The Skinny on Floral – Updated May 2022

Understanding what costs to expect

Many brides and grooms envision tons of fresh floral for their wedding day, and if that’s your vision, great, but you need to be ready to pay for those beautiful blooms.

The truth is, flowers are more expensive than most people anticipate, and many couples are surprised when they start pricing what they think they might like for their big day. For lots of soon-to-be-married people, this means a bit of compromise in terms of either budget or vision. If you don’t want to break the bank on floral, a little bit of flexibility can go a long way.

Why does it seem so expensive?

Floral seems like it should be a fairly simple thing, but can be a pretty pricey and involved venture. You are not simply paying for the base cost of the blooms, you are also paying for sourcing, pick up, processing, styling, supplies, containers, delivery, etc. It takes someone on the other end of things a significant amount of time and effort just to source flowers and containers that fit your vision and budget, and because the price of floral can vary so much based on selection, season and availability, even putting together a quote can be very time consuming.

A lot of time goes into wedding floral long before your designer ever touches the flowers or vessels for your big day. In addition to this, the design work itself can take several days, starting with what is usually a full day of cleaning and prep (depending of course on the size and scale of your floral order). If your are dealing with a larger floral studio, there are probably several people working on putting your vision together, and if you are working with a smaller studio, like ours, only one or two people are doing all of that work. Somewhere in the mix, all of those people need to be paid for their time, expertise and services. The long and short of it is that floral design can be time consuming and expensive, so be prepared.

How much do I budget?

Weddings in themselves are expensive. A quick search on Google can confirm that, in Canada, the average cost of a wedding is around $40,000+, and more like $56,000 if you live in the GTA, (that’s with an average guest count of around 150 people). While these numbers seem like they could be right, I’m not certain that they account for cultural considerations and traditions such as having a Mehndi, a Tea Ceremony, or a Sofreh Aghd, for instance. Any of these, and many other cultural traditions can add considerable cost to your budget. With this in mind, remember that these numbers are simply an average that may be well above or below the budget you have in mind.

Whatever your budget, most breakdowns suggest that you should plan to spend between 8 and 10 per cent on floral and décor. Some breakdowns even suggest as much as 12 or 15%, but it really depends on your preferences and what you feel is a priority for your wedding day. These kinds of guidelines work well for many people when they are trying to get an idea of what seems reasonable and affordable in terms of the hard costs, but might not be a great fit for everyone.

This Norris Films (NF) blog provides and excellent break-down of what to expect in terms of current pricing: https://www.norrisfilms.com/blog/how-much-toronto-wedding-cost/

Whatever your budget, our advice is that you decide what is most important for you and create a budget based first on what you can reasonably afford, and second on what you are comfortable spending. (Affordability and comfortability are not necessarily the same thing). Remember that not everyone has the same vision or resources, so you need to choose a number that works for you. If you would prefer not to have a traditional wedding cake, but would really love to have live music at your wedding, then allocate your funds accordingly; and if an abundance of fresh floral is a must, set your budget with that in mind.

Remember that guidelines are just that, so use them as a guide, not a rule. That being said, some things simply cost what they cost, and most couples end up going over budget, so it’s important to prioritize and actually know what kinds of costs to expect.

What is all of this going to cost?

The cost of floral can vary significantly depending on the volume of flowers; the types of blooms you choose; the style of bouquets and arrangements, and the season.

Here are some general starting prices for wedding floral to give you an idea of what to expect, and the ranges that we often work within at Hello Poppy:

• Traditional bridal bouquets $150 and up
• Large bridal bouquets $225 and up
• Bridesmaids bouquets (usually) around $80-$90 and up
• Boutonnières $18-$24 and up
• Corsages $25-$45 (wrist corsages are more expensive than pinned corsages)
• Low arrangements $50-$90 and up
• Tall arrangements $120-$180 and up
• Cake flowers $50 and up
• Ceremony arrangements $150-$200 and up (depending on size and selections)
• Table garlands are generally priced per foot, starting at around $20 (but this can vary depending on your selections)

Keep in mind that these are starting points. While you can easily find arrangements within these price ranges, expect modestly-sized floral at the lower price end, with few or no premium flowers. Popular flowers like garden roses, ranunculus, anemones, peonies, orchids and even hydrangeas can get quite pricey and will almost certainly cost you more, so try to be flexible if you are working within a set budget.

