5 Tips on What to Avoid When Planning Your Wedding Flowers

by Angie Zimmerman, The Wedding Flower Diva

(author of the Do-It-Yourself Wedding Flower Guide)

1) Valentine’s Day + Weddings = Expensive flowers

As romantic as it may sound to plan a Valentine’s Day wedding, beware of the cost of flowers around that time of year!  About three weeks before Valentine’s Day, the prices of ALL flowers (especially roses) start to creep upward.

As a wholesale buyer, I can expect to pay four or more times the regular price for roses, and about 25% more for red, white, or pink flowers of any other variety. All other flowers go up at least 20%.

What does that mean to you, the consumer (aka the bride)? Don’t plan a wedding too close to Valentine’s Day . . . unless you don’t mind spending extra money for your flowers. Even the day after Valentine’s Day is too close, because your flowers typically need to arrive three days before you need them to allow time for processing and arranging.

Plan your wedding for at least four days after Valentine’s Day to avoid paying for expensive flowers.

2)  Other Costly Holidays

Stay away from other holidays such as Mother’s Day and Christmas for the same reason as Valentine’s Day. However, flower prices generally go up a mere 10-15% for these holidays, compared to Valentine’s Day, when flower prices rise 50-75%.

3) Types of Flowers

Don’t set your mind on a particular type of flower unless you know it is available around the time of your wedding … or you don’t care what it costs. Although flowers can be ordered from anywhere in the world, you’ll need to factor in the import costs, which includes fuel.

At today’s fuel prices, that will dramatically increase your wedding expenses. Instead, rely on your florist to give you suitable alternatives for the season in which you’ll be getting married: similar shapes, sizes, textures, and colors. You’re way ahead of the game if you stick to flowers

that are available locally at the time of your wedding.

4)  The Heat

Consider what the weather is likely to be at the time of year you’re getting married, particularly if any part of your wedding is to be held outdoors. Some flowers hold up better than others in the heat, but be realistic. If the temperature outside is 90 degrees or higher, everything melts … the flowers, the drinks, the people!

5)  Friday and Sunday Discounts

If you choose to get married on a Friday or Sunday, most facilities will give you a pretty good discount. But keep in mind that most businesses are closed on Sundays, so expect to pay a little extra for Sunday deliveries from florists, rental companies, bakeries, etc.