Post # 1
Member
297 posts
Helper bee
So I had my first meeting with a florist today…and it didn’t exactly go as planned. I have a fairly small floral budget ($1100), but don’t need very many flowers. I’m only needing my bouquet, 12 centerpieces, petals for aisle, and cake flowers. That’s it! No bridesmaids bouquets, corsages, bouts, etc. So I figured my low budget would be ok. Apparently not…
I was quoted $190 for a hydrangea and rose bouqet 
$200 for rose petals to scatter down the aisle
$60ea for 6 small centerpieces with roses and hydrangeas
$100ea for 6 tall centerpieces with roses and hydrangeas
$90 for cake flowers (I’m not doing the hydrangeas around base as shown below)
$150 delivery and set up
$95 Tax
This brings my grand total to $1685…almost $600 over my budget. Am I crazy to expect these flowers to fit in my budget? I’m located in the suburbs of Atlanta if that helps put the price into perspective.
Edit: We did try to cut costs, but it’s still over my budget. We switched from candelabras to tall vases (cut $150), had less rose petals down the aisle(cut $100…they have to be real per venue request so they dont blow everywhere). That still puts me at $1420. What do you think about just doing candelabras with no flowers in them?
Post # 3
Member
3569 posts
Sugar bee
I think the budget she gave you was pretty reasonable. Maybe you could skip the large centerpieces and do only small ones, to save $250.
ETA: I paid over 3K on flowers. I had 10 centerpieces ($75 each, were small) 4 BMs ($80 each), my bouquet ($200), some ceremony flowers (2 displays at 200 each). Flowers are really expensive!
Post # 4
Member
1163 posts
Bumble bee
@Soon_To_Be_Mrs_T: It definitely wouldn’t hurt for you to go to other florists. It would be good to see if these prices are comparable, or if this particular florist is a rip-off. Also good to see if there is a difference in the quality of work.
I haven’t done my flowers yet so I might also have sticker shock too. Is there anything that you can eliminate or alter? Maybe fake rose petals for the aisle to save on money? Hopefully some of the other Bees who have done their flowers will have better ideas!
Post # 5
Member
408 posts
Helper bee
I would definitely switch to all small centerpieces, and I think you can order rose petals online to scatter for much cheaper than that.
Post # 6
Member
297 posts
Helper bee
I’m pretty adamant about having some tall centerpieces. I think it just adds so much more drama. What about just having candelabras with no flowers? I can buy the candelabras for around $60 each.
Post # 7
Member
3569 posts
Sugar bee
Maybe she would offer a discount for paying in cash. I would look around at other florists as well, but I think what she gave you is reasonable.
Post # 8
Member
1163 posts
Bumble bee
If you’re okay with not giving away the centerpiece, maybe renting the vases is a good option. You can also do a tall vase with flowers at the top, which would probably be less than the candelabras
Post # 9
Member
159 posts
Blushing bee
Wow! That’s a lot of money!!. I honeslty don’t know if that is a reasonable price. We are doing our own centerpieces and buying our flowers. Have you thought of DIY?
Post # 10
Member
2457 posts
Buzzing bee
Switch to small centerpieces, for sure. Also, get fake rose petals for the aisle! No one will ever know, and they’re MUCH cheaper.
Definitley shop around some.. have you considered doing your own flowers? I did all of mine for $500. My bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets, bouts, centerpieces, mini centerpieces, aisle seat decor, and toss bouquet. Very similar to what you want in yours.
Post # 11
Member
558 posts
Busy bee
Ditch the real flower petals to scatter and get some silk ones. Much cheaper. See if you can shift the flower types around for the centerpieces — hydrangeas are delicate, fussy flowers that can be a bear to work with. If you want them for your bridal bouquet, that’s one thing, but see if your florist can give you better options for your centerpieces that will bring the costs down. Also, look hard at your cake flowers — do you need them, or will a simple, cheaper topper do? Is the design of the cake contingent on the cake flowers? Those are always a special order because they have to be food safe — no pesticides, etc. So eyeball that expense closely, and ask your baker if they have suggestions for what to do with your cake within your budget that won’t require flowers and will still give you the kind of look you’re going for.
This is the key thing — talk to your florist. Tell your florist your budget, and what you’re looking for. Ask where you can cut some corners, what they can recommend that will bring your price down. You have to communicate. They want you to be satisfied and they (hopefully) don’t want to give you a shoddy product. So be up-front about what you can afford and see where the wiggle room is.
Post # 12
Member
1966 posts
Buzzing bee
I think the proposal from your florist is extremely reasonable. Suggestions to cut cost, ask if you pay cash will they cut the tax, rent your vases, switch to smaller centerpieces, diy your aisle petals.
Post # 13
Member
581 posts
Busy bee
I think you could purchase the flower petals cheaper through a wholesale vendor.
I also think that you could reduce the cake flowers. That seems like a lot for what is basically a corsage for cake.
However, I do think your centerpieces and bouquet are reasonably priced given the quotes I’ve received for similar.
Post # 14
Member
272 posts
Helper bee
Switch to all small centerpieces, see about getting rose petals elsewhere cheaper (online vendors – I did this for my first wedding and had no issues), ask if you pick up the flowers yourself and set them up if they will cut the delivery/setup fee (this WILL put more work on you or a friend/family member).
Post # 15
Member
339 posts
Helper bee
Price seems reasonable i was quoted 100-150 for centerpieces that size and i live in DC which is more expensive than Atlanta. My bouquet range from 150-450.
Post # 16
Member
245 posts
Helper bee
Definitely, DIY your flowers from Bloomsbythebox.com. You save soo much money!! My cousin DIYed her flowers from there and the flowers came out so beautiful which inspired me to go and use them too. My wedding is in a year and I am already practicing on putting together my flowers. It has great tutorial videos, and great blog advice, definitely reccomend you check it out! 🙂