The cost of floral will also change based on the types of flowers you choose, and also whether those blooms are in season. In addition to this, wholesalers generally trade in American dollars, so the price of flowers and greens can change pretty significantly with the value of the Canadian dollar. If the dollar is fairing well, the wholesale cost of flowers is more reasonable and vice versa.

Large bouquets with a variety of flowers are popular at the moment. While beautiful, they can get quite costly. Expect to spend a minimum of around $250.

Flexibility is Key

Sometimes going with a more costly stem saves you money in the long run. Hydrangeas, for instance can be pricey, but they take up a lot of space, which means you need fewer of them for arrangements. Inexpensive flowers, like carnations or alstroemeria can also be quite beautiful as a base for larger floral pieces. In addition to being cost effective, they come in a variety of colours and are available year-round. Pairing less expensive flowers with premium blooms, like garden roses or orchids, can give you a luxurious feel without being overly costly.

If you are looking for reasonably priced floral, consider some of these more cost-effective options, (generally available year-round):

• Alstroemeria
• Blue thistle
• Carnations
• Chrysanthemums
• Daisies
• Dendrobium Orchids
• Ferns
• Hydrangeas (white)
• Roses
• Snapdragons
• Stock
• Sunflowers
• Tulips

 

 

Selections like dahlias, lilies and gladiolus can also be cost effective at the right time of year.

Premium-priced floral (almost always pricey) would generally include flowers like anemones, calla lilies, delphiniums, garden roses, peonies, proteas, some coloured hydrangeas and most orchids. If your heart is set on any of these, expect the overall price to reflect the higher cost of the base floral. Your florist will also have to account for damaged blooms or colour variations, so will likely need to a few extra of everything to fill in the those gaps. All of these “extras” add up, so chose wisely if cost is a concern.

Knowing your budget is important. Even if your ideal floral designs are outside of your price range, a good florist can recommend options that fit your budget and provide a similar feel.

Again, try to be flexible when it comes to your wedding floral. Some flowers are only available at certain times of the year, and others, though available, will not look as good out of season. Peonies, for instance, have a very short season, so if your heart if set on them, then prepared to pay a hefty price, as they can cost as much as $9-$15 per stem in the off-season, won’t look as good and are sometimes not available at all.

Be Prepared

The best way to figure out what you can get within your budget is to first set one and then find some examples of what you think you might like. Although it is difficult for a florist or designer to give on-the-spot firm numbers, he/she can let you know if they are able to deliver on what you would like for the budget you have. If you have specific flowers in mind, tell your designer at the consult to make sure they are available and within your price range and for the season.

It is very helpful for the designer to know your personal style and the overall feel of your wedding (i.e. classic, modern, rustic, etc.), so provide information about the venue, examples of floral designs you like, as well as pictures of things like dresses, invites, etc. Bringing along swatches of your colour palette is also helpful.

Couples don’t often have fabric swatches that they are willing to part with, so it’s always a good idea to stop by a home renovation store or paint shop to pick up a few colour samples that can be left with the designer.

It’s Not Just The Flowers

Another thing you need to consider is the kinds of vases or vessels you would like for your ceremony and reception. If you are doing low arrangements, pottery and clear glass tends to be pretty reasonably priced. Mercury glass, metal or compote-type dishes (the ones with a small pedestal foot) can jack the price significantly, and will likely cost a at least $15.00-$20.00 per piece, although smaller versions are often available for less money.

Tall arrangements are significantly more costly because the vessels themselves tend to be more costly and they also require more flowers since you see the underside of the arrangement as well. Sometimes it can be more cost effective to rent the base and then add fresh floral that can be removed. However, even a low-cost rental for a tall centrepiece will generally run you a minimum of $25, usually more, especially if you want very large or ornate pieces. Glass tends to be the most cost effective way to go for tall arrangements, particularly if your guests will leave with your centrepieces at the end of the night. From a design perspective, mixing tall and short arrangements can provide greater visual interest. Mixing floral heights can also help save a bit of money.

Whatever your budget and taste, be realistic, and try to work within a set amount. Many couples who overspend on their wedding have regrets later, so if you are looking to purchase a home or undertake other costly ventures after the wedding, keep your costs reasonable and within a price range that you can actually afford. This is true of all aspects of your wedding, and not simply floral and decor.