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| Typical costs: | - The average cost for wedding flowers, including the bride's and bridesmaids' bouquets and groom's and groomsmen's boutonnieres and corsages for the mothers of the bride and groom, along with flower girl flowers, is $698, according to The Bridal Association of America.
- The bride's bouquet usually costs $50 to $150 or more - two to three times as much as the bridesmaids' bouquets, because it is larger and more ornate. The boutonnieres are much cheaper, usually about $10 or more.
- Cost depends heavily on how many flowers are used, how ornate the bouquets or decorations are, the time of year, the type of flowers used and whether they are locally grown. Simple designs with in-season, local flowers are cheapest while elaborate designs with exotic flowers shipped from far away, especially orchids, are most expensive. For example, on the low end, a simple 20-stem bride's bouquet of one type of bulb flower, such as tulips, hand-tied with a ribbon might cost $50.
- In the mid-range, a crescent bouquet with a more expensive flower such as roses or calla lilies might cost $75.
- And on the high end, a 40-stem cascading bouquet with roses, gardenias and orchids might cost $120 or more.
- OneWed.com offers a guide to the different styles of bridal bouquets.
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| What should be included: | - Most full-service florists will consult with the customer, then order, arrange and deliver the flowers to the wedding site. Set up of floral decorations is usually included. Some discount florists do not offer these services, so it is important to clarify well ahead of time. TheKnot.com has a list of questions to ask a florist.
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| Discounts: | - Tip: To save money, consider ordering your flowers online and trimming and arranging the flowers yourself. Through Internet wholesalers such as FreshRoses.com or Costco.com, it is often possible to get flowers at a steep discount from what a florist would charge. It may be helpful to order a test bunch of flowers before making a decision.
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| Shopping for wedding flowers: | - While many types of flowers are available year round, you will get the best price on in-season flowers. In the first two weeks of February, flower costs soar for Valentine's Day.
- If reducing costs is a priority, give your florist general guidelines on colors and preferred flowers, but allow her the freedom to choose the blooms that are cheapest that week.
- Weddings.About.com offers a list of ways to save money on wedding flowers.
- Ask a prospective florist to see a portfolio of past work, and consider asking for references.
- MyWedding.com offers a florist locator by city, as does The Knot.com.
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Article updated March 2007 |
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