Financing Florals: How To Determine the Cost of a Florist for Your Wedding
Every bride has a list of to-dos when it comes to wedding planning. Besides the venue and wedding dress, flowers are likely near the top of the list.
Flowers are one of the most eye-catching elements of any wedding, setting the tone for the day and bringing your vision to life through color, texture, and fragrance. From the bridal bouquet and boutonnieres to ceremony arches and reception centerpieces, floral design plays a major role in the overall look of a wedding.
Understanding the costs of wedding flowers can help you plan realistically, prioritize what matters most, and make informed decisions that balance style with spending.
In this article, we’ll break down what influences floral pricing, what couples can expect to budget for wedding flowers, and tips for cutting floral costs when the budget is tight.
Table of Contents
How Expensive Is It To Use a Florist for a Wedding?
Wedding floral costs can vary depending on factors like:
Choice of flowers
Number of arrangements
Complexity of arrangements
Location
Florist time and logistics
How Much Does It Cost for a Wedding Florist? 6 Factors That Influence Pricing
#1: Size and Number of Floral Arrangements
The size, complexity, and number of floral arrangements you choose all play a major role in determining how much a florist costs for a wedding. Larger, high-impact designs — ceremony arches, oversized centerpieces, flower clouds, or ceiling installations — require more stems, labor, and planning, which drives up pricing. As couples add florals to unexpected areas like aisles, reception entrances, bars, and signage, costs increase with every additional arrangement.
Complexity matters just as much as size. Intricate designs and custom installations take more time and expertise to execute, which is reflected in the price. Venue size may also factor because larger spaces require more florals to feel cohesive. In addition, having your ceremony and reception in separate locations often means duplicating arrangements.
Working closely with an experienced florist can help you prioritize statement pieces, simplify designs where possible, and create a cohesive look that aligns with your budget.
Or you can choose an all-inclusive venue like Twenty Mile House, where everything – including flowers – is part of the package. Let us take care of all the details so you can focus on relishing every moment of your special day.
#2: Fresh vs. Dried
Fresh flowers deliver a classic, colorful look and are often the choice for couples who want their ceremony aisle and reception filled with lush blooms, even when that abundance comes at a price. Because fresh flowers are perishable and last only a few days, their cost is tied entirely to the wedding day itself.
Dried flowers, on the other hand, offer a budget-friendly alternative for couples willing to think beyond traditional blooms. Options like dried baby’s breath are often less expensive for large installations and can be dyed to match virtually any color palette. While dried bouquets may have a slightly higher upfront cost, they last for months or even years, making them ideal keepsakes. For couples who value longevity and long-term value, dried florals can ultimately be more economical.
#3: Blooms to Greenery Ratio
Incorporating more greenery into your wedding florals is a simple way to stretch your budget. Greenery stems are typically less expensive than flowers, so arrangements that blend greens with blooms cost less than designs made up entirely of flowers. Trending options like branches and leafy garlands can also transform a venue on a budget, adding texture and volume with less money spent on flowers. Consider reserving most of your budget for a few impactful blooms, like hydrangeas, ranunculus, or dahlia, and let greenery fill in the spaces around them.
#4: Types of Flowers
Specialty blooms like orchids and peonies can cost three to four times more than sturdier options such as daisies or carnations. Seasonality also affects pricing. Selecting flowers that are naturally in bloom during your wedding season allows florists to source locally and keep costs down. Out-of-season or imported flowers can quickly drive prices up. If you’re set on a premium flower, mixing it with more affordable blooms or greenery is a smart way to stay on budget.
Examples of premium flowers include:
Lily of the valley
Orchids
Garden roses
Hydrangeas
Gardenias
King protea
Japanese sweet peas
More affordable flower choices include:
Baby’s breath (gypsophila)
Carnations
Chrysanthemums
Alstroemeria (Peruvian lily)
Daisies
Freesia
Sunflowers
Waxflower
#5: Preparation and Storage
Much of a florist’s pricing goes beyond the flowers themselves, reflecting the extensive preparation and storage required to ensure every bloom looks perfect on your wedding day. Each stem must be:
Unpacked
Stripped of excess foliage or thorns
Freshly cut
Assessed
Treated with specialized hydrating solutions
Placed in clean, treated water
Refrigerated at precise temperatures
Florists also factor in client consultations, design planning, ordering supplies, transportation logistics, and a substantial amount of cleanup. Add in the need for temperature-controlled storage, specialized delivery vehicles, and skilled labor for setup and teardown, and it’s easy to see why these behind-the-scenes steps significantly influence the final floral cost.
Tips for Saving Money On Florals
If you’re looking to keep your wedding flower budget under control without sacrificing style, there are several practical strategies that can help. Consider these tips to make the most of your floral spend while still achieving a beautiful, memorable look:
Combine flowers with other decorations
Repurpose ceremony flowers
Choose just a few varieties
Mix in affordable flowers
Use smaller vases
Select in-season and locally grown flowers
Use potted plants
Choose only one or two statement floral arrangements
Integrate lush greenery
Keep arrangements simple
Book an outdoor venue
Other Cost Considerations for Wedding Floral Arrangements
Be Clear About Your Budget
Sharing your budget from the start allows the florist to tailor their recommendations and help you make the most of your spend. In conversations with your florist, include information about your:
Vision
Preferences
Priorities
This will help them suggest cost-effective options, alternative blooms, or creative design solutions.
