Find the Best Wedding Florists & Wedding Flowers (2024)

Wedding Florists:

Everything You Need to Know

As time-honored symbols of true love and rebirth, beautiful wedding flowers are absolutely essential to any wedding. But when you're selecting a wedding florist, it's important to get it right, especially if you are looking for one who can create an ornate floral design for weddings.

Your wedding florist should be attuned to your preferences as well as what makes you unique as a couple. That way, yourwedding flowers will be as personal and expressive as the rest of your special day. If you need wedding flower ideas, you can also peruse our library of wedding galleries or directory of local florists to get an idea of what you’d like on your big day.

What Do You Need to Know About Wedding Florists?

Choosing your wedding florist is among the most important tasks in planning your ceremony and reception. It can also be one of the most rewarding. The first step is to identify the best wedding florists for you and your venue.

We’re here tosimplify finding the right wedding florist with our robust gallery of wedding flower imagery. Taking a look at photos of wedding flower arrangements and the most popular wedding flowers on our website is a good way to get started. You can find the contact information for the florists from your favorite weddings right there,so you don’t have to waste time trying to figure out how to track down the wedding florist.

Seeing wedding flowers that were featured in past weddings can inspire you with wonderful wedding flower ideas for your own. Photos help you focus on the ways that flowers help you express your style as a couple. Are you into a cool moody vibe with deep burgundy calla lilies and jewel-toned ranunculus? Or are you more bright and cheery with pink peonies and tulips? Browsing through wedding flower imagery will help you get a better idea of what exactly you are looking for. With so many different types of blooms, taking the time to note your favorite wedding flower ideas can prove helpful.

Together, you can hone in on wedding florists who can translate your unique aesthetic into wedding flower arrangements at a reasonable cost. Whether you love traditional wedding flowers or prefer the most popular wedding flowers currently trending, bookmark the best wedding florists who suit your style, then reach out to learn more.

How Do You Find Wedding Florists?

Before you decide on a wedding florist, or select one only based on cost, it’s important that you spend some time researching your options before picking a wedding florist out of the hat.

Engaged couples looking for the best wedding florist for their vision and budget often rely on the recommendations of friends and family. Maybe your cousin had a lovely hanging floral chandelier at her wedding. Perhaps the ceremony flowers at your best friend's wedding were unforgettable. Or maybe you went to a friend’s church wedding and adored their wedding ceremony arch. Since you’re shopping for wedding florists, it is wise to focus on vendors who specifically specialize in wedding floral design. Compare their fees to the average wedding flowers cost in your geographic region.

What parts of a wedding have flowers?

You might be wondering: what portion of my wedding should include wedding flowers? Wedding flowers are a welcome sight at every stage of your nuptials, including pre-events and your final getaway. Essentials like the bridal bouquet and the groom boutonniere are givens, as well as wedding ceremony flowers. Bridesmaids bouquets and groomsmen boutonnieres are also to be expected. But there are so many more opportunities! Potential settings for wedding flower arrangements include:

Wedding Ceremony Flowers:

In general, your wedding ceremony is the traditional setting for your wedding flower arrangements, and one of the places where they shine.Wedding ceremony flowers can help establish the wedding aesthetic the moment guests walk through the doors, not to mention beautify the space. Whether you decide to go all out with a ceremony arch of flowers or keep it simple with a couple of floral urns, they will be the perfect addition to your wedding ceremony. In addition to groom boutonnieres and bridal bouquets, be sure to discuss arrangements for the following locations with your wedding florist:

