Our Ultimate Guide to Wedding Flowers

Your wedding flowers will be immortalised forever in your wedding photographs. They’re a key element of your wedding styling and transform a wedding venue into a personalised ode to you. Fantastic florals add flair and style to your wedding celebration, so choosing them wisely is essential.

There are endless possibilities and combinations for flowers and weddings. Here is your chance to stamp your personality on a venue, and set the tone for your whole wedding day. Know your wedding arch flowers from your flower crowns, and buttonholes from wedding cake flowers - we’ll help you navigate the wonderful world of wedding flower arrangements.

Let us introduce you to the different types of wedding flowers for wedding celebrations. We guide you through how to choose designs that reflect you and your wedding vibe, and answer your questions about wedding florists, florals and prices.

Wedding Party Flowers

The most common wedding flowers are bridal bouquets, buttonholes and bouquet flowers for bridesmaids. For some couples, especially those on a tight budget, one or two items from the following list may be sufficient. For others, there may be grand designs not listed below! A typical wedding would have flowers for the happy couple, and flowers for bridesmaids and groomsmen.

We’ve added some approximate costs for each element. These will differ depending on where you’re getting married, the time of year, the individual wedding florist and the flowers you choose. Destination weddings may prefer fake wedding flowers that are dried, silk or plastic, which are more suited to travelling than fresh flowers, and generally cost a similar amount.

Bridal Bouquet

Prices from £100

A bouquet of flowers for the bride is, arguably, only second in importance to the wedding dress. Choosing a stunning bridal bouquet will complement your dress, figure, style and accessories. Every photo of your wedding ceremony, and most of the photos of you and your partner, will include these flowers. The perfect bride’s bouquet should feature your favourite flowers and colours - it could even be scented for extra sensory pleasure.

There are so many style options to choose from. Rustic wedding flower bouquets that look like they’ve just been picked are great for laidback brides. Whereas artificial wedding flowers may be better suited to destination weddings. Dried wedding flowers are increasingly popular for bridal bouquets too. Whether you opt for fresh flower wedding bouquets or artificial, the cost is determined by product availability, season and the skill of the wedding flower florist.

We recommend trawling through photos of wedding bouquet flowers online and putting an inspiration board together. Pinterest is great for this. Collating all the flower images you like will help your florist bring your wedding flower ideas to life. It will also ensure that the flowers you marry holding are ones you love.

Bridesmaid Bouquets

Prices from £50 each

Chances are you’ll have a bridesmaid or two in the wedding party. Bouquet flowers for bridesmaids are the most common choice, but a flower crown, hair flowers, corsages and hoops are beautiful alternatives. Whichever flowers you choose for your bridesmaids, they normally match or complement your bride’s bouquet, either in colour, flower choice or style. However, this is entirely down to your personal preference. 

A smaller version of the bridal bouquet is a popular option or something that can be worn, freeing up the hands, and potentially saving money. Think about what your bridesmaids’ dresses are like and ensure that not only do their flowers match yours, but that they complement their wedding attire too.

Buttonholes

Prices from £10 each

A buttonhole is a single flower, often with a touch of foliage or a sprig of something small to set it off. A boutonnière is a small collection of flowers instead of a single flower. Both can be worn by men or women, and one or the other are usually worn by a groom. 

Traditionally, men wear a buttonhole on their left lapel and women on their right. They are either pinned onto the lapel like a remembrance poppy, or have a badge clip or magnet to hold them in place.

Most often, buttonhole flowers match bridal flowers in colour, flower choice or style. Buttonholes are worn by other men in the wedding party too, such as the best man, groomsmen, page boys and father of the bride and/or father of the groom.

Flower Girls

From £10 each

Flower girls are usually younger bridesmaids and children. Flowers for flower girls therefore can be small versions of a bridesmaids’ bouquet. Or you can choose something more whimsical such as a basket of flowers, flower wand, flower hoop or some sort of wrist corsage.

Consider the ages of the flower girls before deciding on what flowers to equip them with. It’s likely they won’t last very long so unless the little girls are exceptionally well behaved, don’t spend a fortune on flowers for them.

Corsages

From £15 each

Very similar to a boutonnière, a corsage is a collection of flowers usually worn by a woman. They are bigger than a boutonnière or a buttonhole, and can be worn on the lapel, dress, bag or wrist. Corsages are intricate to make. So, whilst they may be smaller than bouquets, their relative cost for such a small design can be high.

The mechanics of a corsage may mean that they are attached with a pin or a magnet. Speak to your wedding florist about the different options to avoid causing damage to delicate wedding outfits.

Corsages are organised by the couple getting married, or sourced separately by wedding guests. They are a popular choice for mothers of the bride and/or groom too.

