Wedding Floral Budgets Demystified (with Sample Weddings!)

There’s often a huge learning curve when couples start wedding planning, and cost is an especially important factor! So, in an effort to educate and empower all prospective couples, I’m lifting the curtain so you can see examples of five different wedding floral budgets (and what you get), from $10k to $30k. Read on to see how it all adds up!

My goal is to showcase realistic New England wedding floral budgets so that you can compare your needs and wants, and see what you can expect to allocate based on guest count, types of arrangements, and your priorities.

Now I have said before that estimating between $100-300/ guest can be a helpful way to estimate a luxury floral budget, but how does that translate? That’s the question I’m answering for you today. We go over a 120 guest wedding with a $10k budget, a 60 person & a 160 person wedding both at the $15k range, and several $20-30k examples all with different priorities and allocations!

Before we start, allow me to explain. Each of these examples are based on actual 2023-2024 Soulflora weddings. Certain details have been switched out for the respect and privacy of our clients, but the overall breakdowns and relevant details have been maintained. For that reason, any associated photos are also examples, and they may not depict the exact events we outline here.

Now, let’s get into it!

1. $10,000 / 120 guests

Case study: 120 guests, mid July in Portsmouth RI. All arrangements were consistent with our signature, flower forward style with a range of floral varieties and greenery. Emphasis was put on the quality and impacts of the arrangements & the reception.

2. $15,000 / 60 Guests

Case study: 60 guests, September at a Cape Cod estate under a sailcloth tent. All arrangements were lush with premium, seasonal blooms.

3. $15,000 / 160 Guests

Case study: 160 guests with a ceremony at a church and reception at a Cape Cod resort. This wedding has a more traditional distribution of personal, ceremony and reception flowers. The couple was focused on making the essentials beautiful and impactful, not a lot of extras.

4. $20,000 / 110 Guests

Case study: 110 guests at a garden venue in Massachusetts. It was mid October so we still wanted to infuse the property with a floral presence, even though there was not much blooming in the gardens. The ceremony area got a lot of attention. Cocktail area was brief and outside so we omitted the florals and just had some lamps and votives. The reception had a more relaxed garden party feel.

5. $25,000 / 200 Guests

Case study: 200 guests LGBTQ couple with a blended, untraditional wedding party! This took place at a Boston venue, where ceremony and reception take place in the same area and everything was repositioned for the reception band stage. The reception area was the focus featuring several installation moments, and attention drawn to the head table.

6. $30,000 / 165 Guests

Case study: 165 guests in York, Maine. Coastal elegance in late May. We kept the personal flowers simple- aside from the bride’s luxe lily of the valley bouquet- and the ceremony streamlined & understated with the chuppah framing the nuptials. The reception area was a large focus for decor as we breathed life into the otherwise neutral space.

In analyzing these case studies, here are a few of my main take aways:

• No matter your budget, a smaller guest count allows for more emphasis on items that will contribute to the overall experience & visual impact. A larger guest count will require a bigger portion of the wedding floral budgets to be spent on table centerpieces, aisle florals etc.
• It’s important to understand that your venue choice will also impact your florals. Some venues & situations allow for items to be quickly (and more affordably) repositioned from ceremony to reception. Your venue’s architectural features and environment may also factor into what flowers and decor you want to invest in.
• People often spend the least on personal flowers for the wedding party and family, and the most on the reception area (tables, installations, etc). This is a sensible choice in most cases, because the reception is enjoyed for most of the night! And, what you strategically choose for the ceremony may be able to serve as additional decor in the reception area, too!
• Don’t forget to account for the labor, delivery, set up and breakdown. This is an area many people forget about when they establish a floral budget. So, set yourself up for success by understanding that these labor charges usually account for 25-30% of the budget.

How do you determine the right wedding floral budget for you?

My advice is to consider your expectations and what is most important to you. This is what it all boils down to! Are you interested in a detail rich design plan spanning across every phase of the event? Do you envision a more subtle floral presence, with just the essentials or do you desire flowers dripping from the ceiling and every other space? If you won’t be happy without those show stopping installations and never-been-seen-before designs, you can expect to allocate several thousand dollars per piece. You can of course use this blog to help inform your own floral budget, but also allow us to share our expertise and guide you! We’re here to help.

At SOULFLORA, our high standards of quality are uncompromised. So, you can rest assured you will get premium artful designs, no matter how many arrangements you need or what your wedding floral budget is. To get started, fill out our inquiry form and we will walk through everything with you, step by step.