How Much Do Wedding Flowers Really Cost? A Northern Virginia Florist's Honest Answer
- Lindsey Walsh
- Jan 6
- 12 min read
If you're planning a wedding in Northern Virginia or Washington DC, you've probably experienced sticker shock when you started getting quotes for flowers. Maybe you thought, "It's just flowers—how expensive could it be?" Or perhaps you Googled "average wedding flower cost" and found numbers ranging from $1,500 to $8,000+ with no real explanation of what drives those differences.
After nearly 30 years of creating wedding flowers from our farm in Delaplane, Virginia, we've had hundreds of these conversations with couples. Today, we're breaking down exactly what wedding flowers cost, why they cost what they do, and most importantly—how to get beautiful flowers that fit your budget without compromising on what matters to you.
The Short Answer: What Most Couples Spend
In the Northern Virginia and DC area there is a genuinely huge range for the cost of wedding flowers. We've seen couples buy only a single bridal bouquet and we've seen decked out halls with overhead installations. So what is a typical range (excluding Taylor Swift level events?) honestly, anywhere from $300 to $50,000 on flowers.
Now, if you were to search for wedding industry articles, you'd probably see a rule of thumb of 10% of your overall wedding budget will go towards flowers. We think this is a decent rule of thumb. If your overall wedding budget is $60,000, we're probably talking $6k on florals and decor.
However, the real question is: What is your vision? Next: What is your budget?
I ask these questions very early on in the process because I am trying to find out if your vison matches your budget, and if not what is most important to you. Only when I know this, can I begin to offer useful guidance.
How To Think About The Cost of Your Wedding Vision
When I ask you to describe your wedding vision, here is what I am listening for and what I am thinking:
1. Date
Your wedding date matters because wedding vendors often use congestion pricing. Just like the fast lanes on 66, cost are greater on peak weekends then they are on off-season weekends. Why? There is more competition for experienced labor, wholesale flowers actually cost more (especially on Mothers Day weekend), and established vendors know there are so many weddings happening that weekend that they can confidently say no to a potential client. So date matters for real cost reasons.
2. Venue
Your venue can also drive up wedding floral costs, but probably not for the reason you are thinking. Some people think that florists give kick-backs to certain venues in reward for recommendations - I'll be honest I don't really see that happening much in this region. Others might think that florists are upping the cost of flowers if you have a fancy venue. Again, not from my experience. When I ask for the venue I am thinking entirely of logistics. How far a drive is it? How big of a setup window do I have? Will I be able to park the van nearby? Is there an elevator I'll have to use to cart in florals? This all helps me understand how much staff I'll need on the day of the event. In Northern Virginia, DC and Southern Maryland experienced floral staff are expensive. (Why? Because weddings are also competing for talent with non-profit galas and government events like Heads of State dinners.)
3. Colors
Good news, because of our farm-to-altar approach color doesn't really matter for price for us. Of course, I absolutely need to know it anyway!
4. Event Size
As my oncologist once said, "I can't change what you come to me with." This is very true in the wedding florals space. If you have 200 guests and 10 bridesmaids, that will be more expensive than if you have 50 guests and no bridesmaids. It's simple math:
Big Event = 200 guests + 10 bridesmaids
200 people, 8 people per table = 25 table centerpieces at $150 each = $3750
10 bridesmaids = 10 bridesmaids bouquets @ $125 each = $1250
Small Event = 50 guests + 0 bridesmaids
50 people, 8 people per table = 6 table centerpieces at $150 each = $750
0 bridesmaids = 0 bouquets = $0
5. Ceremony Vision
Ceremony visions can range substantially and many cultures (e.g. Jewish and Indian) require certain elements for a ceremony. This is where budgets can really begin to range and people should be careful with what they see on Pinterest. I've seen Pinterest photos where I know from the creator that a single element of the overall vision was $20,000.
