Flowers are the category where published prices are rarest and estimates are wildest, and both facts have the same cause: a florist is quoting labour and perishable stock against a room they have not seen. No florist in this record publishes a figure, which is not evasion. It is what happens when the product is different every time. What can be explained is exactly what moves the number, and that is what this page does.
Why no florist prints a price
A wedding flower quote has three moving parts and all of them are specific to you. The stock is seasonal and priced at market, so the same arrangement costs differently in February and in June. The labour is conditioning, arranging and installing, which depends entirely on scale and on how difficult the installation is. And the logistics are a delivery window and a setup slot at a venue with its own rules about access. A florist who published a number would be publishing one that is wrong for most enquiries, which is why the category quotes instead. That is a legitimate reason, and it is still worth asking any florist for a minimum, because most have one and it tells you immediately whether the conversation is worth continuing.
The three decisions that move the bill
Season is first and it is free to change if your date is not fixed. Flowers in season are cheaper, better and easier to get, and a good florist will tell you what is in season around your date if you ask. Scale is second: bouquets and buttonholes are a small fraction of most quotes, and it is the installations, the arches, the ceiling work and the table centres across twelve tables that carry the cost. Reuse is third and the most underused: ceremony arrangements moved to the reception during the meal do the work twice, and any florist who is asked will tell you which of their pieces can be moved and what the moving costs.
How to get comparable quotes
Send every florist the same brief and the same photographs. Say the date, the venue, the guest count, the number of tables, and which pieces you want, and be explicit about what you would drop if the number came back high. Ask each of them what they would do with your budget rather than what your list would cost, because the second question produces a quote and the first produces expertise. Ask about the setup and takedown slot too, since venues with a same-day turnaround sometimes require a late collection that costs a florist a second trip, and that will be in the price whether it is itemised or not.
Questions people ask about wedding flowers
What share of the budget do flowers take?
There is no correct share and any figure quoted as one is somebody else's wedding. Decide what you want the flowers to do, get quotes for that, and adjust the brief rather than trying to hit a percentage.
Are seasonal flowers really cheaper?
Yes, and noticeably so, because they are not being flown in or forced. A florist asked what is in season around your date will usually offer a version of your brief that costs less and looks better.
Can we do our own flowers?
You can, and the saving is real, but the work lands the day before the wedding and it is more than most people expect. Buckets, conditioning, cool storage and transport are all part of it, and the people doing it are usually the people who most need that day free.
Should we ask for a minimum spend?
Always, and early. Most wedding florists have one, and it is the fastest way to find out whether a florist you like is realistic for your budget before either of you spends time on a brief.