Why Do Wedding Flowers Cost So Much?

(A Love Letter to the Bloom Budget No One Warned You About)

Let’s rip the Band-Aid off: wedding flowers are expensive. Like “did my bouquet just buy a round-trip ticket to Europe?” expensive.

But before you start googling “DIY wedding florals” (please don’t, bestie), let’s talk about why those gorgeous blooms come with a price tag, and why it’s actually totally worth it.

Reason #1: They Don’t Just Magically Appear (Sorry, Pinterest)

You see that dreamy garden rose? It didn’t just sprout up overnight for your September wedding. It was planted, watered, nurtured, sung to (probably), harvested, cooled, boxed, shipped across states or oceans, unpacked, hydrated, and cared for again before it ever landed in your florist’s hands. And those hands? Belong to real humans who deserve fair pay, ethical working conditions, and a decent night’s sleep.

Flowers travel from farms in Holland, South Africa, Ecuador, Colombia, California, Canada, Mexico, and local Ohio growers (we see you, local legends). Every bloom passes through a long, delicate relay race; growers, shippers, wholesalers, and finally, your florist, all making sure those petals look flawless when you say “I do.”

So yes, by the time that perfect peony hits your bouquet, it’s basically a celebrity.

Reason #2: You’re Not Just Paying for Flowers, You’re Paying for Artistry

Think of your wedding florist as an artist… who works with living, breathing, unpredictable materials. Every arrangement is designed by hand; wired, taped, balanced, and styled with an obsessive attention to detail (and occasionally mild caffeine-induced chaos).

A professional florist has spent years studying design principles, attending workshops, and learning how to make flowers behave. (They have floral wire and floral tape in places you didn’t know floral wire and floral tape could go.)

The result? Flowers that don’t just sit on a table, they speak. They fill a room, set a tone, and tell a love story in color and texture.

Sure, you could hire your cousin’s friend who “did flowers once for prom,” but if you want florals that last all day, hold up through photos, tears, and sweaty dance floors then experience matters.

Reason #3: Time Is a Real Thing (and Florists Use All of It)

From your first inquiry to the post-wedding cleanup, here’s what your florist is juggling:

• Consultations, proposals, and quote revisions (because Pinterest dreams evolve).

• Ordering and processing hundreds, sometimes thousands, of stems.

• Conditioning every flower like a tiny diva (water, hydration, temperature checks).

• Designing centerpieces, bouquets, arches, and installations.

• Delivering and setting everything up day-of; often before coffee has kicked in.

• Then staying after your wedding to clean up, pack down, and wash buckets.

That’s days of prep and labor for something that lives beautifully for one day but makes your photos, memories, and atmosphere unforgettable.

Reason #4: Running a Floral Studio Isn’t Just About Playing With Pretty Flowers All Day...Shoot I Wish.

Behind every dreamy floral design is a not-so-glamorous list of business realities:

Rent, electricity, water, floral coolers, and tools. Delivery vans, gas, insurance, and maintenance. Licenses, taxes, accounting, and legal fees. Website costs, staff pay, and, you know, a little thing called a living wage.

And let’s not forget, a legitimate florist is also a licensed business. At Petals and Silks, we’re registered, insured, and hold transient vendor licenses for each county we serve. So when you hire us, you’re not just getting pretty flowers, you’re getting professionalism, protection, and peace of mind.

Reason #5: Not All Florists (or Flowers) Are Created Equal

When you compare quotes, make sure you’re comparing like with like. If one florist’s quote includes phalaenopsis orchids and another uses baby’s breath, those prices won’t match and neither will the results.

Your florist’s style, flower choices, and design expertise make a huge difference in the final product (and the price tag).

Photo by: Lauren B. Photography

So… How Much Should You Expect to Spend?

Every wedding is different, but on average, our couples invest between $1,000 and $10,000 in their wedding florals. Some go big, some keep it intimate and all are stunning.

And unlike many studios, Petals and Silks doesn’t have a minimum spend. Because we believe every couple deserves beautiful flowers whether you want a jaw-dropping floral arch or a handful of thoughtfully crafted arrangements. If you would like to read more about why we don't have minimum spend and why some florist do, we invite you to read Why Florists Have Minimum Spends (and Why We Don’t)

The Bottom Line

Wedding florals aren’t just “decor.” They’re the heartbeat of your wedding aesthetic the part that brings your venue to life and turns moments into magic.

At Petals and Silks, we pour our hearts (and a few gallons of floral food) into every design. Every petal is placed with intention. Every bloom is chosen with love. Because your wedding day deserves nothing less than art and art takes time, talent, and yes… a little budget.