Why are flowers so darn expensive?

Roses,Peonies,Cally Lilly and Hydrangeas

Bridal Bouquet

Toss Bouquet

5 Bridesmaid Bouquets

5 Corsages

Groom Boutonniere

5 Groomsmen Boutonniere

4 Extra Boutonnieres

Church Entrance : Floral Letters ( T & D) with pink rose petals on church steps

Aisle : Pew Draping with blush pink fabric with flower arrangements ( Aisle Length 72 feet) 22 pews and 2 large arrangements at the end of aisle

Altar: Blush Pink Satin Altar Canopy with flowers on top with gold candles on altar steps with blush pink petals

Pic #1 Aisle Draping I want

Pic #2 Canopy with flowers on top

The two arrangements for the end of the aisle I want moved to the reception for our sweetheart table

Looking at what you want I'm not seeing why they are charging $22k and upwards. Are there any companies that do wholesale pricing? Maybe you could look into supplying some of the fabric elements yourself.

That's for just the ceremony though.

Reception?

ETA: Ha ha, we typed at the same time.

Your canopy is like my canopy, are you doing the chandelier I wanted a chandelier but was told that would be $5K on its own

There is no way you should be getting a quote like that for what you posted in your area. If you were posting from NYC, maybe, Texas, no way.

Re petals on church steps, make sure you double check, many churches don't allow them any more.

http://www.noraannesflowers.com/searchresult.asp?rcid=0&scid=0&occasion=0&pricerange=200&color=&flower=&searchtext=&searchitemnumber=&curOrd=R&curPage=2

This florist is near your venue and she seems really reasonable. There are lovely centerpieces that max out at $175

Many brides don't go large on ceremony decor because they want to shine, not the decor.

It takes a lot of energy (water, land, labor) and know-hows to grow flowers and to move flowers from one spot the other to get to your florist. Plus, it takes a lot of time (labor) and resources (creativity, ribbons, energy, etc.) to produce your centerpieces, bouquets, etc.

When my aunt asked me to make her bouquets and bouts for her, it took me from 6A - 10P just to prepare everything and make it. =/

Reception Breakdown

Move end aisle arrangements and church initals to sweetheart table adding

Gold candles with rose petals on actual table

Escort Table : Cards sitting on bed or pink roses

Centerpieces:

1. 20 short (as shown) gold vase with blush pink petals and gold votive candles

2. 20 short with gold floating candles ( as shown)

3. 20 tall (as shown ) gold vase

Cake Table: Blush Pink rose petals with gold votive candles

Pic #1 - CP 1

Pic #2 - CP 2

Pic #3 - CP 3

You can still accomplish a similar feel if you go with less variety for the ceremony. Maybe stick with just roses and hydrangea. Also, skip the silk and just do tulle. Get a custom aisle runner instead of using the petals. Speaking of the petals, make sure your venue will allow this. I found out well into my planning that mine didn't.

Even the reception arrangements shouldn't be maxing out at the top end based on what you want. I'm in Boston which is crazy pricey and had centerpieces that were lit and changed colors throughout the evening and didn't come anywhere near that. For my daughtet's christening in Scotland which beyond pricey we still aren't running into quotes like that. I definitely think the florists you contacted are quoting crazy prices. Time to see about alternate sources.

According to the wedding estimate calculator, you should be spending no more than $4K.

Our floral budget is between $500 - $600. We are buying the flowers whole sale and doing them ourselves. The only reason the budget is a bit higher than I'd like is because I am thinking about doing peonies.

We spent around $2000 and I thought that was crazy. We did provide our own centerpeices holders and she just added the flowers, but even that was expensive. While all my flowers were beautiful if I had to do it all over again I would have scaled down. When you think about it all that money is going to be thrown away at the end of the night.

@Eughinia: No Chandelier

I can use real rose petals ! They have to be cleaned up right after though.

They are expensive because of where the flowers are shipped from, types of flowers, preserving them so they can look their best on the day of the event, labor, addition accessories [[vase, ribbon, etc]], flower food [[it's freaking expensive; the tub we have at school, which is the smallest, is around $60]], etc.

I'm honestly going to school and learning floristry stuff so I can actually make my own bouquets with real flowers and everything else with fake flowers.

This is what I made for my first arrangement in class on Friday. These flowers were considered salvaged [[browning, petal loss, developed too soon]]. If this arrangement was to be sold in stores, it would be around $18.

I wish you luck!

Perhaps your the Sugarland Marriott can give you a list of who they use, or you could ask Ash Couture if they would recommend someone?

Wow, I had no idea flowers were that expensive. We are on a budget. 10k for the whole wedding. Had already decided no flowers for the ceremony as it will be too short. I fell in love with the brooch bouquets so am making those and spending about $200 for 3-4. As our venue is more rustic now, just decided to use some flowers in the centerpieces. Choosing white roses and hydrangeas which I can order from Costco for under $200 and use those or fake flowers for the boutineeres.

I would cut church decor. Unless the church you're getting married in is really bare, you can get away with less. I would also ask the florists if they can suggest some substitutions if you want to keep the canopy that would get the cost down.

I would also think about alternatives to the escort card table. Those are all place where neither you nor your guests will be spending a whole lot of time, so having less flowers and/or non-floral arrangements will cut the cost.

Adding to what Mr. S said, scale back on any cocktail hour arrangements. Also, do slightly smaller versions of your main centerpiece. I truly think you are getting bad quotes though so if you have your heart set on your exact vision try different florist. Maybe one that doesn't normally do weddings.

I feel like a bargain bride lol. Bouquet, 5 table decorations consisting of roses and chrysanthemums (in my own dollar store vases) 3 button holes and a corsage under $200