What should i expect to pay for flowers for my wedding?

My fiance and I just got engaged and are beginning to put together a budget. How much should I expect to pay for flowers, if the reception is going to be 400 people? I'm having 8 bridesmaids (a lot, I know, but everything in this family is done big) and just not quite sure what flowers I need and how much they generally range.

What should i expect to pay for flowers for my wedding?
Flowers are the kinds of things that you can do cheap or expensive. For my wedding, I wanted to have awesome flowers and so I cut back in other areas for the flowers. It really depends on what kind of flowers you have. Also, if you have a lot of fillers(green leaves and babys breath type flowers) in the arrangements. If you are looking to go cheap, you could just do simple bunches of flowers that are in season and that would cost you the same amount that it would just going to a florist to buy fresh flowers for your house. For the centerpieces, if you want to go cheap, I suggest that you use a lot of fillers and greenery. But, you could spend anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over $5000.
Reply:Wow, have you guys really thought 400 people through. Sounds good and all but thats a lot of money. If you both arent paying for it I guess thats nice but the more people the more money. I was at a wedding with 300 and it seemed like many people didnt even know each other and it was just to big, so many tables, lines at the bar the food wasnt that great cuz I think they opted for the cheapest plates to accomodate for the large guest count.





I'm sorry I didn't want to be a downer. I'm estimating around 1000 dollars for my wedding of 100. Remember flowers are usually needed on each table as centerpiece, head table, cake (optional), bouquets, boutonnières, corsages, flower girls, toss bouquet can be fake, decor for ceremony. Remember that depending on the season flowers will range in price, so pick what ever is in season to save on money.





The bridal magazines usually have wedding budget insert that will help you out or you can search on line.





Hope this helps.
Reply:Hi, I order a lot of flowers. (I work for a big catering company.)





I don't know about the ceremony ("personal") flowers, but I do know about receptions. Guest table centerpieces should be about the size of a basketball, and professional floral designers charge 55.00 and up per table. (Most dining tables are 60" round tables, and if you are having a plated dinner, you fit 8 per table and if you're having a buffet, you can get 10 per table...smaller place setting. No separate bread and butter plate, for example.)





If you are having a buffet meal, you'll probably have two or three buffets, and you'll need a 36" tall or taller centerpiece for each buffet. If it's too short, the scale will look odd. These start at 150.00 each. Some places charge you separately for delivery...other places lump it in. It doesn't matter, just ask so you know which it is.





Sometimes you can get double use from your flowers, like using big arrangements at the ceremony and again on the buffets.





My clients have told me that they find better pricing with florists that work out of their homes (lower overhead, I guess).





Good luck!!
Reply:This really depends..





are your centerpieces going to involve real flowers? That's a LOT of money- like at least 50-75 a table...





Are you wanting bouquets for the bridesmaids? Or have them hold a single flower?





You need to think about where you want flowers, what kind of flowers as well...





Are there 4 parents? stepparents to include? How many grandparents?





So think about: church decor, bridal party, family member coursages/bouts, any reception flowers, etc.





If you want a lot of flowers, maybe some of the arrangements at the church can be easily transported by someone to put in use at the reception..





The amount you need to budget for depends on the wants.
Reply:Depends on what flowers you pikc, if they are in season or rare, and how complicated you want the bouquets.


Calla Lillies are expensive


Roses %26amp; Carnations are cheap but still elegant.





I would plan on spending at least $700 on bouquets. (at least that is the market in Pennsylvania) But don't be surprised if they get into the $1000's. Especially if your ceremony and reception decorations or real flowers.
Reply:To be honest. When you are inviting 400 people to your wedding you should be in a position financially that the cost of flowers should be of no consequence. Half a wedding budget is the reception and about 10% is usually flowers. 400 people at $30 to $150 per person equates to a total wedding budget of $24,000 to $120,000 for entire wedding. That would mean flowers are anywhere between $2,400 to $12,000.
Reply:honestly, if you are thinking about inviting 400 people and concerned about the cost of flowers then you may need to cut your guest list down. even an inexpensive caterer is going to charge $50 per head so that's already $20K just on cheap a cheap dinner.


so assuming you'll have people sitting at tables with about 10 per table then that is 40 tables. a table arrangement from a florist will range from $50-100. bridal bouquet $100 - 250. bridesmaids bouquets $75 - 150. some florist will throw in the other personal flowers for free if you are placing a big order. ceremony flowers just depends on the venue, but if you are having altar flowers, aisle flowers etc. then probably add on another $500.


wedding are expensive and if you are money conscious the best thing to do is cut the guest list. you'll save yourself money and keep yourself sane.


have fun planning.
Reply:Well it really depends on what kind of flowers you're going to use, how to situate the bouquets if you're going to use them in your centerpieces for tables and if you're going to use them anywhere else in your theme. You might be able to get deals locally, but to get a better idea, view this proflowers.com package deals:


http://home.proflowers.com/wedding/index...





If you don't want to spend that much on flowers, you might not want to have flowers in centerpieces. Being that there will be 400 guest, there will be about 35 to 40 tables.