Minimalist = Church Wedding with No Flowers
Some churches are very restrictive on what can be done inside of them, and some couples forego church flowers all together
Classic = Altar Arrangements & Chair Posies
We've been in the industry for more than 30 years and we know the classic-look has always been 2 altar arrangements on pedestals or pillars up front = 2x $350 = $700
Typically 6 to 8 posies hanging from every other row down the aisle = 8x $45 = $360
Garden = Arches/Chuppahs & Aisle Meadows
We love garden-style weddings! We have multiple options for both arches and chuppah structures. The cost is dependent on how full you want the floral coverage. For us, a typical arch or chuppah can range from $950 to $4000. The devil is in the details here. Do send inspo photos, as that tells me a lot about what you want!
Aisle Meadows have really only been popular for the last few years. They are ground based arrangements intended to go along the aisle to look like a planted garden. They can either be dense and connected- so that guest must enter the rows from the sides; or they can be separated so guest can walk in-between them. If you have 100 guests, with 10 rows of 5 chairs on each side, then you'd want 20 to do every row. 20x $200 = $4000. Many couples opt to do every other row, just the back row, or only the first 3 rows. We can discuss options here.
Welcome sign. It depends a bit on the type, but probably ranges somewhere between $100 and $250.
Ultra Luxury = The Above +++
Ultra luxury weddings by definition going above and beyond. These weddings will likely do all of the above, yet scaled up. Also, they may include things like decked out floral walls, gazebos, Instagram installations, or hanging floral gardens down aisles. At this level, the price is not as important as the vision and each installation is priced to specification.
5. Reception Vision
The vision for the reception can also cause floral prices to range, event size aside. Here are things that will drive up prices.
Rectangular tables not round tables- fewer guest per table means more tables, also rectangular tables require more flowers than circular tables and thus are typically more expensive per table.
Upgrade candles (think tall tapers in glass or undulating various height pillar candles) these extras when done in large volumes will add costs.
Hanging greenery - anything that requires designers to be on ladders setting up before catering arrives is going to be more expensive. The logistics on hanging greenery is complicated. Its not the cost of the greens, it's the cost of the installation that drives the price.
Sprigs on napkins - this is a fun touch I love, but the little details can start to add up. $2 per stem x 200 napkins = $400.
6. Flower Choice
This is where Growing Wild Floral differs from a lot of other florists. Because we have been in business for 30+ years, we have lots of experience in knowing what something actually costs. We don't have to guess like a less experienced florist may have to. Additionally, because we grow flowers we also don't have to attempt to price per stem which is the industry norm for pricing. For us, the calculations is pretty simple:
Is the floral pallet mostly in-season flowers we grow? If so, lower end pricing.
Is the floral pallet mostly out of season and imported? If so, high end pricing.
At the beginning of our conversation, I will ask you about specific floral preferences so I know which way to price.
Also, because of this typically expensive flowers (e.g. peonies, dahlias, ranunculus, anemone, hydrangea) are included in our inexpensive pricing. Whereas typically less expensive flowers (e.g. baby's breath and carnations) aren't. This is because over the past 30 years, we have optimized our gardens to grow 'fancy wedding flowers'.
What If I Can't Afford My Vision?
I completely empathize with couples who simply cannot spend that much on flowers. My husband is a science teacher and I know people who do very important mission-driven work often have less disposable income. Here are your options:
DIY it - call Trader Joes and ask for a bulk floral order. Get your friends together and do it yourself. Just remember you are asking your friends for a HUGE favor, and the quality of the work is not going to be professional standard. Assuming you don't have a walk-in floral cooler, you'll need to do this the night before the wedding. Post rehearsal after party anyone???
Order from Bouqs.com - You can get somewhat less expensive pre-designed packages from Bouqs that will get you part of the way there. These typically arrive in boxes to your house a few days before the event.
Find a less experienced florists. There are always aspiring florists out there who need to break into the industry. If you are willing to help them learn, it can be a less expensive option.
Rent fake flowers. You can order reused fake floral arrangements online, this is absolutely less expensive, however guests can tell they are fake.
What You're Really Paying For
When you pay for wedding flowers, you're not just buying stems from the grocery store and arranging them in vases. Here's what's actually included in a typical professional florist's pricing:
1. The Flowers Themselves
This seems obvious, but the cost of flowers varies wildly based on:
Source: Locally grown flowers (like ours) have different cost structures than wholesale flowers shipped from overseas. We don't have the volume discounts of international flower farms, but our flowers also don't carry the environmental cost of air freight or the markup of multiple intermediaries.
