The average cost for wedding flowers, including the bride's and bridesmaids' bouquets and groom's and groomsmen's boutonnieres and corsages for the mothers of the bride and groom, along with flower girl flowers, is $698, according to The Bridal Association of America.
The bride's bouquet usually costs $50 to $150 or more - two to three times as much as the bridesmaids' bouquets, because it is larger and more ornate. The boutonnieres are much cheaper, usually about $10 or more.
Cost depends heavily on how many flowers are used, how ornate the bouquets or decorations are, the time of year, the type of flowers used and whether they are locally grown. Simple designs with in-season, local flowers are cheapest while elaborate designs with exotic flowers shipped from far away, especially orchids, are most expensive. For example, on the low end, a simple 20-stem bride's bouquet of one type of bulb flower, such as tulips, hand-tied with a ribbon might cost $50.
In the mid-range, a crescent bouquet with a more expensive flower such as roses or calla lilies might cost $75.
And on the high end, a 40-stem cascading bouquet with roses, gardenias and orchids might cost $120 or more.
OneWed.com offers a guide to the different styles of bridal bouquets.
What should be included:
Most full-service florists will consult with the customer, then order, arrange and deliver the flowers to the wedding site. Set up of floral decorations is usually included. Some discount florists do not offer these services, so it is important to clarify well ahead of time. TheKnot.com has a list of questions to ask a florist.
Discounts:
Tip: To save money, consider ordering your flowers online and trimming and arranging the flowers yourself. Through Internet wholesalers such as FreshRoses.com or Costco.com, it is often possible to get flowers at a steep discount from what a florist would charge. It may be helpful to order a test bunch of flowers before making a decision.
Shopping for wedding flowers:
While many types of flowers are available year round, you will get the best price on in-season flowers. In the first two weeks of February, flower costs soar for Valentine's Day.
If reducing costs is a priority, give your florist general guidelines on colors and preferred flowers, but allow her the freedom to choose the blooms that are cheapest that week.
Weddings.About.com offers a list of ways to save money on wedding flowers.
Ask a prospective florist to see a portfolio of past work, and consider asking for references.
Plus 3 Mothers,2 Grandmothers,1 Aunt and Extra Bouquet for additional family member. 26 candles on heart stands with ivy, and decorating of one three tiered cake stand. All done with artificial flowers and greens including silver glitter, ribbons, floral tape, beads and materials. And 4 Large Pew Bows. Am interested in finding out cost for labor of making all of these. Time spent about 60 hours total.
I bought all of my flowers directly through Flora Perfecta at the Union Square farmers market- they were very helpful with ideas, etc. I ended up doing a mix of roses, mums, goldenrod, hypericum and safflower. My mom and I made everything is about two hours the say before the wedding- what a fun wedding craft!
Plus 3 mother corsages, 4 church arrangements, 16 large pew bows with flowers, sweetheart table swag, stair garland for house. I had custom made silks done. They looked real and I got many compliments on them. Best part of all is that they never will die and I will have my bouquet forever!!!!
My bouquet: http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding/UserViewPhotoAlbum?wid=2ba956318231d3a9&photoPage=5
Also included 9 corsages, and extra flowers for cake decorating. Went to Hobby Lobby whenever florals were half-off. Spent 8 hours on making the bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages. Totally loved it :)
Im a budding florist and for my first wedding I was asked to make 30 centerpieces, 40 pew decorations, 6 bouquets (a throw bouquet), 3 boutonniers and 4 corsages. I used calla lilies, roses, gardenias, plumerias, hydrangeas and lavender. I also used ribbon and candles for centerpieces. Part of my service included the set up and clean up of both the wedding and reception site. The bride gave me a lot of free reign, it turned out beautiful and it was very cost effective! I loved it and can't wait to do it again
Type of bouquet: Garden roses & calla lillies, clutch
Number of bouquets: 2 + mine
Number of boutonnieres: 8 - orchids
2 corsages, a large, tall alter arrangement that included orchids submerged, 4 aisle marker arrangements, bride & groom table arrangement, 10 small crystal trees on reception tables, and flowers for the cake. Ruth at Fleuressence was great to work with and my flowers were amazing!
Beautiful cascading bouquet with Roses, carnations, calas, stargazer lillies and hydrangea. Bridesmaids were 3 oriental lillies with other small flowers. Came with complementry toss bouquet of roses, carnations, and lillies. boutonnieres were white roses with small carnations. Oberers florist in West Chester. Exceeded my expectations!
i went to AC Moore and a floral warehouse and bought $140 worth of silk flowers, then my aunt and i assembled them. My bouquet and my maid-of-honor are twice the size of the two other bridesmaids, and the boutonnieres come complete with silver cone pins to hold the stems. fill with hot-glue, and PERFECT!
Type of bouquet: Gerber daisy, Roses, yellow Daisy
Number of bouquets: 8 Bridesmaids
Number of boutonnieres: 9
We went with a family friend to to our flowers and anywhere else we would have paid over 4000.00 dollars he gave us such a big flower display. we had tall centerpices and pew bows with flowers and flowers in the bathrooms and on the bar and also up at the alter.
Type of bouquet: Stargazer lillies and tangerine roses
Number of bouquets: 6
Number of boutonnieres: 1
One Bridal Bouquet, one toss bouquet. 5 Bridesmaids bouquets. One groom Boutenniere. 10 centerpieces (glass brandy vase, seashells, and stargazer lillies). 6 silk floral hair clips. 3 Tangerine roses to honor deceased Grandparents. Rose petals for Flower girl and random Stargazer lillies and Tangerine roses placed on cake/guest seating and card table.
Type of bouquet: purple & ivory callas, red & lav. roses
Number of bouquets: 4
Number of boutonnieres: 9
1 bridal bouquet, 3 bridesmaids bouquets, 2 wrist corsages for the mothers, 4 pin corsages for grandmothers, 9 boutonnieres for groom, groomsmen, fathers and grandfathers, and 13 sets of 3 flowers on each table for reception