Ceremony Aisle:Fresh wedding aisle flowers are a fabulous way to highlight your pathway to the altar. Options include sprays of flowers on the end of each seating row or a few larger floor displays on each side of the aisle.
Wedding Ceremony Arch or a Floral Chuppah: Another opportunity for floral decor, the wedding ceremony arch or chuppah you stand beneath can be beautifully adorned with flowers. Since this setting will be center stage throughout your ceremony, let your wedding florists lavish it with lovely blooms.In addition, wedding arch flowers or a floral wedding chuppah are a unique, beautiful background for the pictures that will be taken during your vows.
Bridal Bouquet: The bridal bouquet is the most important wedding flower arrangement of them all—even more so than the groom boutonniere (sorry, guys). Many brides have their bridal bouquets dried after their wedding, or otherwise preserved as a keepsake for their sentimental value. The bride’s wedding bouquet is typically grander than any of the other arrangements carried by the wedding party.
Bridesmaids Bouquets: Smaller and less elaborate than the bridal bouquet, these are essentially the bridesmaids flowers. Just because they’re less complicated than the bridal bouquet doesn’t make them any less stunning, however. These wedding bouquets should pick up the colors of the bridesmaids’ dresses or the wedding colors if those are different. Mothers’ Wedding Bouquets: Wedding flowers for the couple’s mothers can be smaller versions of the bridesmaids bouquets. Some couples prefer to have their wedding florists create small, handheld wedding bouquets to honor their mothers. More often, they opt for wrist or pin-on wedding flower corsages that match each mother’s wedding attire. You can ask your wedding florist for insight regarding the mother’s wedding bouquet.
Groom Boutonnieres: Your wedding florist can suggest a groom boutonniere style that fits the occasion. Groom boutonnieres are more understated miniature arrangements that are adhered to the lapel of the suit or tuxedo jacket.. They should be in keeping with the color palette or theme of the event. Often a groom boutonniere includes a stem or two that is also in the bridal bouquet.
Other Wedding Party Boutonnieres: Don’t forget about your groomsmen! Groomsmen boutonnieres add a personal touch to the groomsmen’s suits. Another reason why groomsmen boutonnieres are an excellent addition is that they make the wedding party appear more visually cohesive. And, of course, groomsmen boutonnieres help keep the aesthetic of the wedding evident throughout the ceremony.These can all be similar to the groom boutonniere or tie into the bridesmaids bouquets.

Wedding Reception Flowers:

Creative opportunities for wedding florists abound at a wedding reception. Sprays of wedding flowers and dazzling wedding bouquets can go anywhere that guests gather.

co*cktail Hour Flowers: Wedding flowers are a perfect way to tie in your co*cktail hour with the wedding itself. They can also be used to dress up a space.
Escort Card Table Flowers: Your guests will be stopping to pick up their escort cards indicating where they are seated, so it’s a lovely opportunity to have wedding flowers wafting delightful scents as they walk up to the table. You can even ask your wedding florist to attach a scaled-down version of the groom boutonnieres to each place card.
Wedding Table Flowers: Each guest table should be decorated with wedding flowers—if you’re going to prioritize the area of your reception, your wedding table flowers are it. You and your wedding florist can put your heads together to decide if you want a floral centerpiece, a long garland, or scattered bud vases at and in between each place setting. When it comes to wedding flowers, there are plenty of different options, so choose the one that works the best with your venue, wedding aesthetic, budget.
Reception Entrance Flowers: Give a warm welcome to the celebration by adorning the tent or room entrance with eye-catching flowers similar to those in your wedding bouquets. You could even echo the wedding arch flowers from your ceremony with a similar floral at the entrance to your venue.
Bar Flowers: Another popular stop during most receptions, the bar is a great spot for wedding flowers too. You may want just a pair of vases with miniature wedding bouquets (you can even repurpose your bridesmaids flowers), placing one at each end of the bar, so they’re not in the way of this busy area. You can ask your wedding florist for suggestions about how to incorporate wedding flowers into the bar area in a way that isn’t too overwhelming.
Stage/Dance Floor Flowers: A splashy wedding flower arrangement dresses up a stage or dance floor like nothing else can. Pro tip: you may even be able to repurpose your ceremony aisle flowers to line the stage or dance floor!

How Much Do Wedding Flowers Cost?

