
Floral Budgeting Tips

Budget is not the most enjoyable or comfortable topic to discuss with your floral designer or wedding vendors. It can change during the duration of wedding planning and should be expected to fluctuate, to a degree. Some couples are so excited about flowers and the overall design aesthetic of their wedding that they come to us before securing their needs. It makes us so excited and inspired when working with a client whose favorite part of the wedding planning process is the floral designs! Though you may be eager to dive in (and we can't wait to work with you), consider giving some of these tips a thought to make sure you're ready!
#1 Be Honest & Have Trust
Don't Say You Have More Than You Do
This isn't because we think you're a liar. Many clients have exaggerated their budget just to see options with little intention of ever spending that much money. Sometimes they truly think they have more, but haven't done any budgeting to back it up. This can eat up a lot of time that could have been spent choosing things in the price range you are most comfortable with. It could even cause you to feel rushed into decisions later if you run out of too much time. It is better to say you want to explore all the options than actually proceed with one you're unsure about.
Avoid Saying Yes To Everything
If you love everything and can afford everything, by all means - say yes! We and any other good floral designer or wedding vendor will never pressure you into buying something you do not want. Please do not agree to pay for things that you do not want or that take you out of budget. If your wedding vendor does not respect your budget or preferences, give em' the boot! This is your wedding day, it's time to make you happy. Not us. Save your money for things you actually desire.
Collaborate
Being open and honest will build trust and a strong communication style between you and all of your vendors. We appreciate it so much when our clients are like "look, this is what I'm working with, what can we achieve?" Building your dream floral designs is very much a team effort, even if we're doing most of the heavy lifting. Have faith that no matter your budget, we will take very good care of you. We believe everyone deserves a beautiful wedding, regardless of their income.
#2 Prioritize & Organize
Layout All of Your Vendors By Need, Then Want
Just like you do in normal, non-wedding planning life, figure out what constitutes as a need and what is a want. Needs are typically more obvious investments like the venue, food/catering (some venues offer food services too), transportation, and accommodations. Wants are usually a bit more complex and have much more flexibility when it comes to pricing and selections. Think flowers, entertainment, rental furniture and decor, etc..
Everybody's list is different. Figure out your needs and wants and then secure the needs. Once you have put money towards all the non-negotiables, you will be able to choose and budget for your wants much more effectively.
Simplicity or Grandeur?
If florals didn't make the top of the want list, no worries! Make a list of the places that you would like to incorporate florals to go over with us. It may just be your bridal party or altar. Maybe you want to skip bridal party flowers and put your money into reception. Just get your gears spinning so that once you're ready to have your consultation, you have an idea about how much floral action you want happening on your big day! If flowers made the top of the list, yay! You will still have areas you want to prioritize. Find out what those are and then we can explore options for the other parts of your wedding.
Hire an Event Planner
If planning and budgeting is not your forte and you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, consider reaching out to an event planner. There are many event planners now that offer partial-planning services and a list of specialties they can help you with. If you don't want to hire a planner or they aren't in budget, enlist a trusted friend or family member that can help you budget! There are also a ton of resources online now that will tell you average spends, help you compare pricing of vendors in your area, and also divide your budget for you. Check out "The Knot's" digital wedding advisor for example!
#3 Try Not To Overthink
Don't People Please
You care about your guests. Their comfort and enjoyment should be a priority for you, but it should not dictate every tiny little decision you make. Don't let things like worrying if your friends will care if you choose roses or peonies keep you up at night. The goal of budgeting is to figure out what you and your partner's priorities are, so refrain from making purchases because you feel like you have to in order to keep a family member or friend excited about your big day.
Allow Compromise
No matter how much you budget, things will always come up. Give space and acceptance for change. If you really wanted a certain style of centerpiece but can't afford the real deal, explore the options on how you can achieve a similar look within budget. It could mean switching to more cost-effective flower types, opting for a slightly smaller version, or maybe cutting back on a few and supplementing with other designs. Many of our clients wanted centerpieces on all their tables but ended up compromising and doing a half and half style throughout their reception, i.e... bud-vases or candles on some tables and the fuller centerpieces they wanted on the other tables. We recommend mixing it up anyway!
Start Small
We require a 40% retainer fee based on the service-level you will need for your day. In most cases, as long as you have paid a retainer fee, your invoice and contract remain amendable within reason. It is okay to tell us your priorities, reserve your date, and then add on as you go! If budget is a concern, we would prefer you estimate on the more modest side in the early stages of planning as opposed to starting off grand and then attempting to shave a bunch of items off of your contract last-minute. Sometimes, items may no longer be removed at certain stages of the design and planning process, so you definitely want to be mindful of that when signing off on proposals and contracts!