Blooming Budgets: What Couples Spend on Wedding Flowers

Wedding flowers are a cornerstone of creating a memorable and beautiful wedding day.

From the bridal bouquet to the ceremony arrangements and reception centrepieces, flowers contribute significantly to the overall ambiance and style of the celebration. But many couples wonder, "How much do wedding flowers cost?" and "How do we allocate our wedding flower budget?" Let's explore the typical spending on wedding flowers and provide insights into smart budgeting.

Staircase flowers by So Blooming Beautiful. Venue: Ashridge House.

Average Wedding Flower Cost in the UK

The average cost of wedding flowers in the UK can vary significantly. Some factors influence this, including:

• Location: Wedding flower costs tend to be higher in metropolitan areas like London, Manchester, and Edinburgh compared to rural locations. This is due to higher operating costs for florists and increased demand.

  
  

• Seasonality:  Availability greatly affects flower prices. Flowers that are out of season or are rare will generally cost more. For example, peonies in winter or tropical orchids in the UK will increase expenses.

  
  

• Flower selection: The types of flowers chosen play a significant role in determining the final price. Classic choices like roses and carnations are generally more affordable than premium blooms like peonies, orchids, and lilies of the valley.

  
  

• Style and complexity: The complexity of floral designs impacts labor costs. Elaborate designs, intricate arrangements, and custom installations require more time and expertise, increasing the overall cost.

  
  

• Guest count: A larger wedding typically requires more extensive floral arrangements. More tables mean more centrepieces, and a larger venue may call for additional décor, thus increasing the overall floral budget.

In the UK, couples typically spend between £500 and £2,000 on their wedding flowers. However, it's not unusual for couples to invest more, with some allocating £3,000 to £5,000 or even more for extensive and bespoke floral designs. These latest range would be the average spent with us for a medium sized wedding with some premium flowers placed strategically in some designs. The next range would be between £6,000 and £15,000 for larger weddings and from £15,000 for luxury flowers with unlimited consultations and special service all around.

How Couples Allocate Their Wedding Flower Budget

Autumnal Bridal Bouquet by So Blooming Beautiful.

Couples allocate their wedding flower budget across different elements of their big day. Here's a general breakdown:

• Bridal Bouquet: As a focal point, the bridal bouquet often commands a significant portion of the budget, typically around 15-25%. The size, style, and choice of flowers influence the cost.

  
  

• Bridesmaids' Bouquets: Designed to complement the bridal bouquet, bridesmaids' bouquets are usually less elaborate and less expensive, accounting for roughly 10-15% of the total budget.

  
  

• Ceremony Flowers: Flowers enhance the ceremony space. This category includes altar arrangements, aisle decorations, and any other floral elements used to frame the ceremony, and couples typically allocate 20-30% of their budget here.

  
  

• Reception Flowers: Centrepieces are the primary floral element at the reception. Costs vary widely depending on style, size, and the number of tables. On average, couples spend 30-40% of their floral budget on reception flowers.

  
  

• Personal Flowers: This category covers boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen, corsages for mothers and grandmothers, and any other flowers worn by members of the wedding party or close family. These usually account for 10-15% of the total budget.

Flower Meadow By So Blooming Beautiful for a Top Table at St John's College Cambridge.

Tips for Optimising Your Wedding Flower Budget

• Prioritise: Determine which floral elements are most important to you. Allocate more of your budget to these areas and less to others.

  
  

• Choose seasonal flowers: Opting for flowers that are naturally in season can significantly reduce costs. Ask your florist for recommendations on the best seasonal blooms for your wedding date.

  
  

• Repurpose flowers: Maximize your budget by repurposing ceremony flowers for the reception. For example, aisle arrangements can often be moved to the reception venue and used as part of the décor.

  
  

• Be flexible with your flower selection: If your dream flower is out of your budget, ask your florist for similar options that are more affordable. They can suggest beautiful alternatives that achieve a similar look and feel.

  
  

• Consider greenery: Incorporating more greenery into your arrangements can add volume and texture while being more cost-effective only due to the space one stem of foliage can cover compared to a regular flower. Nevertheless greenery doesn't mean cheap, in fact, some are more expensive than some flowers.

  
  

• Using only flowers: On the other hand, note that designs made of only flowers require more material, therefore will be more expensive.

Red roses flower design on mantelpiece by So Blooming Beautiful at The Ned London Hotel.

By understanding average wedding flower costs, budget allocation, and optimisation tips, couples can make informed decisions and collaborate with their florist to create stunning wedding flowers that align with their vision and budget.

Schedule a complimentary consultation with us to explore your budget and collaborate on bringing your vision to life with confidence!

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