In the three years leading up to the pandemic, the average American wedding cost about $25,800. The average cost for wedding flowers was approximately $2,000. That’s just under 10 percent of the average overall budget. However, the wedding florist cost is a worthy expense. When you are allocating money to spend on your wedding, be sure to make factoring in the cost of flowers a priority

You might be wondering how much you should expect to spend on wedding flowers, or what that cost is dictated by.The best wedding florists will communicate this with you.Several factors determine the total cost of wedding flowers. The most influential include:

The number and size of the wedding bouquets and wedding flower arrangements in your order
The type of flowers you select for your bridal bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets, and wedding flower arrangements
Large wedding flower ideas like a flower wall or ceiling installation

Tips for Paring Down your Wedding Flowers Cost

Even if you have a below-average budget but want beautiful blooms on your big day, there are wedding flower ideas that will help you stay within budget and bring your vision to life. Wedding florists have many strategies for staying within your budget. They can use flowers that are local and in season for each wedding bouquet. They can stretch your budget by adding more greenery to fill in larger elements like a ceremony arch or a floral wedding chuppah. If necessary, your wedding florist can reuse and repurpose your ceremony wedding flower arrangements and wedding bouquets into wedding reception flowers. For example, you can askyour wedding florists to relocate yourwedding aisle flowers to specific spots at your reception venue, like the dance floor or bar. You could even have your attendants place their bridesmaids bouquets in vases on the banquet tables to complete the scene. These are all ways you could reduce the overall wedding florist cost.

If you foresee the need to economize on your wedding flowers cost even further, be sure to discuss it in advance with your wedding florists. You don’t want to be surprised when you get the bill.That way, the wedding florist you choose to work with will be on the same page. The total for wedding bouquets, bridal bouquet, and other wedding flower arrangements will then come in closer to your estimated wedding flowers cost.

What to Know About Budgeting for Wedding Flowers

In addition to selecting the ideal wedding florist, you should consider the average cost of wedding flowers when you are working on a wedding budget. You will also want to consider the typical wedding florist cost in your area. The wide range of wedding flowers cost starts at a few hundred dollars and soars into the thousands. The amount couples spend on wedding flowers is typically around eight percent of the total wedding budget.

You should also keep in mind that the average cost of wedding flowers will vary depending on where you are geographically located. Where you live can significantly influence the average wedding flowers cost, as well as the complexity of the wedding flowers design you are seeking, and rarity of the types of wedding flowers you want.

Keep in mind that the best wedding florist can provide wedding flower ideas for specific venues and seasons. Once you lock in your wedding venue, look for a wedding florist who has created wedding flower arrangements for events at that location. Even if your venue is new and you’re the first couple to get married there, you can view photos of wedding flowers at similar types of locations.

As mentioned, you should allocate a percentage of your overall wedding budget for wedding flowers. Wedding flowers can cost a significant amount of money, especially if you live in a city that has a higher cost of living. The average cost of wedding flowers will range depending on what you want, however, so you can discuss what works for your budget with your wedding florist. In addition, there might be some room for flexibility on whether you come in above or below the average wedding flowers cost. Together, you can make small changes in your wedding flower arrangement order without sacrificing the beautiful sights and heavenly scents you’ve always dreamed of.

When speaking with wedding florists whose work you like, be sure to ask them about how they manage the budget for floral design for weddings. Of course, if you want a wedding ceremony arch made of wedding flowers, or another specialty item, you can expect your budget to be a bit higher, but you’ll need a wedding florist who is honest about that. Ask how their prices compare to the average wedding flowers cost. You’ll find that the best wedding florists are flexible, and will discuss ways you both can be happy with the end result at any budget.

What Are the Most Popular Wedding Flowers?

Floral trends change over time, sometimes with the seasons. Wedding flowers are no different. However, some blooms could be considered the most popular wedding flowers. Traditionalists might prefer mainstays like lily of the valley in a wedding bouquet or pink peonies for bridesmaids flowers. A trend-forward couple might choose a wedding bouquet of calla lilies or dried hydrangeas instead, integrating them into their wedding arch flowers as well.

According to top wedding florists,orchids are one of the popular wedding flower ideas currently trending for wedding bouquets, bridesmaids flowers, and groom boutonnieres. Tried-and-true wedding bouquet favorites holding strong include peonies, whose large, fluffy blooms are standouts in bridal bouquets and as wedding table flowers—but have a short season. The following distinctive blossoms are wedding florist favorites for wedding bouquets, bridesmaids flowers, the groom boutonniere, groomsmen boutonnieres, wedding chuppah flowers, wedding arch flowers, and wedding table flowers:

