There are many factors that affect the cost of a floral design.

The amount of flowers in any given design will affect the price. The more flowers an arrangement has, the higher the cost will be. A bouquet that is half flowers and half foliage will likely be less expensive than a bouquet that is only flowers. An installation that is primarily foliage will in most instances be less expensive than one that has lots of flowers. Be aware that exotic foliage that needs to be imported will drive up the price (versus locally-grown or foraged foliage).

The type of flower utilized affects your cost. A sunflower costs less than a garden rose. A cosmo costs less than a ranunculus. Sourcing flowers in season and from local farmers can help reduce the costs. If you want a flower that isn’t in season or that isn’t grown nearby, your florist will need to place a special order (overnight shipping fees of fresh goods are often substantial). Also be aware that a fuller, fluffier design isn’t always more expensive than a sleeker, simpler design. Generally, fluffy filler flowers that bulk up an arrangement are much less expensive than focal and accent flowers. Caveat: fluffy filler flowers like baby’s breath aren’t easy to work with and require a lot more hands-on time than single-stem focal flowers, which will add to your labor charge.

The scale of an arrangement or installation will affect your price as well; for example, a 3' long installation on a corner of an arbor will cost less than a full arbor wrap.

Keep in mind, too, that when you hire a professional florist, you aren’t just paying for flowers. You are also paying for:

• creative vision

• expertise + experience

• time spent obtaining quotes, sourcing floral ingredients, and writing proposals

• time spent conditioning (preparing) flowers to be utilized in arrangements

• time spent cleaning and preparing vases

• time and money spent sourcing supplies/hard goods

• storage costs for fresh flowers and vases/supplies/hard goods/mechanics

• equipment/tools-of-the-trade maintenance

• delivery and pick-up

• time spent arranging flowers in the studio and on-site at your venue

• assistant fees

Don’t hesitate to share your vision with your florist. Show off that mood board! Your florist will be able to give you an accurate quote on replicating your favorite designs, and can also offer suggestions to help you save money and get more bang of your buck.