What Affects My Wedding Quote?

If you look at a photographer’s website, or venue, often you’ll see a total price to hire their services. It’s different for florists. If you email me looking for pricing, or packages, what you’ll hear back from me is that I don’t offer any packages, each wedding is priced individually. It takes more than just knowing your date, and how many bridesmaids. I think it’s hard for people that have never planned a wedding before to understand this, as well as vendors that have not worked specifically in flowers. So, for today, here’s a few things that impact your flower budget, and why I usually need a few more details from you.

1- Flower Type. The difference between a carnation and an orchid is big, especially when multiplied over the cost of a whole wedding.

2- Time of Year. Getting married around Mothers Day? Prices will go up. Looking for a rose heavy wedding around Valentine’s Day?  As with all other holidays, and off vs busy season? Prices are affected.

3- Seasonal Flowers. Seasonal means available, not cheap. Seasonal flowers at the beginning or end of their season are significantly different than in the middle, when they are readily available.

4- Wedding Location. Do I need to travel? Multiple drop offs? What exactly are you looking for, and how long will it take me to set up? Is it something that requires me to bring someone with me to help?

5- Numbers. 1 bridesmaid vs 6… no boutonnieres vs groom, groomsmen, dads, grandpas, brothers etc can drastically change the numbers.

6- Popularity. Quicksand roses and eucalyptus in your wedding the last few years? Beautiful yes, and very popular. Supply and demand impact prices, even within flower types.

7- Needs. We can chat about things that you may not have thought about. Do you need a toss bouquet? Hair flowers? Vase rentals? Cake flowers? Gift/guest book table? Can we re purpose ceremony pieces? Oftentimes I hear… "oh, I didn’t think about that!"

8- How Complicated? The bigger/complicated your wedding, the more changes you make, means more time in front of my computer sourcing supplies, coordinating with other vendors, ordering flowers etc.

Personalizing Your Wedding Flowers

I love personalized weddings. I love stories of how different treasures belonged to loved ones, special things in memory of someone, items that tie people to their past, where they came from, or people they care about. It’s your wedding, and it’s so wonderful if we can bring pieces of your life that led you to that moment into your big day.

At some point during your wedding planning time, I’ll almost certainly ask you to think about it, if you’d like to add anything special to your wedding flowers.

Here are a few ideas

1- lace/fabric from mom/grandmas wedding dress

2- tartan/fabric from travels/home

3- cuff links/broach/pin/handkerchief from people who have passed, or can't be there

4- rosary/religious items

5- specific florals that your grandmother always had when you visited, or from your mom's bouquet, the native flower of your family's homeland, all pending availability

6- toys/lego how special does it make your nervous ring boy/ flower girl feel when their boutonniere/flower crown/bouquet has a special treat just for them?

But really, the sky is the limit! If you have something important to you, bring it along, and if I can find a way to incorporate it, you bet I will. Trust me, it will be something that you will fondly remember every time you look at your photos, and just might make a few people teary eyed on your big day.

Heidi Included cuff links in memory of her grandfather. They were wired, and placed into her bouquet.

The lace around Ashley’s bouquet was cut off the bottom of her mom’s wedding dress.

Joel’s mom passed away not long before their wedding, so in memory of her, one perfect pink ranunculus was added into Teya’s bouquet.

Jennings and Cory had recently got a puppy, and he had a starring role in the wedding, walking down the isle. So guess who got an amazing dog collar?

Allison's new hubby is from Gambia, so this traditional Gambian fabric was made into his vest, as well as wrapped the bouquet. The cutest flower girls also had dresses make from the same fabric.

Christine and Jason's son was the ring boy, and was a little nervous of his big job, so, how sweet is this Lego version of him tucked into his boutonniere?

Marla included lace from her mom's wedding dress, as well as a locket with a photo of her dad.

Tiffany brought a rosary to tie around her bouquet.

Kristin had a heart locket with her sister's name inscribed.

Francois is an avionics mechanic for an airline, and he found this amazing tiny version of the airplane he works on. He also found two similar ones, personalized to his groomsmen’s interests.

This is mine.. from August of 2012. The talented Heather Page did most of my flowers, (I thought I'd be stressed and over think them, and she is best!) and we used my grandmother's broach, some beautiful lace, and burlap to make this beauty.