Season: Peonies in May from our farm cost a fraction of what they'd cost in November shipped from New Zealand. Working with seasonal flowers dramatically impacts your budget.
Varieties: Garden roses cost more than spray roses. Orchids cost more than carnations. Specialty flowers or rare colors command premium prices. A bouquet of dahlias costs different than a bouquet of roses—not because one is "better," but because of growing costs, availability, and market demand.
Volume: A centerpiece with 30 stems costs more than one with 15 stems. A bridal bouquet with 50 stems costs more than one with 25 stems. Seems simple, but many couples don't realize how stem count impacts pricing.
2. Design Time and Labor
Creating wedding flowers is time-intensive work:
Consultation and planning: 3 -5 hours discussing your vision, venue, colors, and budget.
Sourcing and ordering: Determining the type and amount of flowers needed. Coordinating with our farm crew or, when necessary, supplemental wholesalers. For other florists, ordering from wholesalers.
Processing flowers: Stripping stems, removing thorns, hydrating, treating—every stem gets individual attention. When flowers die at weddings, it's probably because someone skipped this step.
Design and creation: Hours of hands-on work creating each arrangement, bouquet, boutonniere, and centerpiece.
Setup and delivery: Getting everything to your venue and setting it up perfectly.
Cleanup: Removing ceremony flowers, repositioning for reception, post-event cleanup
For a medium-sized wedding, our team might invest 30-40 hours of labor from consultation to cleanup.
3. Expertise and Experience
Experienced floral designers have deep knowledge that matters on wedding day, for example:
Which flowers will hold up in July heat and which won't
How to create designs that photograph beautifully
What's actually in season (not just "available") in Virginia
How to handle last-minute changes or emergencies
How much is "enough" for your space without being overwhelming
Creative solutions when your dream flower isn't available
This expertise means you don't end up with wilted bouquets, underwhelming centerpieces, or designs that clash with your venue.
4. Behind-the-Scenes Costs
Professional florists also cover:
Business insurance and licensing
Flower conditioning supplies and mechanics
Transportation and delivery vehicles
Design tools and equipment (shears, wire, tape, containers, vases)
Storage (coolers, processing space)
Administrative costs (contracts, communications, coordination with other vendors)
Where You Can Save Money (Without Sacrificing Beauty)
After working with thousands of couples, here's where we've seen smart budget decisions:
1. Choose Seasonal Flowers
This is the single biggest lever you have. Seasonal flowers are:
More abundant (lower cost)
Locally available (no shipping premiums)
At their peak (better quality)
More sustainable (bonus!)
A spring wedding with tulips, ranunculus, and locally grown greenery will cost significantly less than trying to source peonies in September.
2. Embrace Garden Style Over Structured Designs
Organic, loose, garden-style arrangements require less mechanics, less labor, and often fewer stems than tight, structured designs. They're also more on-trend and photograph beautifully.
3. Use Greenery Strategically
Incorporating more foliage and greenery with selective flower placement creates lush, impressive arrangements at a lower cost than all-flower designs. Our farm has abundant greenery that we can use creatively.
4. Prioritize What Matters Most
Not every surface needs flowers. Consider:
Skipping aisle markers (petals work too!)
Smaller cocktail arrangements or none at all
Focusing budget on bridal bouquet and centerpieces
Using candles to supplement floral centerpieces
5. Choose Smart Sizes
A centerpiece doesn't need to be huge to be beautiful. Well-designed smaller arrangements can have just as much impact, especially when combined with candles, colored linens, or other non-floral elements.
6. Repurpose Ceremony Flowers
We can design ceremony pieces that move to the reception:
Altar arrangements become bar or head table flowers
Aisle arrangements become cocktail table décor
Ceremony florals relocated for maximum impact
7. Work With a Farm-Based Florist
When you work with florists who grow their own flowers (like us!), you eliminate wholesale markups and middleman costs. You're buying directly from the source.
Where You Shouldn't Cut Corners
Some things are worth the investment:
1. Your Bridal Bouquet
This is in almost every photo. It's worth getting exactly what you want. Skimping here is usually regrettable.
