下午 2 點前下單即可當天送達

How to Budget for Wedding Flowers

•

admin

Wedding flowers are often one of the most visually striking parts of a wedding, but they can also become expensive if not planned carefully. This guide helps you budget smartly, make strategic choices, and maximize your floral impact without overspending.

1. Determine Your Overall Wedding Budget

Before estimating floral costs, know your total wedding budget. Your floral budget is usually 8–15% of the total wedding budget, depending on your priorities.

Example in HKD

  • Total wedding budget: HKD 200,000 → Floral budget ≈ HKD 16,000–30,000
  • Total wedding budget: HKD 500,000 → Floral budget ≈ HKD 40,000–75,000

Tip: Larger budgets often allocate a higher percentage to flowers for luxury or elaborate designs.

2. Decide Your Floral Priorities

Identify what floral elements are most important, as this determines where your money should go.

Common categories

  1. Personal Flowers
    • Bridal bouquet: usually the most expensive
    • Bridesmaid bouquets
    • Boutonnieres (for groom, groomsmen, parents)
    • Corsages (parents, grandparents)
  2. Ceremony Flowers
    • Arch or altar arrangements
    • Aisle markers or pew decor
    • Welcome area arrangements
  3. Reception Flowers
    • Table centerpieces
    • Sweetheart table or head table
    • Cake flowers
    • Buffet, bar, or lounge floral accents
  4. Installations (luxury)
    • Hanging florals or ceiling installations
    • Flower walls for photo areas
    • Elaborate staircases or arches

Tip: Categorize each as must-have, nice-to-have, or optional. This helps cut costs if needed.

3. Create a Floral Budget Breakdown

Allocate your floral budget based on priorities.

Example for HKD 50,000 floral budget

Category% of BudgetAmount (HKD)
Personal Flowers15–20%7,500–10,000
Ceremony Flowers20–30%10,000–15,000
Reception Flowers40–50%20,000–25,000
Delivery & Labor Fees10–20%5,000–10,000

Note: Labor, delivery, and rental fees can add up significantly in Hong Kong due to high manpower and logistics costs.

4. Understand What Drives Costs

A. Flower Types

  • Luxury blooms: Peonies, orchids, garden roses, ranunculus (~HKD 100–300 per stem)
  • Mid-range blooms: Roses, lilies, tulips (~HKD 50–100 per stem)
  • Budget-friendly blooms: Carnations, chrysanthemums, seasonal greenery (~HKD 20–50 per stem)
  • Tip: Seasonal and locally available flowers are cheaper. Importing flowers from overseas is often costly.

B. Design Complexity

  • Large, sculptural arrangements or elaborate installations are labor-intensive → higher costs.
  • Simple bouquets or greenery-focused designs are budget-friendly.

C. Quantity

  • More tables, bigger bridal parties, and multiple venues increase costs linearly.
  • Example: A 12-table banquet vs. 30 tables can triple centerpiece costs.

D. Labor & Logistics

  • Delivery & setup: HKD 2,000–5,000 depending on size/complexity
  • Rentals: Vases, stands, arches, candles → HKD 500–5,000
  • Teardown fees (especially for hotel venues) can be additional

5. Collect and Compare Quotes

Request quotes from at least 2–3 florists with:

  • Your budget in HKD
  • Guest count and number of tables
  • Theme or color palette
  • Specific requirements (e.g., types of flowers, installations)
  • Photos or inspiration

Be transparent about your budget. A good florist can propose options that maximize impact without exceeding your limit.

6. Compare Proposals Carefully

Check beyond total cost:

  • Number and type of blooms
  • Arrangement size and fullness
  • Number of arrangements included
  • Labor, delivery, and teardown fees
  • Rental items included (vases, stands, arches)

Tip: Some florists quote cheaper flowers but fewer arrangements, while others include more elaborate designs.

7. Strategies to Stay Within Budget

Reuse flowers

  • Move ceremony flowers to the reception tables
  • Use bridal bouquet flowers in cake decoration

Opt for in-season flowers

  • Local seasonal blooms reduce import costs by 30–50%

Choose greenery over blooms

  • Greenery is cheaper and gives volume
  • Combine with a few statement flowers for a luxe look

Simplify or reduce

  • Smaller centerpieces
  • Fewer installations or statement pieces only
  • Reduce bridal party → fewer bouquets and boutonnieres

8. Account for Hidden Costs

  • Delivery to multiple venues
  • Setup and teardown labor
  • Vase, stand, or arch rentals
  • Taxes, service charges, and tips
  • Holiday or high-demand weekend surcharges

Tip: Always ask for a full itemized estimate in HKD to avoid surprises.

9. Confirm and Sign Contract

  • Check for flower substitution policies
  • Confirm setup and teardown timeline
  • Clarify who keeps vases and rentals
  • Confirm payment schedule and cancellation terms

10. Track Your Floral Costs

Use a spreadsheet with columns like:

  • Category (Bouquet, Centerpiece, Ceremony, Installation)
  • Vendor
  • Deposit paid
  • Balance due
  • Notes (rental items, special requests)
    This ensures you don’t exceed your floral budget in HKD.

Sample Budget Examples in HKD

Small Wedding (50 guests, 5 tables)

  • Floral budget: HKD 10,000–15,000
  • Bridal bouquet + 2 bridesmaid bouquets
  • Simple ceremony flowers or small arch arrangement
  • Reception: 5 small centerpieces + a few candles

Medium Wedding (100 guests, 12 tables)

  • Floral budget: HKD 30,000–50,000
  • Full personal flowers: bride + 4–6 bridesmaids
  • Ceremony arch or altar arrangements
  • Reception: 12 medium centerpieces, head table flowers, cake decoration
  • Optional: small hanging floral installation or lounge area decor

Large or Luxury Wedding (200 guests, 25+ tables)

  • Floral budget: HKD 80,000+
  • Full coverage personal flowers
  • Ceremony: large arch + aisle florals + welcome table
  • Reception: elaborate centerpieces + sweetheart table + cake + bar and lounge florals
  • Hanging installations or flower walls for photos

Tip: In Hong Kong, luxury flowers and installations can cost 3–5x more than standard arrangements, especially for peonies or imported blooms.

Final Tips for Hong Kong Weddings

  1. Book florists early – peak seasons (spring, autumn, Christmas) fill quickly.
  2. Be flexible with flower varieties – your florist can suggest alternatives that reduce costs while keeping your look.
  3. Prioritize visual impact – focus on statement pieces instead of trying to cover every surface.
  4. Reuse wherever possible – ceremony flowers on reception tables, bouquets for cake decoration.
  5. Ask for an itemized estimate in HKD – makes budgeting and comparisons easy.