Weddings are a celebration of love and should be nothing short of magical. One of the key elements that contribute to the beauty of this special day is the floral arrangements and design. Wedding flowers are more than just decorations; they are an expression of style, personality, and emotion. However, as couples plan their dream weddings, they often encounter a wide range of prices for floral services. We know it can be difficult for newly engaged couples to navigate the floral world and we hope to explain more in this blog about floral pricing and help you learn what to look for when receiving your floral quote. We’ll delve into the intricacies of cost transparency in the wedding flower industry and why quality is worth every penny.

At Satin & Stems, we believe in transparency when it comes to the cost of wedding flowers. Our minimum investment for full-service wedding flower design with rentals is $6,000. This is a reflection of the professionalism and expertise we bring to each event, ensuring that your day is as enchanting as you envision it. This minimum is set based on years of experience in designing for weddings, and the knowledge of what the floral cost actually comes to when clients typically want flowers for a wedding party, plus flowers and candles on every table, with a typical guest count between 130-150.

First, we need to talk about the difference in “florists”. There are Florists, who are people that work with flowers and are typically employed at flower shops. The kind you order from when wanting bouquets delivered for a birthday or anniversary. They get market flowers- so the flowers that are available that week from the suppliers- then they make arrangements with what they receive. Typically, items are arranged in a standard operating fashion. The flowers are sent out to bloom later in the customers home.

Then, there are Floral Designers. These are people who start from scratch, envision a color palette and the recipe for the piece, then special order the exact flowers that they want for the event. They are typically only working events and special orders, so they will have minimums. That is because they have a minimum to purchase from a wholesaler when getting custom orders instead of market flowers. (They are a business too, so they should be getting your products directly from the farms.) Then these arrangements are created as if they are art. Each centerpiece, bouquet, and installation is carefully crafted to not only look amazing, but to be at it’s peak in bloom. The pieces need to last out of water, or with minimal water, for hours. There is a very specific knowledge of mechanics that is needed in order to create these items, for example: nothing I make is in a “vase” they are all in different vessels and mechanics. ( Mechanics: tools and water sources that are not meant to be seen, but provide armature to flowers so they may survive transport and possibly be suspended at different angles)


Now, let’s talk pricing. You should know, every style has a different cost. We know that if we go to a fast-food restaurant, we are getting “cheaper” food, and then if it is a fine-dining restaurant, it’s more expensive. Everything in our world is like this. So are flowers. Then, you pay for the actual person who is designing the look of your wedding flowers. Different skills/experience has different cost. Do your math first, know what you want to spend for your overall wedding budget. Let’s assume 50K for this example. If you really like flowers, then you will want to save 15% of that for floral, but you will be making compromises on other areas/vendors to get to spend that $7500. $7500 will mean your tables are nicely decorated with low, medium arrangements and candles. You have all of the personal flowers and then a minimal but nice ceremony set-up. (using the average of 150 guests) Reminder, you are paying for a staff of people to create all of this, spend hours loading it all up early in the morning, setting it all up at your venue, coming back late at night to clean it all up, then cleaning all of the items they used that next week. They will work a lot of hours on wedding day, this cost has to remain front of mind, because the execution needs people and people deserve to be paid for their work. It’s never “just flowers” as we hear frequently 🙂



Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, and the last thing you want to worry about is whether your flowers will be alive and secure. By choosing Satin & Stems, you are entrusting your floral arrangements to professionals who prioritize your peace of mind. Our goal is to alleviate stress and allow you to focus on enjoying your special day. We handle all aspects of the floral design process, from initial consultation to final installation, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience. While it may be tempting to cut costs on wedding flowers, investing in quality offers long-term benefits. High-quality floral arrangements not only enhance the aesthetic of your wedding but also help to create lasting memories. The beauty of your flowers will be captured in photographs and cherished for years to come.
Image credits: top to bottom
Katherine Mei Photography, Van Elk Photography, Alison Mae Photography, Heather Sherrill Photography, Katherine Mei Photography