Wedding Venue Flowers

With so many ways to style a wedding venue, you can choose to fill your setting with flowers or opt for a more subtle approach, as your budget allows. Below is a list of popular wedding venue flowers.

Flower Arch

From £300

Stunning as a backdrop for wedding ceremonies or entrances, behind top tables or at the entrance to a reception room, flower arches pack a real punch. Wedding arch flowers can be a full arch shape or deconstructed with one longer and one shorter column that don’t meet at the top. Either way, when bursting with flowers and foliage, they are hugely popular, and look incredible in wedding photos.

Flowers for a wedding arch don’t come cheap though! One florist we spoke to reckoned £50-£75 per foot of flowers was a good rule to follow when pricing a floral arch. Depending on the preferred flowers this could be more, and will be determined based on mechanics, location and choice of flowers.

Arches are typically created on site but can be repurposed if having a separate church ceremony and wedding reception.

Table Decorations

From £20 each

From delicate tablescapes with an array of small vases to candelabra draped with flowers, table decorations vary massively. Search for wedding inspiration online before speaking to your florist and decide what you do, and don’t, like before committing to a budget.

You might want wedding party table flowers for a top table, or you can repurpose bridesmaids’ bouquets into table flowers at smaller weddings. With so many ways to decorate your venue tables, the possibilities are endless.

The golden rule with wedding table flowers is to keep arrangements below or above the eye line for seated guests so as not to restrict visibility and conversation across the table.

Pedestal Arrangements

From £150 each

A pedestal arrangement is essentially a freestanding arrangement. Traditionally on a pedestal stand, these days large arrangements can be designed in milk churns or crates, on side tables or on the floor.

Meadow boxes that look like small wild lower fields look gorgeous in front of a top table. Or stand two large arrangements at the front of the aisle for the couple to stand in front of. They provide a wonderful backdrop for photos too. Repurpose them from wedding ceremony to reception room for a cost-effective, high impact aesthetic.

Floral Installations

Bespoke pricing

Wedding installations are extravagant arrangements that transform spaces. Think hanging flowers such as floral clouds or suspended hoops, architectural arrangements that decorate staircases or entrances. Essentially, these statement pieces are curated to create impact, drama and glamour. As such, they require careful consideration with your florist to plan.

Optional Extras

The lists above are by no means exhaustive. Your wedding should look exactly how you want it, so do your research to find inspiration. Other kinds of wedding flowers that you might be interested in are listed below.

·        Church wedding flowers

This might include pew ends, aisle arrangements, pedestal arrangements, floral arches, arrangements in the font, on the altar or in window recesses.

·        Thank you bouquets

When parents or other family members fund part of your wedding, it is customary to present them with thank you flowers during the speeches of the wedding reception. These aren’t essential but a nice way to show your appreciation as a couple in front of your nearest and dearest.

·        Petal confetti

Many venues don’t allow artificial confetti. Using dried flower petals is a lovely way to greet the happy couple after the nuptials without causing unnecessary waste. A flurry of dried petals also create stunning photos. 

·        Cake flowers

Flowers for wedding cakes either sit on top or across the tiers of the confection itself, or may be used to decorate the table only. They should match the wedding party flowers in colour and style but also the design of the cake.

How to Choose Wedding Flowers

Here are our top tips on how to choose wedding flowers. With so many decisions to make, this step-by-step guide will help you make the big choices first before pinning down the finer details.

1. Florist or no florist?

First of all, decide whether you want do-it-yourself wedding flowers or if you’d rather enlist the help of a florist for wedding flowers. If you’re exceptionally talented and creative, DIY wedding flowers might be an enjoyable part of your journey.

Remember that fresh flowers will need to be made the day before the wedding. If that’s not what you want to be doing right before you get married, hire a professional.

2. Pick a theme

Your wedding theme sets the tone of your wedding. When you have a clear idea of what vibe you’re going for, you can start looking at how to manifest this in florals. Autumn wedding flowers might include rich reds and vibrant harvest flora, whereas white wedding flowers create a purer aesthetic. Do your homework and look online for inspiration before you meet your wedding florist. This will help them understand your vision better than words can.

3. Set a budget

This is an important step. Couples with champagne taste need a budget to back it up. If your budget is more beer than fizz, make sure you don’t overspend on wedding flowers.

Think about the size of your wedding party, your wedding venue and the season. Be realistic about what you can afford to budget for flowers and communicate that to your florist. A good florist can advise on how best to spend small budgets, just as they can help you plan styling for extravagant celebrations. Be clear and honest from the start about costs to avoid confusion.