Lily of the Valley: This elegant flower gained popularity as it was included in many a royal wedding bouquet. It also is an excellent choice for bridesmaids flowers.
Calla Lilies: These wedding flowers are available in an array of colors and have gracefully fluted stems for showy statements in wedding bouquets, particularly for modern weddings.
Hydrangea: Whether you opt for sky blue or white hydrangea, these lovely pastel traditional wedding flowers add delicate volume for fabulous bridal bouquets and bridesmaids flowers.
Peonies: These blooms are traditional wedding flowers for late spring or early summer weddings due to their short season, so if you are getting married in June, you will be lucky enough to incorporate these into your wedding bouquets for a romantic touch.
Ranunculus: With paper-thin petals wrapped in tight spirals and long, bending stems, these wedding flowers offer lots of color choices for bridesmaids bouquets.
Dahlias: These late summer—early fall blossoms range in size from a dime to dinner plate, so no matter what you’re looking to use them for, you’re sure to find the perfect dahlia arrangement with the help of your wedding florist. These blooms are also available in lots of bold colors brighten up your wedding bouquet and wedding table flowers.
Carnations: With their spicy scent and a rainbow of colors, these make the perfect wedding arch flowers. In addition, carnations are one of the most popular wedding flowers as accents in bridesmaids bouquets and are also ideal for groom boutonnieres or groomsmen boutonnieres.
Sunflowers: These bright, warm flowers are lovely for rustic fall wedding bouquets, and they’re hardy enough to decorate a wedding ceremony arc. You can also work with your wedding florist to create a stunning wedding chuppah that incorporates sunflowers.
Daisies: These delicate blooms are picture-perfect for meadow or rustic country weddings, adding a pure and simple touch to a beautiful wedding bouquet.

While it’s good to have an idea of what you like, before you get your heart set on any particular flowers for your bridal bouquet and wedding ceremony arc, check in with your vendor. Wedding florists know what will be in season, which will help in keeping your wedding flowers cost more reasonable. Nearby availability translates into savings, plus you can depend upon having particular flowers available for your bridal bouquet.

Do Certain Types of Wedding Flowers Have Hidden Meanings?

Keep in mind that many traditional wedding flowers are filled withsentimental significance that you might want to consider when selecting blossoms for your wedding bouquets and your wedding chuppah or wedding arch flowers. Here are some of the hidden meanings of wedding flowers that you might incorporate into your wedding floral design.

Roses are among the most-mentioned flowers in poetry, Shakespearean dramas, and popular songs. They symbolize love and romance, with the red rose also conveying passion.
Magnolias communicate a love of nature and the rebirth of spring. These creamy white blossoms are fragile yet filled with hidden meaning, making them another perfect wedding flower.
Dahlias are symbolic of pride, dignity, and inner strength. With their size and color variations, they are ideal for artful wedding florists and events with bold palettes. They are also long-lasting, making them a good choice as a wedding chuppah flower.
Iris is a flower that conveyswisdom, trust, and valor. They add eye-catching color to bridal bouquets, wedding bouquets, tall, stately wedding flower arrangements, and wedding table flowers. Your wedding florist might suggest these flowers as the ideal wedding flowers for a ceremony aisle or arch.
Daisies exude a sense of innocence. These “I love you, I love you not” blossoms fit in perfectly with wildflowers and roses alike. Because they typically cost less than other flowers, they are a thrifty option for a larger wedding flower arrangement like a wedding ceremony arch.
Sunflowers traditionally symbolize focus and warmth, , but they also stand for constancy because they keep their faces turned to the sun. In fact,in China, sunflowers symbolize good fortune, vitality, and happiness. They add a distinctive flair to your wedding table flowers, and would also be a beautiful addition to a wedding chuppah or wedding arch flowers.
Tulips, especially red ones,symbolize true love. Since they come in a spectrum of pastels as well as brighter tones, they work great in bridal bouquets and as wedding table flowers too.
Myrtle conveys good luck and lasting fertility. It's a long-standing British tradition for British royal wedding bouquets to include a spring of myrtle.
Lavender is a statement of devotion. Because it smells outstanding, lavender makes an ideal wedding ceremony flower for grooms boutonnieres. Wedding florists incorporate lavender into bridal bouquets for some relaxing aromatherapy as well.
Chrysanthemum, a flower thatrepresents fidelity and honesty, is a must for fall weddings. Not only will it be in season, but it is a long-lasting cut flower that comes in several spicy hues.
Daffodils stand for a fresh start, so they work well for second weddings, weddings after illness or loss, or any early spring nuptials. Ask your wedding florist to include them in your bridesmaids bouquets, wedding table flowers, and wedding reception flowers.
Lily of the Valley blossoms signify purity, happiness, and good luck. These tiny little delicate white bells fit right in with any wedding theme and provide lovely accents to wedding flower arrangements. An entire bouquet of lily of the valley is a traditional look we love.
Peonies symbolize bashfulness as well as romance. They are lovely in bridal bouquets, bridesmaids flowers, wedding chuppah decorations, and wedding reception flowers.
Snapdragons traditionally stand for deception, but don’t be fooled. They offer you tons of true color choices. Your wedding florist can incorporate them into wedding floral design for weddings, wedding bouquets, aisles, and a ceremony arch.
Poppies signify remembrance. They are a thoughtful touch in a wedding flower arrangement that honors those special people, such as grandparents, who are unable to attend your wedding day.
Violets are old-fashioned, sentimental blooms that stand for loyalty and faithfulness. Their delicate purple blossoms, tied with a simple ribbon, make charming bridesmaids bouquets. Their sweet scent will serve as a reminder in years to come of your celebration day.

