The Wedding Budget- Floral and Event Design

The cause of a lot of confusion, brides are looking for more than just table centerpieces theses days. Lighting, linens, lounge furniture, specialty candles, outdoor decor, the list goes on and on. Because of the growing complexity of wedding design I think there should be some clarity to how much should be spent on your flowers vs. your floral and event design. In general I would still allocate 8%-10% of your total budget to your flowers. This should include:

Personal flowers- bride, bridesmaids, moms, flower girl, ring bearer, groom, groomsmen, fathers, readers, grandparents, etc.

Ceremony flowers- altar arrangements, aisle adornments, aisle runner- if allowed, entrance arrangements, wreaths, etc.

Cocktail hour flowers- bars, bathrooms, cocktail tables, stationary hors d'oeuvres, gift table, place card table

Reception flowers- centerpieces, buffet arrangements- if applicable, bars, bathrooms, cake table, etc.

You don't need to include all of these flowers on your wish list, but it shows you all of the possibilities. In terms of your budget, expect to spend around 50% of your total flower budget on your centerpieces. Depending on the number of members of your bridal party, your personal flowers can really eat into your budget as well.

Here are a few photos of examples of the more classic flower proposal and what you should expect for services.


Photo by Blush Imagery


Photo by John Santerre for David Murray Weddings


Photo by Emilie Inc.


Photo by Claris Photography


When referring to floral and event design things can get expensive quickly. Often times event designers will include the rental fees in this total so you should expect to see the following items included in up to 20% of your total budget:

Flowers- all of the above PLUS
Specialty flowers- chandelier installations, chair back treatments, tent pole garlands, multiple styles of centerpieces, etc.
Lighting- paper lanterns, uplighting on the ceiling and walls, GoBo monograms for dancefloors, chandeliers, outdoor ambient lighting, etc.
Rentals- table linens, napkins, custom chair treatments- sashes, caps, full covers- china, glassware, flatware, unique table shapes and sizes, chairs
Lounge furniture- couches, chairs, chaise lounges, ottomans, light cubes, custom pillows
Ambiance Decor- sheers or draping of walls, candle installations- mantles, walkways, etc.
Outdoor Decor- pathway lighting, outdoor furniture, etc.

Here are a few photos showing what full floral and event design look like:


Photo by Claris Photography



Photo by McNamara Photography


Photo by Claris Photography


Photo by Nelson Hancock