Your Dream Wedding Floral Budget:
A Comprehensive Guide to Breaking Down Costs
Planning your dream wedding in Austin (or anywhere in the Hill Country) is such an exciting season, and one of the biggest design decisions you’ll make is your wedding flowers. Beyond just bouquets, florals set the tone for your celebration - creating atmosphere, highlighting your venue, and leaving guests in awe. But as you start envisioning arches dripping in blooms, candlelit reception tables, and lush bouquets, the big question comes up: what should we budget for wedding flowers?
As an Austin wedding florist with years of experience designing everything from intimate Hill Country weddings to large-scale luxury celebrations, we’re here to walk you through what impacts floral costs, what different budget ranges look like, and how to make the most of your investment.
What Impacts Your Wedding Floral Budget?
Several key factors will shape how much you’ll spend on flowers:
Guest Count: More guests = more tables, more centerpieces, and often more candles.
Bridal Party Size: Each bouquet and boutonniere adds up.
Installations & Statement Designs: From ceremony arches to ceiling installations, large-scale floral moments are an incredible investment but can be a significant part of your budget.
Average Floral Budget Ranges:
Wedding floral budgets can vary widely, from $10,000 to $50,000+. Most of our couples fall in the $10,000–$25,000 range, which allows for personal flowers, ceremony florals, reception centerpieces, and at least one impactful installation.
Here’s a quick look at what those ranges might include:
$10,000–$15,000 → Personal flowers + ceremony arch + thoughtful reception centerpieces.
$20,000–$25,000 → Everything above plus impactful installations (floral chandeliers, ceiling meadows, or large stage pieces).
$30,000+ → Fully transformed spaces with multiple large installations, lush table designs, and florals woven throughout every guest touchpoint.
A helpful way to think about your floral investment is by category:
Personal Flowers: Bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, and flower girl pieces. Typically $1,500–$2,500+, depending on party size. Bridal bouquets range from $220–$350, and bridesmaid bouquets are $70–$110 each. If having a large floral moment at your ceremony and reception is a top priority, we often suggest keeping bridesmaids’ flowers simple or even opting for a smaller bridal party. This way, you can direct more of your budget toward statement pieces that will truly wow your guests.
Ceremony Florals: Arches, ground arrangements, urns, and aisle flowers. Ceremony designs often range $1,500–$7,000+ depending on scale. A full floral arch might cost $2,000–$6,000.
Reception Décor: Guest tables, bars, lounges, and statement installations. These costs can vary dramatically. Compotes (low centerpieces) are $160–$290, while tall arrangements are $300–$550. We always recommend incorporating at least one installation — whether that’s a hanging chandelier, floral meadow, or head table cascade — because it becomes a true focal point and makes the event so memorable!
Candles & Styling: Don’t forget about candles, which elevate any table. Taper candle trios start at $50, and additional décor elements are available.
Breaking Down Your Floral Budget
High-Impact Floral Elements Worth the Investment
When you want to wow your guests, focus on floral elements that feel big, beautiful, and unforgettable. These are the “must-haves” we love to design:
Ceremony Arches, Meadows & Aisles – We adore something oversized at the ceremony, like a floral arch, meadow, or even a full aisle design that feels organic and interesting. These pieces often repurpose beautifully at the reception, so you get twice the impact!
Dance Floor & Stage Installations – For receptions, flowers over the dance floor or a lush stage facade (especially if you’re having a band) create a true statement moment that delights guests and sets the mood for the night.
Head Table or Sweetheart Table – Cascading flowers spilling off the head table instantly draw the eye and create incredible photo opportunities.
Hanging Installations – If your venue allows, floral installations on existing chandeliers will transform the entire space into an immersive, artful experience.
At Wild Bunches, we design for impact. We want your guests to feel like they’ve stepped into something big, beautiful, and intentional - like living floral art that elevates the entire celebration.
Where to Save Without Sacrificing Style
If you’re looking for places to trim, we recommend:
Bridesmaid Bouquets – Keep them simple and sleek so your bridal bouquet stands out in photos.
Guest Table Variety – Mix in bud vases or candle-heavy designs with lush centerpieces.
Smaller Touches – Scale back on secondary areas like restrooms or cocktail tables if needed.
Often Overlooked Florals That Make a Big Impact
Some of the most memorable floral touches aren’t always the most obvious. Beyond bouquets and centerpieces, these design details can elevate your wedding and make the experience feel more thoughtful and unique:
Bars & Lounges – Guests spend so much time here, so why not make it beautiful? We love a large bar moment that feels like its own statement piece. It’s one of those areas that guests will notice and remember.
Venue Architecture – Highlighting architectural features is one of our favorite ways to make the design feel intentional. If you have a tent, budget for a floral entrance or greenery to frame the space. If your venue has chandeliers, we always recommend adding florals or greenery overhead. These touches not only complement the architecture but also make the celebration feel more intimate and unique.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Budget
Be Open to Suggestions – Flexibility when it comes to flower selection allows us to use in-season flowers that give you the most value.
Focus on Impact – Invest in designs guests will truly notice up close, like ceremony arches or reception installations.
Communicate Early – Share your must-haves and let your wedding florist guide you with suggestions on where to allocate the rest.
We like to remind couples that you’ll run out of money before you run out of ideas, which is why prioritizing impact is so important. Trust your floral designer to help guide where your budget will make the biggest statement!
Setting Realistic Expectations
Budget a little more than you think and stay open to suggestions. Flowers are a labor-intensive, perishable art form, and your floral budget covers far more than just stems - it covers the time, talent, and logistics that make everything look effortless.
What your floral budget really covers with your wedding florist:
Planning & proposals (8–12 months out): We start early - anticipating growing patterns, talking to suppliers, and mapping logistics. Most proposals are revised 5–7 times, and each round takes 2–5 hours.
Sourcing in today’s market: Tariffs and the rising cost of living affect farms, shipping, and small businesses. No one is trying to “upsell” - this is the reality of getting premium product where and when we need it.
Week-of production timeline: Flowers typically arrive on Tuesday. Our team processes and preps them so they’re at peak beauty by Saturday. We begin design on Wednesday and keep creating through the week.
Skilled labor & installation: Our amazing and seasoned designers execute complex installs, manage repurposing (ceremony → reception), and solve on-site challenges so everything looks intentional and amazing!
Event day hours: Wedding days can run 5am–8pm for our team, with minimal breaks. After the party, we also handle strike/cleanup and returns.
Transport, equipment & cleanup: Delivery vehicles, ladders, rigging, candle sleeves, protective discs for linens, vase rentals, and post-event clean up are all part of the service.
The bottom line: floral design is both craft and production. When you understand what goes into it, the costs make sense, and the results are worth it.
Design big. budget smart.
At the end of the day, your wedding flowers are more than just decoration - they set the mood, highlight your love story, and create an unforgettable guest experience. Whether you’re envisioning a lush garden ceremony, a candlelit reception, or a ceiling dripping in florals, investing thoughtfully in your floral budget ensures your wedding feels every bit as magical as you’ve dreamed.
If you’re ready to start planning your dream floral design, we’d love to talk with you! Inquire with our team today, and let’s design something bold, beautiful, and unforgettable.
Images provided by: Unity Reel, Ann Mark Photo, Light as Gold