How much to pay for wedding flowers???

pinkpixie_2

Hello. Hope I can get some much-needed advice. We're getting married in May and had a quote from our local and supposedly cheap flower person last week. The button holes @ £3.50 and table decorations @ £15 were on budget BUT the bridesmaids posy was £25 and worse still my bouquet was £85!! Given that my dress was only £89 this seems extortionate!!! Have I asked for something really elaborate? I didn't specify flowers except I wanted pink ones and a trailing bunch rather than upright. What should I expect to pay for a standard sized bouquet? Any advice welcome! Pink Pixie

lynsiloo

hi, i have not had to plan a wedding as such but being a florist i guess i know a little. In the shop where i work (which is a very wealthy area full of footballers wives!), we dont have set prices for weddings, usually florists can work to your budget. Until i worked in floristry i didnt know what a mark up there are in flowers, trust me the boss makes plenty! The time of the year greatly effects the flower prices not just valentines day as you would expect. Our dutch man is always saying flowers are expensive this week as it is a holiday in some foreign place and if they cost us more to buy unfortunatly it passes down to you. Look around see if you know anyone who knows a florist who would do it as a favour - out with the shop, i am doing a wedding later in the year to keep the price down for the bride. Any more questions let me know. What exactly are they putting in you bqt for £85??

newlywed

I wanted a hand tied bouquet of red roses - nothing else. Cost something like £65. Bridesmaids got cream roses with leaves - think they were about £40 and £30 each. We had one large pedestal display (mixed flowers in our colour scheme) which cost about £70 and three smaller ones for the windows which cost £25 each.

I gave the florist an idea of my dress and the bridesmaids as I didn't want oversize bouquets.

I had already decided the flowers were important to me. Whereas we had friends drive us, everyone brought a contribution to buffet food etc, mum made the dresses, I made the tiaras and jewelery.

I wanted specific flowers so I decided that we would not skimp on the bouquets and button holes as they would be in the photos.

For the reception, we brought the three window displays with us (got a friend to bring them anyway). Mine and the bridesmaid bouquets decorated the top table and we had balloons on the tables instead I know they are a love-hate kinda thing but we like them and what's more, they were a wedding present too so they were free to us

nearlyrich

Definately shop around, last wedding I was involved in we went to one florist and they wanted a fortune for the bridal bouquet, next shop charged less for all the wedding flowers including buttonholes for our extended family, than the cost of the bridal bouquet in the first shop.

newlywed

A friend of mine had bridesmaid bouquets with 3 gerbera flowers (giant coloured daisy things) and leaves. They were really simple and looked great. I did contemplate a single rose with ribbons for the little bridesmaid but changed my mind.

Talk to the florist and see what they suggest to keep prices down

MrsTinks

Sorry to say it but depending on what is in the bouquet then that's not hugely out of proportion for a trailing bouquet... I saw some at a local wedding fair this weekend and they were starting at £100 each and none of them were what I would call extravagant... - maybe I should start florist classes myself in time for my wedding

r.mac_2

I would ask the florist what flowers and foliage and embellishments are being quoted for exactly. I would then ask if they could be substituted for a similar coloured flower which is cheaper. Also ask about using foliage to full effect rather than having so many flowers. if it includes pearl or diamonte embellishments do you want these/need these?

I believe that sometimes the way the bouquet is finished off (ie the handle part) can also effect cost - again worth asking about.

Florists are used to dealing with people on a budget and I am sure if you ask them they can suggest a couple of different ways to compromise without changing the overall look of the bouquet.

IMHO £25 for bridesmaids is the best price i've seen but think you might be able to get just as beautiful a bridal bouquet for a little less.

Let us know how you get on.

pinkpixie_2

Thanks everyone for all your help. I will look into a cheaper alternative and see what the florist can do. Might try for a second opinion too. I had no idea flowers were so expensive!!!

Rachie_B

that sounds about right TBH,mention the W word and prices rocket

what about seeing if a floristry student would like to do your flowers ?

i know someone who has done 2 years floristry course and is fab ,but to get her portfolio up and running is charging much less than the norm at the moment

also agree with the less is more idea a few stems of roses / gerberas for the BMs is a nice idea,laid across the arm and with some ribbon tied round

or even less still is to go for a wrist corsage ,(i had a gorgeous lily one last summer for a wedding and it was £8 it fastened on a velcro strap that couldnt be seen)
and then they can hold a little dolly bag or something http://www.bridalbitsnbobs.co.uk/

Edinburghlass_2

Have a search for flowers in the Marriages, Relationships and Health board under flowers and you'll find loads of threads relating to very reasonable flowers that people have done themselves for weddings.

I remember one user who posted a picture of her own bouquet which she made on the morning of the wedding and it was beautiful.

black-saturn

I don't know if you live anywhere near Romford but the flower stall on Romford market are doing my wedding flowers for £100 and that includes the brides boquet, bridesmaids, church flowers and everything. My new MIL will be picking them up the day before and bringing them all here 180 miles away!!!