weddings typically offer a wide variety of blooms, including roses, peonies, and sunflowers. On the other hand, some flowers, such as orchids and lilies, are available year-round, although they can be pricier due to their exotic nature.

I generally keep an eye on the seasonality of various flowers to help couples narrow down research and have a good idea of how much these flowers cost in different seasons. Here’s a quick reference guide to popular seasonal blooms:

• Spring: Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths
• Summer: Roses, peonies, sunflowers
• Fall: Dahlias, chrysanthemums, asters
• Winter: Amaryllis, poinsettias, hellebores

Types of Flowers

Choosing the right flowers for your wedding can have a significant impact on your overall flower budget. Here’s a simple breakdown of the price range for common wedding flowers:

• Roses: $3-$6 per stem
• Hydrangeas: $6-$8 per stem
• Peonies: $8-$10 per stem
• Lilies: $4-$7 per stem
• Orchids: $5-$12 per stem
• Greenery: $1-$3 per stem

Professional Florists

Hiring professional florists plays a significant role in the wedding flower budget. A key factor influencing your budget is the range of services florists provide. Here’s what a florist usually offers:

• Designing custom floral arrangements
• Planning and coordinating with your wedding theme
• Sampling sessions to finalize the perfect flowers
• Delivering and setting up the arrangements on-site
• Cleaning up post-wedding

Remember that you don’t need to compromise on your wedding design and floral arrangements due to budget constraints. With some creativity and smart choices with the help of professional florists, you can have beautiful flowers that fit your theme without breaking the bank.

Related Questions

What Is a Good Budget for Floral Arrangements for Weddings?

A good budget for wedding flower arrangements is around 8% to 10% of your overall wedding budget. However, this can go lower or higher depending on what you want to prioritize on your big day.

How Much Should I Budget for a Wedding Florist?

The average cost of wedding florists ranges from $1,500 to $3,500. This may depend on whether you’re hiring a full-service florist or only want to order flowers, then design or arrange them yourselves.

How Can I Save Money for Wedding Flowers?

To save on your wedding flower budget, hire a professional wedding florist with access to the best flowers on the market. You can save on logistics and labor with the help of florists. It’s also crucial that you know what you want from the start so you can stick to your budget.

Conclusion

The cost of wedding flowers can vary greatly depending on various factors, such as the types of blooms, seasonality, and the scale of arrangements desired. I recommend setting aside around 8% to 10% of your overall wedding budget for flowers, which should primarily cover bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, and ceremony and reception arrangements.