It also helps your florist to identify which floral elements matter most to you. Whether it’s a statement bridal bouquet, enchanting centerpieces, or smaller arrangements, making your priorities known to your florist will arm them with the information they need to achieve a beautiful, cohesive look without overspending.
Request Your Florist’s Expert Advice
Consulting with a professional florist can be one of the most effective ways to save money on wedding flowers. Experienced florists understand seasonality, sourcing, and design efficiencies, allowing them to recommend alternative blooms or arrangements that deliver the same visual impact at a lower cost.
If your wedding floral style is more grand than the budget, staying open-minded during the initial consultation gives the florist the opportunity to offer other flower options you may not have considered before – many of which may be more accessible to your wedding date and budget.
Tip Your Florist
Many florists structure their pricing to fully cover their time, expertise, and labor, so a tip is not expected in every situation. However, if your florist and their team went above and beyond with creative design, handled complex installations, or seamlessly navigated last-minute challenges, a gratuity can be a thoughtful gesture.
Tip amounts vary widely, from modest cash tips to larger monetary gifts for outstanding service, and it’s important to check your contract first, as some florists include gratuity or service fees in their total cost.
You may want to tip a lead designer/owner $50–$100 or 10–15% for outstanding work. You may also want to consider tipping delivery and setup staff $20–$50 per person (or $5–$10 for small deliveries).
While cash tips are common, a heartfelt thank-you note, small gift, or glowing review can also go a long way in showing appreciation.
What's a Good Floral Budget for a Wedding?
A typical budget for wedding flowers is 8-10% of the wedding budget. For a small wedding, the price of flowers can range from $500 to $3,000, and up to $10,000 for a large wedding. To be prepared to meet with a florist, make a list of flower arrangements, bouquets, and other florals you’d like to include in your wedding, and let the florist aid you in finding what fits your style and budget.
When planning the floral budget for your wedding, take note of these average costs:
Bridal bouquet: $150-350
Bridesmaid bouquet: $70-150
Boutonniere: $10-30
Floral lapel: $65
Corsage: $18
Flower girl petals: $20
Flower crown: $45-65
Ceremony arch: $650-5,000
Aisle arrangement: $175
Large ceremony arrangement: $350
Low centerpiece: $145-250
Tall centerpiece: $250-550
Head table florals: $500
Cake florals: $25-65
Toss bouquet:$20-$60
What's a Good Floral Budget for a Wedding?
If you’re dreaming of a wedding that seamlessly blends stunning natural beauty with stress-free planning, consider tying the knot at Twenty Mile House, a breathtaking all-inclusive wedding venue nestled on 200 private acres in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California.
Surrounded by forest, river, and garden backdrops that feel straight out of a storybook, our historic eco-estate offers couples and their guests an unforgettable setting that’s just over an hour from Lake Tahoe and Reno, away from the crowds or noise restrictions of resort locations.
The team at Twenty Mile House takes the headache out of wedding logistics by including almost everything you need in one comprehensive package, allowing you to focus on your ceremony, your love, and, of course, beautiful floral moments without worrying about vendors or coordination.
Here are just some of the services included in our all-inclusive wedding experience:
Exclusive use of the 200-acre estate and choice of multiple ceremony site
In-house floral design for both ceremony and reception
Catering with customizable menus using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients
Photography and DJ/MC services
Cake or dessert bar with service
Wedding coordination team and day-of setup/cleanup
Furniture, seating, linens, and lighting
Bartender and service staff support
Outdoor bar, tents, and event facilities
Choosing Twenty Mile House means your florals and every other detail are thoughtfully curated within a cohesive, beautifully scenic celebration – making your wedding day both effortless and magical.
Twenty Mile House: Providing Full Floral Services as Part of Our All-Inclusive Wedding Packages
If you’re dreaming of a wedding that seamlessly blends stunning natural beauty with stress-free planning, consider tying the knot at Twenty Mile House, a breathtaking all-inclusive wedding venue nestled on 200 private acres in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California.
Surrounded by forest, river, and garden backdrops that feel straight out of a storybook, our historic eco-estate offers couples and their guests an unforgettable setting that’s just over an hour from Lake Tahoe and Reno, away from the crowds or noise restrictions of resort locations.
The team at Twenty Mile House takes the headache out of wedding logistics by including almost everything you need in one comprehensive package, allowing you to focus on your ceremony, your love, and, of course, beautiful floral moments without worrying about vendors or coordination.
Here are just some of the services included in our all-inclusive wedding experience:
Exclusive use of the 200-acre estate and choice of multiple ceremony site
In-house floral design for both ceremony and reception
Catering with customizable menus using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients
Photography and DJ/MC services
Cake or dessert bar with service
Wedding coordination team and day-of setup/cleanup
Furniture, seating, linens, and lighting
Bartender and service staff support
Outdoor bar, tents, and event facilities
Choosing Twenty Mile House means your florals and every other detail are thoughtfully curated within a cohesive, beautifully scenic celebration – making your wedding day both effortless and magical.