4. Shop around

When pricing up any job, you should try and get three quotes. Apply this principle to your wedding flowers before settling on a florist. Not only will this get you a competitive price, but it will also help you pin down what you really want, find someone you can rely on and ensure your wedding supplier is on board with your plans and budget.

Top Tips for Fantastic Florals

• Choose seasonal flowers or florists’ choice to keep costs reasonable

•  Pick your bridal bouquet first – this will dictate the rest of your wedding flowers

•  Avoid delicate flowers – delicate flowers won’t stand up to a day of hugs and dancing

•  Decide before your wedding if you want to preserve your flowers – and tell your florist so they can plan accordingly

•  Repurpose arrangements from one place to another to save money and avoid doubling up

•  If you want to throw your bouquet, order a second cheaper replica for tossing

•  Make your own confetti by buying reduced flowers from shops and drying them in a cool, dark place at home

•  Ensure that all flowers are non-toxic, not irritants and are not dangerous to consume – especially if there are dogs at the wedding

  
  

Wedding Flower FAQs

How much do wedding flowers cost?

How much are wedding flowers is the most common question asked by couples. The wedding flowers cost quoted above are only a guide, but may help you when you’re starting to look at different designs.

Most florists would suggest the average cost of wedding flowers should be around 10% of your wedding budget, but you can spend more or less as you prefer. The more flowers you have, the bigger the impact for your wedding guests. Equally, more modest wedding florals will save money, and you can still create a beautiful aesthetic with the less is more approach.

Wedding flower prices will usually be lower for seasonal designs and flowers that are easy to source. Exotic flowers, rare blooms and out-of-season colours will usually carry a higher premium.  

How much does a florist cost for a wedding?

The cost of a florist varies on the designs you want, the time of year, specific flower requests and the experience and skill of your chosen professional. 

When you book a wedding florist, you’ll often find that your initial wedding flower consultation is included but you may have to pay for subsequent appointments. Their time for planning, designing and preparing the flowers will be built into the quote they give you.

Accessories and sundries essential for wedding flowers such as mechanics like wire, tape and pins, plus containers, wrapping and presentation materials will also be included in the price quoted. Additional items for staging such as mirrors, stands, candles, log slices and props might be an added cost and could be available for rent, where they are returned safely afterwards. Either way, these associated costs should be clear before booking.

Other costs such as delivery, setup, removal and staging might also be added on top but should be included in the initial quote. It’s common to pay mileage and for florist’s time above and beyond making your wedding flowers and this should be explicitly agreed before confirming.

Your wedding florist prices will also depend on geographical location, level of experience, anticipated amount of input from the couple and product availability. For example, city florists are likely to be more expensive than rural florists as their overheads are higher. Equally, if a bride comes across as overly demanding, a higher premium may be built into the flowers to compensate for potential delays and additional demands.

How to preserve wedding flowers?

Wedding bouquet flower preservation is increasing in popularity and comes in various guises. Wedding flower preservation techniques usually include drying fresh wedding flowers after use. The dried flowers can then be either arranged into a dried flower wedding bouquet representation, or pressed to make a 2D image of your wedding bouquet.

Some creative people set these dried flowers in resin which can then be turned into jewellery, ornaments, flat discs for framing or keepsakes.

Couples who opt for dried wedding flowers will be able to keep their wedding flowers exactly as they are - so long as they don’t get damaged on the big day!

How to select a wedding florist?

Recommendations of florists are always a good place to start when looking for a wedding florist. Ask your venue, friends, locals for recommendations on social media and then check out their channels and websites to see if you like their work. 

Questions to ask should include the following:

Is my wedding date available?

Can you work within my budget?

Can you show me examples of your work?

Do you make the flowers yourself or do you have a team you work with?

Are the prices quoted inclusive of all associated costs?

Have you worked with my wedding venue before?

What are your booking terms and conditions?

Do you have liability insurance?

Recommended Suppliers

For flowers we recommend Love Rosie Floral Design.

For venue styling we recommend Pure Elegance Weddings and Events.

Weddings at Springbank Manor

All weddings at Springbank Manor benefit from our dedicated wedding coordinators. Our talented team will help you plan the perfect wedding and that includes the wedding flowers. We have a list of local suppliers who are familiar with our gorgeous venue and who come recommended by the happy couples who have married here.

Our stunning wedding venue in the heart of Lancashire is surrounded by rolling hills and open countryside and makes a beautiful setting for nuptials of all shapes and sizes. Inside, the contemporary mix of traditional features updated with modern styling make the ideal canvas for grand floral plans.

Get in touch with our experience team to discuss your wedding plans and we’ll help bring your wedding vision to life.

Weddings at Springbank Manor