2. Proper Flower Care
Cheap flowers that wilt before your ceremony save nothing. Proper conditioning, processing, and transport protect your investment.
3. Professional Design
DIY flowers can work for very small, casual weddings, but most couples underestimate the time, stress, and skill required. For most weddings, the peace of mind alone is worth hiring a professional.
4. Delivery and Setup
Having someone else handle the logistics on your wedding day is priceless. Your wedding morning shouldn't be spent arranging centerpieces, lighting candles and setting up garden structures. Not to mention, when the party is over, do you really want to stick around to clean it all up?
The Real Value of Local, Sustainable Flowers
When you choose locally grown flowers from Growing Wild, you're getting:
Longer-lasting blooms because they haven't spent days in transit. Wedding flowers from our farm are often cut just 24-48 hours before your wedding.
More unique selections including varieties you won't see at every wedding because they're too delicate to ship long distances.
Environmental benefits that align with your values—no air freight, no international shipping, no industrial pesticides.
Transparent sourcing where you can visit the farm and see exactly where your flowers come from.
Supporting local agriculture and small business instead of global industrial farming.
Yes, this sometimes means our pricing structure is different from florists who buy wholesale from international suppliers. But couples who choose us do so because they value knowing where their flowers come from and supporting practices that align with their values.
How to Approach Your Flower Budget
Here's our advice for couples starting to plan:
1. Start With Your Total Wedding Budget
A general rule of thumb: allocate 10% of your total wedding budget to flowers. If your wedding budget is $40,000, plan for $4,000 in flowers. This is a starting point, not a rule—adjust based on your priorities.
2. Get Real Quotes
Pinterest and Instagram show professionally styled shoots with five-figure flower budgets. Get actual quotes from florists in your area to understand real costs.
3. Be Honest About Priorities
Tell your florist what matters most. Is it your bridal bouquet? Statement ceremony flowers? Lush centerpieces? When we know your priorities, we can allocate your budget strategically.
4. Consider Your Venue
Some venues need more florals than others:
Blank canvas venues may need more décor
Naturally beautiful venues (gardens, historic estates) may need less
Large spaces may need taller arrangements
Intimate spaces may need smaller, more detailed designs
5. Think About Your Guest Experience
Your guests will spend 2-3 hours at dinner tables. Beautiful centerpieces enhance that experience. They'll walk past a welcome floral wall in seconds. Allocate accordingly.
6. Build in a Buffer
Add 10-15% to your flower budget for last-minute additions or unexpected costs. Most couples end up wanting to add a few extra touches as the day approaches.
Questions to Ask Your Florist About Pricing
During consultations, make sure to ask:
What's included in your pricing? (Delivery? Setup? Breakdown? Consultation? Tax?)
Where do your flowers come from? (Local? Imported? Mix?)
What happens if my dream flower isn't available? (Substitution policy)
What's your payment structure? (Deposit, timing, cancellation policy)
What's NOT included that I should budget for? (Rentals, special equipment, etc.)
Can you work within my budget? (Be upfront about your number, experienced florists have minimums. Ask what it is early.)
What would you prioritize with my budget? (Get their expert opinion)
The Bottom Line
Wedding flowers are a significant investment, but they transform your venue and create the ambiance that makes your wedding uniquely yours. The key is understanding what drives costs so you can make informed decisions about where to splurge and where to save.
At Growing Wild Floral , we've worked with couples at every budget level. What matters most isn't the size of your flower budget—it's working with a florist who listens to your priorities, provides transparent pricing, and delivers beautiful flowers that make your day special.
We believe you should know exactly what you're paying for and why. No hidden fees, no surprise charges, no bait-and-switch with substitute flowers. Just honest pricing for beautiful, locally grown flowers that reflect your style and values.
Ready to talk about flowers for your wedding?
We'd love to learn about your vision and create a custom proposal that fits your budget. Schedule a phone consultation to get a quote and then plan to visit our farm in Delaplane, see what's growing, and envision the flowers for your big day.
Growing Wild Floral
creates beautiful, sustainable wedding flowers from our 65-acre farm in Delaplane, Virginia. Serving Northern Virginia and Washington DC since 1995.
