Choosing your wedding flowers can feel a bit daunting, especially if you’re ‘not really a flower person’.
In this blog, I’ll take you through four steps for choosing your wedding flowers, with some top tips, to help make your day as beautiful as you could wish for. These will apply whether you choose silk flowers for your wedding or fresh.
Step 1: Your budget
Statistics show that couples will spend about 10% of their whole wedding budget on their flowers. The average cost for a wedding in the UK in 2025 stands at around £20000. According to Bridebook, you could be looking at £1000 as a minimum. This includes flowers for the ceremony or church, bridesmaids and flower girls, buttonholes/boutonnieres and reception. Of course, how much you allocate to your flowers is entirely your choice. Before you meet up with a florist to arrange a quote, it’s useful to let them know your ‘preferred’ spend (and keep your absolute maximum in mind so you can be flexible if you need to be). Contrary to popular myth, florists don’t hike up their prices ‘just because it’s a wedding’. The price will reflect the expertise, additional time and care taken to make sure that your vision is brought to life, without compromising quality.
Step 2: Your colour scheme and style
Imagine your wedding is a blank canvas, with you and your fiancé in the centre of the frame. Your colour scheme will be the background and the flowers will complete the design. What do you have in mind? A relaxed boho style? Country chic? Classic formal? Before you speak to your florist, do your research. Pinterest is a fantastic resource for ideas about colour schemes, table décor, bouquet styles, and so on. Once you have a clear idea of the sort of style you are looking for, you will be able to have really productive discussions with your florist.
Step 3: Choosing your florist
Word of mouth is always a good way of finding a florist who will give you excellent service and stunning results, so ask your friends. Is there a florist who is local to your venue? Does your venue recommend a florist? Create a shortlist of florists and make appointments to speak at least two or three. Look through their portfolios, and get a sense of their expertise.
TOP TIP: Do you like the florist as a person? Working closely with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable will only add to your stress! Sometimes, small is better. Your local florist will give a really personal service and allocate the time needed exclusively to you.
Share your favourite examples from the internet, maybe sketches or photos of your dress and the dresses of your bridesmaids. Talk about your table plans, whether they will be round or long, as this will impact on the sort of table décor you have. Make sure you let your florist know what flowers you don’t like. All these can help the florist guide you, and to give a realistic quote based on what is possible for the season, and in line with their expertise.
Florists get booked really quickly so I recommend you book at least six months in advance.
TOP TIP: Preparing flowers for a wedding and reception is detailed and time consuming work. If a florist has several weddings booked around the same time as your date, consider choosing someone else. You want to trust that you will be their priority leading up to and including your big day.
TOP TIP: Flowers with a strong perfume may make you sneeze! Be careful of dried grasses. Pampas can shed dusty bits which are a nuisance and can also be a problem for people with allergies.
Step 4: Making it personal
Increasingly, couples are looking for florals that have meaning for them both. A particular colour, certain flowers, or maybe a special setting, can all add to the magic of the day. One bride I know wants orange flowers as a tribute to a much loved relative. Another couple asked for lilies in memory of babies they had lost.
I am an incurable romantic and I love the idea of constructing a bouquet that gives a message through the ancient meanings of the flowers. Some flowers have mixed meanings, both positive and negative. I prefer to focus on the positive; that’s what starting a new life together is all about, after all!
What about silk flowers?
Another growing trend! Couples are seriously considering artificial bouquets and arrangements. Being conscious of how they spend their wedding budget, they are looking for longevity with quality. Quality silk flowers today are ultra realistic and vibrant, and the range (irrespective of the season) is huge. They are also versatile, can be reused and repurposed after the wedding, and can be used alongside fresh flowers. They open up sustainable and affordable options for couples to consider.
Finally, be guided by your florist and be prepared to compromise. Many couples have ideas that are simply not possible within their budget. That doesn’t mean you can’t have your dream wedding. Your florist will go above and beyond to make sure everything is as beautiful as it can be.
How can I help you?
If you’re curious about choosing silk flowers for your wedding, why not book a 30 minute free discovery call with me? Simply click HERE. You can use the online calendar to book your chosen day and time (It’s towards the end of the page so keep scrolling down!) I look forward to have a chat and learning a bit about your ideas for choosing your wedding flowers
Any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me on sue@maldenadwilde.com .
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