How Much Do Wedding Flowers Cost in Alberta? | Budgeting for Your Wedding Flowers in Alberta, Canada

One of the first questions we’re often asked as a wedding florist is “How much do wedding flowers cost?” – and we could answer that in a million different ways!

Of course like anything, there are a lot of different factors when it comes to pricing your flowers. The type of flowers, seasonality, the style of design or labour it takes to design, and of course how many flowers you’d like are all considerations when planning your budget.

Let’s chat about the types of flowers first - think about it like groceries.  We all know that fruits and veggies vary in price.  For example, a humble Alberta grown potato versus a dragonfruit from Central America: the dragonfruit will be higher in price.  In the same way, certain flowers come with a premium price tag because of where they travel from, what it takes to grow them, or the amount of care and handling they require. 

Seasonality is another factor to be considered when choosing your wedding florals.  A perfect example would be peonies.  There is a spring growing season and the price during that time reflects the fact that they are readily available.  On the shoulder seasons, you can still order them, but they will be more expensive (and the blooms might be smaller because the plants are just starting, or they’re just finishing).  Off-season they might be available, but they cost much more because of the low supply.

A third factor in the cost of your wedding florals is the style of design and the labour that goes into making them.  Certain designs are more labour intensive, requiring more time or expertise.  And while there is not a “wedding tax” on your flowers, you can be sure that a florist will spend more time and effort on a bridal bouquet than a simple vase arrangement, because your bridal bouquet is the star of the show!  We hand select the best blooms, we perfect the placement of each flower, we handle it with so much care and attention. 

Further to the actual design work, each florist is going to have a labour charge that reflects their years of experience and their value as a florist.  Just as you expect to pay differently for a gas station meal and a Michelin star restaurant meal, you can expect to pay differently for a florist, depending on the quality of product they are using, and the level of expertise and design artistry or simply their years of experience.

Finally, one of the biggest considerations when thinking about your floral budget is the amount of flowers you’d like.  A general suggestion is that 10-15% of your overall wedding budget is for flowers, but it really depends if you want flowers to be a minimal part of the day (a few bouquets and boutonnieres), or a major design factor with lush arrangements on every surface, and floral statements at every point.  The number of guests (and therefore number of table arrangements) can add up, and your overall aesthetic dictates your budget.

When it comes to planning your wedding florals, every couple should think about how important flowers are to their day.  From there, thinking about the various factors will help determine how much to allocate to the floral budget.  The types of flowers desired and the complexity of design, and then finding a florist who fits your aesthetic and falls within your budget.