Cost of wedding flowers (and everything else!)

PedroOrange

We're currently pricing up our wedding in April 2012 and think we have a decent idea of what everything will cost, but have no idea on the flowers. I would've thought £200 would cover flowers for the altar, the brides bouquet and the bridesmaid's (Smaller) bouquet. I think my fianc!e wants yellow roses to feature, possibly daffodils. Definitely a yellow/white colour scheme anyway. She thinks the price will be more like £500-£700!

Does anyone have a ballpark figure of what we can expect to pay? We are in Liverpool if that matters.

Our other costs (mostly guesses bar the reception) at the moment are as follows:
Reception (venue hire, food and drink for 114 people in the day, 140 in the evening): £5500
Photos: £500
Chair covers: £250
DJ: £250
Flowers: £600
Cake: £150
Car: £400
Pianist: £80
Piano hire: £100
Suit Hire x 4: £300
Bridesmaids dresses x 1 + 2 kids: £150
Rings: £500
Hotel for 2 nights: £250
Total: £8780

Looking at ways of trimming the cost without upsetting the missus too much!

White_Sapphire

I'd have a word with a few florists and see what they quote you. If you go for in season flowers they will be a lot cheaper than something exotic or out of season flown in from abroad. Also, ask around to see if anyone knows a florist (do that with everything else as well - you would be surprised at how many talented people you know, and friends and family will be delighted to help you out).

Chair covers and cars are another thing that leap out as potential savings - do you really need chair covers? Really really? No-one ever remembers them, and it's quite a large chunk of your budget to be covered by bums and coats!! Unless your venue has hideous chairs I'd seriously reconsider. Try asking around to see if anyone knows anyone with a classic/very nice car that you could use, or failing that contact a local classic car club, or ask a taxi firm about their executive cars.

Good luck!

x

EDIT: Also, don't forget to factor in fees, including giving notice (around £30 each) marriage certificate (only a few quid, but get copies at the same time as they'll be more expensive if you need them later), and the cost of the registrar attending the venue (a few hundred, depending on the day of the week). If your W2B is changing her name she will need to pay for her passport to be amended too. Can't think of anything else at the mo, but I'm sure someone else will chip in if there's any more to be taken into account!

sammy_wheeler

yeh dont forget notice and registar- are you having a civil cermoney?

my flowers are costing £180 so shop around for that.
and yes do you need a car?- espically if all in one venue

you havent mentioned your brides dress either

the hotel for 2 nights- who that for and why 2 nights?- a lot of venues/hotels will do bride and groom free/reduced rate

rings- have you found them- are they defo £500?

what about favours?
presents for bridal party

sammy_wheeler

venue price seems high- what food are you having?
what time of day are you getting married- do you need 3 course meals or can you have a buffet? what drinks package if any are you having?

White_Sapphire

Ah, the wedding dress! Knew I'd forgotten to remind the OP of something important....

PedroOrange

Thanks for the reply!

Well I was thinking daffodils will be in season in April? So hopefully they'll be cheap! Suppose I need to speak to W2B to find out whether that's too 'cheap' (no idea what 'the done thing' is with regards what makes up a bouquet). I will get in touch with florists but was just hoping someone here might have an idea of 'best' price rather than 'standard quote price'

You're preaching to the converted with the chair covers, believe me. They're just bog standard black leather chairs at the moment but I'd be happy to have them.

Re: the cars, W2B wants a car for the bridesmaids and her mother. Been quoted £200 for a 20 minutes drive. No chance I'm paying that. Might look at just getting them a nice taxi! Will be harder to persuade her against getting one for her/her dad to the church and then me/her to the venue. Been quoted £320 for that, so below what I'd thought

PedroOrange

Wedding dress to be bought by W2B's mother thankfully!

Not found the rings. Hers will have to be 18ct gold to match engagment ring, and may also cost more as the engagement ring has an high/open setting. Mine can be bought from Argos or wherever, don't mind.

Favours are going to be Everton mints (I'm from a big family of Evertonians) - so about £3!

Venue price is:

£1000 room hire
£22.85 x 115 for 3 course meal = £2630
£9.95 drinks (bucks fizz on arrival, 1/2 bottle of wine with meal, glass of sparkling wine for toast) x 115 = £1150
£6 fish & chip cones x 140 = £840

Total = £5600

Obviously the room hire is expensive so we may try and bring that down or look elsewhere.

Hotel for 2 nights is just for the two of us. We will be living with our parents by the time of the wedding (saving for a house) so don't mind paying out for that (although I will try and get a good deal nearer the time considering the second night will be a Sunday)

Thanks for the flower price sammy, what does that cover?

sammy_wheeler

my £180 flowers is my bouquet, 3 bridesmaid bouquets, 5 button holes, centre pieces for 7 tables, flowers for the cermoney room.

ok what time are you geting married- the reason i ask is you are having a 3 course meal and then fish and chips. do you need them?


also just remembered- invites, place cards etc

sammy_wheeler

my venue doesnt charge a room hire- so i just think £1000 is a lot of money!!

PedroOrange

We haven't actually booked a time yet. I was thinking 2pm so 1 hour for the cermony, 1 hour for the photos and everyone getting to the venue (less than a mile). Eat/speeches at 4:30pm and then invite the evening guests for 7. That's just off the top of my head though. I think most people will fancy something to eat getting througha load of booze, seems to be the case at the weddings I've been to anyway!

sammy_wheeler

to give you an idea of timings-
mine is:
4pm ceremony
4.30 photos, welcome drink, casino games, sweetie table,
6.45 cuting cake
7 speeches
7.30 open the buffet
8.30 first dance and open the dance floor