Image by Lavender Haze

Planning a wedding involves countless details, and one of the most fun yet challenging aspects is picking out your flowers. But before you can do that, you have to set up your wedding floral budget. Flowers are more than just decorations—they help set the tone for your big day, add elegance, and help bring your vision to life. However, the cost of blooms can quickly add up, leaving you feeling overwhelmed. That’s why we reached out to our network of professional florists to help make navigating it a little easier. Whether you’re dreaming of a lush garden affair or a minimalist modern look, these insights will ensure your flowers make a beautiful statement without breaking the bank. 

What percentage of a wedding floral budget can be expected for different types of florals?

As much as we want to tell you an exact percentage for every aspect, unfortunately, it’s not that straightforward. As a rule of thumb, most couples allocate about 8-10% of their overall wedding budget toward flowers, but every wedding is different. When we asked some of our Junebug vendors about what to expect to spend, this is Colleen of Diadem Flower Co. said,

“Budgets are so varied that one person’s lush floral design approach will cost 20% of their available budget, the exact same design will cost 50% of the next person’s available budget, and both decide that is correct for their event as they see it.”

So while we can’t give you a number, our advice is to sit down and talk with your partner. One of the best things you can do when you first start wedding planning is figure out your top three priorities–whether that’s photography, fashion, venue, florals, etc. When you know what’s most important to you and your partner, you can make a more informed decision about how much money you want to spend on each category.

Image by EFEGE

What flowers do you consider essential?

To preface this, nothing in a wedding is a must-have. Every wedding is going to look completely different, and for some, florals are not necessary. However, if you do want to include flowers, Colleen said, “I prioritize spending money where guests will spend the most time and where the couple has agreed to have a strong photographic presence.” 

Laura of Laura Clare Design said, “I always consider the essentials your personal flowers, such as a bridal bouquet and a groom’s boutonniere. Then, of course, I like arrangements at reception tables. It doesn’t have to be a big ensemble, but if anything represents appreciating a moment in time, it’s flowers!” Of course, we’ve seen some incredibly beautiful tables with no flowers, too, so do what feels best for you and what you envision.

Recommended Reading: Use This Wedding Flower Checklist to Incorporate Flowers Throughout Your Day

What do you consider extra?

Colleen said it perfectly when she said, “Extra is just another word for luxury.” Most couples, when figuring out the ideal spots for florals, focus on areas where guests’ attention will be. If your guests aren’t going to be spending a lot of time in a specific area, florals there can most likely be considered “extra.” 

Laura Clare said, “Providing flowers in places like your seating chart, place card set-ups, cocktail tables, bars, staircases, ceiling installs, and other random, unexpected places provide memorable moments [but are extra].” 

If someone needed to cut back their floral budget, what items would you suggest cutting?

Before you begin putting together your floral budget, it’s important to remember that your day represents you. Social media can cloud your idea of what you truly want and make you feel like you have to have the biggest and best celebration. That being said, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your vision for budget. If you want to maximize your budget, Laura says to use in-season flowers.

“Out-of-season blooms can be very costly–usually because they are being grown on the other side of the world and then have to be handled, shipped, and processed properly. Besides, wouldn’t it be great to stay in season and see the flowers naturally blooming each anniversary?” She also says to approach it with a “KISS” mindset, aka “Keeping it simple, silly. Remember that no one besides you and your florist knows all that you said you wanted. Your guests will be (and should be!) happy with what you end up doing.”

Image by Na Lia Weddings.

Any other overall tips or advice for couples putting together their floral budget?

For more help putting together your wedding floral budget, consider these tips, summarized beautifully by Colleen:

1. The internet is full of hopes and dreams. Your florist is full of reality. Bring all your hopes and dreams and hear us out when we present to you what’s possible.
2. Your budget is your budget. There is no shame or superiority in any number. 
3. Spend your money where your guests are spending their time and where you are spending your photographic energy. Your day will go by in a blur, and while you’ll remember it, the stronger memories will come from looking at your photos so it’s a good idea to be intentional there.
4. There is more overhead cost in floral design than you might be aware. Ask if you need clarification. Trish of The Walk Down The Aisle chimed in here, too, saying, “Be sure to understand that pricing is divided into product and labor.” If you have questions, ask them!
5. This is your wedding, and it’s very special. We do this every week, so we may have suggestions for your dilemmas that we’ve encountered before. Use us as a resource.
6. In the last six weeks before the wedding, several decisions you made will be changed due to guest counts, unexpected changes, miscommunications, and wild hairs. Plan an extra 10% to 20% buffer in your floral budget to absorb some of this stress. If you don’t spend it, then you have a great little honeymoon fund or a bit of cash to spend on a new air fryer or something.

Setting your wedding floral budget is entirely dependent on what you want for your big day. While we think the overall design of your celebration should be personal to you and your partner, if you’re looking for some flower inspiration to take to your florist, check out these 25 floral installations that will blow your mind!

Image by Madison Maltby Photo