Do Wedding Flower Colors Have Meanings?

The hues you and your wedding florist choose are alsorich in symbolism. How you apply the symbolism of traditional wedding flowers is up to you and your partner. It’s certainly something to discuss with your wedding florist, especially to infuse your floral wedding chuppah or wedding arch with special meaning:

White Wedding Flowers: purity
Pink Wedding Flowers: prosperity, platonic love, innocence, gentility, and grace
Red Wedding Flowers: passion and desire, courage and respect
Yellow Wedding Flowers: joy, friendship, and good health
Orange Wedding Flowers: warmth, enthusiasm, and good cheer
Purple Wedding Flowers: royalty, respect, admiration
Blue Wedding Flowers: peace and serenity, relaxation and intimacy

Most of your guests will likely be unaware of the sentiment tucked into each wedding flower arrangement. But if traditional wedding flower meanings resonate with you as a couple, choose your blooms accordingly. Your wedding florist will help you ensure that your wedding flowers look beautiful and are meaningful to you, too.

What else should you know about wedding flowers?

When selecting the perfect wedding flowers for your special day, you and your partner should also work with your wedding florist to consider some other factors. Here’s what you need to know before you pick your blooms for your special day.

Environment: Certain flowers do well in any climate, but others tend to wilt if your wedding florist lets them sit directly in the sun for too long. Consider your venue when selecting wedding ceremony flower varieties. For example, although you might want lilacs in your garden wedding decor, they may not be the ideal wedding chuppah flower since they wilt easily. A more hardy wedding flower, such as stock flowers, might be a better fit for a wedding chuppah flower.
Season:Looking for peonies in December or wildflowers in March is going to prove very difficult—or expensive. Finding the flowers you love out of season can be difficult because you have to source them from other parts of the globe where they are in season. Save specially-sourced, exotic stems for your bridal bouquet while using seasonal varieties for your wedding reception flowers. Your wedding florist will work with you to make the combination of seasonal blooms and exotic flowers appear cohesive.
Placement: It’s a good idea to keep strongly scented flowers such as some types of lilies away from areas where guests are eating. Strong aromas can affect the way the food tastes. If you want a scent you love wafting from your floral wedding chuppah or throughout your ceremony, your wedding florist will know the best flowers and locations to do this.
Stains: The pollen of some flowers can stain clothing or table linens. Be sure to ask your wedding florist if this could be a problem with your flower selection, especially your wedding bouquets.

Your Cordial Invitation to the Carats & Cake Wedding Planning Guide

Your wedding florist is an irreplaceable planning partner for your dream wedding. With a little creativity, and clearly expressing what you’re looking for, you can have the floral design for the wedding of your dreams. It’s important to select a wedding florist who is on the same wavelength in terms of style, creativity, and vision. You also want to take into account the budget and wedding florist cost. We invite you to find that special connection with wedding florists in your area by viewing thousands of and getting in touch with the florists from your favorite weddings.