Post # 1
Member
103 posts
Blushing bee
Hi Ladies! I’m going to meet with my florist on Wednesday – and just realized that I really have no idea what I should be spending on flowers. We’ll need ceremony decor, bouquets (7 bridesmaids + me), bouts for the guys (4 groomsmen + groom), corsagses, small arrangements for the cocktail hour, and centerpieces for out ballroom. When I start listing what i need it sounds like alot….
I’m planning on doing all white/ivory flowers, possibly some ostrich feathers, and keeping it with our Old Hollywood meets Modern Glamour theme.
Should it be a percentage of our overall budget? What did you spend?
Post # 3
Member
1573 posts
Bumble bee
in NYC it runs $3000-5000 to sky’s the limit
which is why I’m doing all my own flowers centerpieces boutennierre’s bouquets for $165
Post # 4
Member
599 posts
Busy bee
I won’t be much help here, because I am DIY’ing my own flowers. But I have heard that flowers should be between 4% and 6% of your total budget. And Bridesmaids bouquets can get costly, I think maybe $50 for each, not to mention the Bridal bouquet which could set you back more than $100!
Not to scare you… but its why we decided to DIY! I never even talked to a florist, so I may have no idea what I am talking about!!
Post # 5
Member
3575 posts
Sugar bee
We’re not using floral centerpieces so we’ll need bouquets, bouts, and corsages. I’m actually going to go to a higher end grocery store floral department and have them do it.
Post # 6
Member
6571 posts
Bee Keeper
i have 2 bridesmaids, my bouquet, bouts for groomsmen and dads, and corsages for moms and grandmas. it was $300, we’re DIYing the centerpieces and other decor.
Post # 7
Member
2207 posts
Buzzing bee
I’ve heard that 10% goes toward flowers. Not sure how that factors in, I didnt go by any of that. Im marrying in upstate NY and mine are just around $2,000 for 20 centerpieces, 6 Bridesmaid or Best Man bouqs (Im making my own) 8 bouts, and 4 flower girl bouquets
Post # 8
Member
1573 posts
Bumble bee
yeah I’m buying fresh red roses at $0.70 a stem, I only need 200 roses so it’ll come to about less than 200 I only have one Bridesmaid or Best Man, Maid/Matron of Honor, 10 boutennierre’s and 2 orchids for the mom 6 tables and one for the credenza that’s it! I have low vases so dont need much just 18 per round vase
Post # 9
Member
647 posts
Busy bee
The quotes I’ve gotten have been crazy! I requested quotes for 10 calla lilly bouts and 5 hydrangea bouquets and the florists quoted me from $600-$650! So much for in season flowers being cheaper! I live in Missouri by the way, and those prices are from St. Louis florists.
Post # 10
Member
143 posts
Blushing bee
I’m also in STL, and I’ll be getting quotes from florists soon. We can’t spend a ton of money, but I get the feeling that a few florists will laugh at our $800 budget. i would definitely suggest going the DIY route if you want to save some cash.
Post # 11
Member
853 posts
Busy bee
i worked backwards – i figured out what pieces we wanted, but also the max we had to spend on the flowers (given the rest of our budget) and asked the florist to come up with ideas that would work. the knot has an estimate as to what people generally send on flowers, as a percentage of their total budget. not totally accurate because you may not spend on everything they have there, but it’s a starting point
Post # 12
Member
103 posts
Blushing bee
Thanks ladies! I guess I should say that I’m not comfortable going the DYI route with our flowers – I dont trust myself that much! We dont really have a set budget we have committed to (my parents are paying for everything). They refuse to give us a firm number that we need to stay within, and so far they haven’t said no to anything yet. I obviously still want to keep the cost of the flowers reasonable, and I need to know what “reasonable” is.
Thank you all for your help! 🙂
Post # 13
Member
11 posts
Newbee
I’m not a DIY girl either and I decided I didn’t really care that much about the flowers- Hopefully I don’t regret that…
Center pieces will be candles in hurricanes and I’m likely getting my flowers from the Farmers Market! Love the idea of getting flowers from the Farmers Market and supporting local growers. Madison, WI
Post # 14
Member
3 posts
Wannabee
It all depends on what kind of flowers you want I guess. And how many guests you have. Flowers are the most important for me, so I went a LITTLE over budget..$5000!!! 
I know it sounds ridiculous but it just means I have to cut back on other stuff, haha. And I just had to have my florist. She was the only person who got my vision!
Anyway, I feel like $3000 is a good average for 200 guests, if you’re planning on using more expensive flowers like peonies. Good luck with your florist!
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