Planning a wedding is an exciting journey, filled with choices that reflect your personal style. For lots of people flowers are one of special accents they want to prioritise on their big day. As you gather quotes, you may notice a range of prices for similar services and this disparity can be confusing. However, it’s helpful to understand what’s going on here and that a lower price doesn’t always equate to better value or quality. Here’s why you might receive different quotes and what to consider when assessing your flower options.
Flowers selection and quality
One of the primary factors influencing floral pricing is the flower varieties selected and their quality. You may have different quotes for the same table centre, but one uses carnations and few focal flowers, and the other uses premium roses or organically grown seasonal blooms. A good florist will select specific varieties and invest in sourcing the best blooms available to ensure you receive the most beautiful flowers available. You can also ask your florist to adjust the floral selection to work with your budget. When considering a quote, ask about the flower selection, sourcing and quality of the flowers included to help assess any differences.
Design and complexity
Every couple has a unique vision for their wedding day, and a good florist will work with you to create designs that reflect your personal style and have impact. This level of customization and design requires time, creativity, and effort, which can affect the overall cost. Some designs will have more impact and deliver your vision more than others. The sizes of designs, complexity and quantities of flowers included will also affect cost. Check the specifics of what you have asked for in your quote. This will help you weight up designs, sizes and quantities of flowers. You can also ask your florist for approximate measurements and images of previous work to help with comparisons.
Experience and expertise
Seasoned florists bring a wealth of knowledge about floral design, logistics, and problem-solving. Their expertise can be invaluable, both in creating tailored designs and reliably delivering outstanding quality on your special day. For example, using the wrong type of flower, conditioning them incorrectly may lead them to wilt part way through the day. While you might find a less experienced florist offering lower prices, the risk is that they may not deliver designs with your desired impact or quality in the final product.
Logistics and setup
Flowers are not just about aesthetics; they require careful planning, transportation, and setup on the wedding day (even insurance for unforeseen events). A florist who provides a detailed quote will account for these logistical elements, ensuring everything runs smoothly. This might include travel costs, and additional staff for setup and breakdown. Check that your florist has accounted for the full cost of transport and staff to ensure your vision is delivered and costs aren’t increased nearer to the date.
Reputation and Reviews
A florist’s reputation is built on past performance, customer satisfaction and reviews. Investing in a florist with positive testimonials and a solid track record can save you any unpleasant surprises. So, it goes without saying to check your florists’ testimonials and reviews. It’s also a good idea to verify their work. Anyone can put together an inspiring pinterest or mood board but ask for images of their work and details of previous events to check their capacity to deliver the quality and scale of your flowers.
Sustainable practices
Prioritising sustainable practices, sourcing local, seasonal flowers and using environmentally friendly materials are increasingly used to reduce the environmental impact in the floristry industry. A florist using floral foam may deliver wedding florals with less labour costs, but they will have generated large amounts of waste bound for landfill at the end of your event. An eco-friendly florist will be able to explain their practices to you such as composting waste, avoiding foam and plastics and using flowers with a lower carbon footprint. If sustainability matters to you, consider investing in a florist who shares your values.
When comparing quotes for wedding flowers, remember that price is just one piece of the puzzle. While it’s important to work with your budget, opting for the cheapest option may not get you what you want. Take the time to understand what each option offers. A good florist should be honest with you about costs, and offer you options and ideas to that fit within your budget. Happy flowering!
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