and Why You’re Not Being Scammed
Understanding Wedding Florists
As a wedding planner, I’ve seen firsthand how confusing the floral aspect of wedding planning can be. Wedding Florists are arguably the most misunderstood vendor, often leading to sticker shock and the feeling that couples are being “ripped off.” Let me assure you, that’s rarely the case. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on wedding flowers and florists to shed some light on the process and the costs involved.
Many couples come armed with beautiful inspiration photos from Pinterest or Instagram, envisioning lush centerpieces and cascading bouquets. While these images are fantastic for inspiration, they often depict elaborate designs created with specific (and sometimes rare or out-of-season) blooms, professionally photographed and edited. This sets a high expectation that can be difficult to reconcile with a realistic budget.
The truth is, wedding floral design is a complex and labor-intensive process that goes far beyond simply arranging flowers in a vase.
Breakdown of the factors that contribute to the cost:
- The Design Process (and Time Commitment): Wedding Florists often work with couples for a year or more, refining designs, adjusting to changes, and ensuring the final product perfectly complements the overall wedding aesthetic. This involves consultations, mood boards, and countless emails or calls.
- Sourcing and Supply Chain: Flowers are perishable and subject to the whims of weather, transportation delays, and seasonal availability. Florists often must navigate a complex supply chain, sometimes even traveling 3+ hours to airports with specialized cooling facilities to secure the perfect blooms. This adds to transportation costs and requires specialized vehicles like refrigerated box trucks.
- Labor Costs: Creating stunning floral arrangements requires skilled labor. Wedding florists and their teams are highly talented professionals who invest countless hours in prepping, arranging, delivering, and setting up the flowers. They also often work long hours, including late nights and early mornings to ensure everything is fresh and beautiful.
- Logistics and Setup: Delivering and installing wedding flowers is a logistical feat. This often involves travel (sometimes requiring overnight lodging), setting up in various locations (which can be logistically challenging), working in extreme temperatures, and creating back-up plans for unpredictable weather.
- The Cost of Goods: Beyond the flowers themselves, there are numerous other expenses: vases, ribbons, floral foam, water, coolers, tools, and other supplies.
- Unforeseen Challenges: Last-minute changes to the guest count, venue layout, or even the weather can require significant adjustments and added work for the florist.
- Insurance and Business Overhead: Like any business, wedding florists have overhead costs, including insurance, rent (for studio or storage space), and administrative expenses.
Why Those “Simple” Centerpieces Cost More Than You Think:
Even seemingly simple arrangements require careful planning, sourcing, and labor. The cost isn’t just for the flowers themselves, but for the florist’s expertise, time, and effort in creating a cohesive and beautiful design. They’re also including the cost of vases, ribbon, or other adds ons you request for these designs such as candles.
The “Inspiration Photo” Trap:
Those gorgeous photos on social media are often styled shoots with unlimited budgets, professional lighting, and post-production editing. It’s important to have realistic expectations and work with your florist to create a design that fits your budget and venue.
How With Great Love Makes Wedding Florals Stress-Free:
At With Great Love, we understand that navigating the world of wedding flowers can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re committed to transparency and open communication. We walk our couples through every step of the process, explaining the costs involved and helping them make informed decisions. We work closely with talented florists who share our commitment to excellence and client satisfaction.
When you understand the process, it all makes sense. By demystifying the world of wedding flowers, we empower our couples to make choices they feel confident about, creating beautiful and memorable floral designs without the stress and confusion.
So, the next time you see a stunning wedding bouquet or elaborate centerpiece, remember the artistry, dedication, and logistical effort that went into creating it. It’s not just about the flowers; it’s about the entire experience and the expertise of the wedding florists who bring your floral vision to life.
