The Centre of Attention
This month I decided that it would be a good idea to prepare Wedding Obsession’s friends with what to expect at your floral consultation for your wedding centrepeices. This way, when you go in to your local florist, you have reasonable expectations as to what your centrepieces really will cost. Ladies and (some) gentlemen, I am preparing you for your consult. You won’t have that jaw-dropping moment that many couples have when they see what their vision of florals will really cost. Are you ready for a reality check?
So, this month we did a shoot that focused on preparing three types of centrepieces focused around the same ‘look’ or ‘theme’. I realize that readers of this blog do live in different parts of Canada and that dependant on where you live, the cost of goods do vary. So in light of that, please keep in mind that pricing may be different at your florist.
So, without further adieu, here is our first photo.
It’s pretty obvious that this is a large arrangement with a LOT of flowers. So naturally, this will be an expensive one. In this arrangement, we have an assortment of two shades of roses, spray roses, callas, cymbidium orchids, blush hypericum berries, mini green hydrangea, and aspidistra leaves. One thing to keep in mind with top heavy arrangements such as these, is to utilize a container that is sturdy. This one here is okay, but with it’s thin stem, it is safe to say that it may be a bit tippy if guests bumped the table. A suggestion here, is to go with something with a consistent width all the way from top to bottom (at least 5 – 6” in diameter), or if your vase tapers, to ensure that it tapers back to a strong and wide supportive base. To give you an idea as to why this is so costly, there are approximately 70 stems of roses used in this arrangement alone.
In Edmonton, I’ve priced this arrangement out at $750. As prices vary across Canada, expect to see that an average large arrangement would cost anywhere from $250 to $800 dependant on your locale, the design, and your choice of flower variety and quantity.
I understand that this is not doable for many couples. It is a huge cost. So, here is a medium option which is smaller, still a bit costly, but will nonetheless create that moment of awe as your guests sit at the table.
I utilized all the same types of flowers, but as you can see, the quantity has been cut down fit the shape and size of the container upon which the design sits. So why is this option a little more wallet friendly than the first? Well although it has the same look/styling, it has only approximately a third of the flowers used in the larger photo.
As an Edmonton florist, I would price this arrangement in the $200 range. Expect your medium arrangements to be anywhere from $100 – $250 dependant again on locale, design choice, flower variety and quantity.
Finally, this is the ‘small’ arrangement in this set.
It is definitely smaller but still full of texture and romance. This one is great for an intimate setting, and something that won’t impede anyone’s view across the table. It’s also a lot more friendly on the pocket book. Why? Well, it is substantially smaller than the large arrangement utilizing only about 5 – 6 roses, which would give you an idea of how many other flowers were needed to fill the container and still give us a full look.
In Edmonton, I would price this arrangement at $90. Small arrangements can go from $20 to $100 dependant locale, design choice, flower variety and quantity.
Now, dependant on how many pieces you need, and the number of stems your florist will require to create your wedding, you may get a better price per stem if you have a LARGE wedding. By large, I mean 400+ guests. Your florist, if they have the ability to buy directly from auction, will be able to get better pricing on flowers by the bucket. However, as every situation is unique, this is something that needs to be discussed with your florist.
These photos were shown with a very compact style in which a lot of flowers were used. As a couple, you might want a very open and linear design that requires a substantially reduced amount of flowers. There are many design options that can greatly affect how much or little you will pay for your centrepieces. I decided to showcase these designs so those of you who do want a lot of flowers in a nice round shape, can see how much you could potentially be spending on these arrangements.
A very important factor you need to remember is that you are not just buying the flowers, but the material and labour involved in creating these pieces. Remember, there is a number of staff that are required to create your wedding florals. Be conscious of that when meeting with your florist. If you are presented with a quote that doesn’t work in your budget, don’t get fed up and walk away. Just request that your florist give you other options to help bring your cost down to within your budget. These could include floral substitutions (i.e. chrysanthemums rather than roses), renting rather than purchasing glassware, using more greens and fillers, special family tables that have larger feature pieces while the remaining tables have significantly smaller arrangements or décor, or simply reducing the size and changing design styling of what you want on your tables.
Working with your florist should be a relaxed and enjoyable experience. How often do we really get to stop and smell the roses? This is the one opportunity on the long path of wedding planning where you actually get to do just that!
Happy planning!
Jennifer
Floral Design: Akiko Floral Artistry Inc.
Photography: Capture It! Photography
Linens: Elegant Touches
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