How Much Should You Spend on Wedding Flowers? A Realistic Guide for Couples 💐
Wedding flowers: how to budget so your blooms don’t break the bank and still make your day beautiful.
One of the most common questions couples ask during wedding planning is: “How much should I spend on wedding flowers?” And it’s a great question. Budgeting is consistently cited as the largest source of stress for engaged couples, and many end up spending about 26% more than their original wedding budget once real world costs come into clarity.
Nationally, the average wedding now costs around $33,000, and in Minnesota specifically, the average wedding comes in just over $34,000, depending on location, season, and guest count. One of the biggest contributors to rising costs is the venue. Across the U.S., the average venue rental alone is about $12,000, and in Minnesota, couples often see venue pricing range from $2,000 to $10,000+ before catering, bar service, or rentals are even factored in.
So where do wedding flowers fit into all of this?
Instead of starting with a flat dollar amount, we always recommend thinking in percentages. This keeps your floral budget proportional to your overall wedding size and spending level.
Here’s a simple planning guideline:
15% of your total wedding budget is a solid starting point for essential florals, including personal flowers (bouquets and boutonnieres), a small ceremony feature, and simple head table or sweetheart table blooms.
If flowers are a major design focus, (think: arches, centerpieces on every table, bar meadows, welcome signs, and candles) you should plan for 20–25% of your total wedding budget.
For the average Minnesota wedding around $34,000, this places wedding floral investment roughly between $5,000 and $8,500, which aligns closely with current Midwest and national spending trends.
One of the most powerful ways to stretch your floral budget without sacrificing impact is through smart repurposing. Ceremony meadow arrangements can often be moved to a head table, stage, or reception focal point. Florals from a welcome sign can be transferred to a seating chart or bar display. This allows you to enjoy lush designs throughout the day without paying for twice the amount of flowers.
However, not every floral piece repurposes easily. Custom arch installations are specifically designed for one location and often require significant labor to reconstruct. In many cases, repurposing those pieces costs nearly as much as starting fresh. Labor is a key piece of your budget that shouldn’t be overlooked, particularly if you will need your floral team do perform any room flips, transporting arrangements, or striking installations and decor late at night.
For transparency, our current minimum investment for full-service custom weddings is $4,000, while our A La Carte color palette program begins at $1,000. All weddings include a standard 20% labor charge, plus delivery and setup starting at $150 + $1 per mile. When repurposing, room flips, teardown, and rentals are added in, many of our couples land around $6,000 total floral investment, depending on scope and service needs.
But here’s what matters most: there is no single “correct” number for wedding flowers. Every couple’s priorities, finances, and values are different. The most beautiful weddings aren’t always the ones with the most flowers, but they’re the ones where the design was intentional.
That’s why we always recommend fewer flowers, but better flowers. Choose one or two areas to truly wow, which is often the ceremony backdrop and head table, and allow other areas to stay simple. Some easy places to scale back without hurting visual impact include:
Boutonnieres for the entire wedding party, better yet, have a small wedding party, or none at all!
Traditional corsages for extended family
Low-impact aisle décor, especially for outdoor ceremonies where heat can affect repurposing
When we work with couples, our approach is thoughtful, collaborative, and detail-driven. We guide you toward floral choices that honor both your vision and your budget without pressure or unrealistic expectations.
Whether you’re planning a full-service custom wedding or a smaller-scale celebration through our A La Carte program, communication is everything. When your budget is clearly shared, we can build real solutions that feel aligned, beautiful, and financially comfortable.
At the end of the day, your wedding flowers should bring you joy and not stress. And we’re always here to walk you through the process, every step of the way.
FAQ Section
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Most couples in Minnesota spend between $5,000 and $8,500 on wedding flowers for full-service design, depending on guest count, venue size, and the complexity of installations. Smaller weddings or A La Carte floral plans typically start closer to $1,000–$3,000.
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A great rule of thumb is:
15% for basic floral coverage
20–25% if florals are a major design feature
This ensures flowers stay in proportion to your overall wedding.
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Often, yes, especially for ground pieces, aisle arrangements, and welcome sign florals. However, custom arch installations may not repurpose cost-effectively due to labor and structural complexity.
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Wedding florals require multiple designers, on-site setup, transportation, repurposing, and teardown. Labor ensures your flowers look perfect and arrive safely. This fee also helps us support sustainable business operations.
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Focus on:
Statement areas instead of every space
Strategic repurposing
Smaller wedding party
Skipping low-impact pieces
Feeling overwhelmed by wedding planning? We’ve got you.
Let’s talk through your vision, your priorities, and your budget, schedule your floral consultation with Bumble Fleur today.