Why Are Wedding Flowers So Expensive?
If you’ve ever received a floral quote for your wedding and felt a bit of sticker shock, you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not the first to ask, “Why are wedding flowers so expensive?” As professional florists, we hear this question often, and we understand where it comes from. Flowers are delicate, beautiful, and seemingly simple—but what goes on behind the scenes is a whole different story.
We want to pull back the curtain and share what really goes into pricing your wedding blooms. Because when you hire us for your big day, you're not just paying for flowers—you're paying for time, expertise, logistics, and hands-on care.
1. Wedding Florals Are a Labor of Love—Literally
On average, we spend 20+ hours of focused effort and planning per client—and that’s just on one event. That time includes client consultations, proposal writing, flower sourcing, ordering, processing, designing, transportation, and on-site setup (plus tear down, if required). Every single arrangement, centerpiece, altar, chuppah, and arch installation is handmade, and most of it happens within 48 hours of the event to ensure freshness.
It’s not uncommon for our team to start working at 5 a.m. on a wedding day and not finish until well after midnight. And trust us—lifting, hauling, hydrating, and arranging hundreds of blooms in unpredictable weather is no small feat.
2. The Cost of Flowers (and Getting Them to Us)
Most wedding flowers aren’t grown locally. Many come from places like Ecuador, Colombia, and the Netherlands, where they’re cultivated in controlled environments and shipped globally. That means we’re considering import costs, fuel surcharges, customs fees, tariffs, and variable shipping timelines—not to mention occasional losses due to travel damage or delays.
Even for domestic growers, pricing is impacted by seasonality, weather, and availability. Specialty blooms like garden roses, orchids, irises, or peonies often come at a premium, especially outside their natural growing seasons.
3. Designing Takes More Than a Green Thumb
Floral design is both an art and a science. It requires a deep understanding of color theory, proportion, mechanics, and movement. We aren’t just sticking flowers in a vase—we’re building structures that have to last through hours of celebration, travel, and temperature changes. Custom installations like arches, hanging pieces, or floral chandeliers involve carpentry, rigging, and engineering– not just pretty petals.
All of this takes design experience, creative vision, and meticulous planning. We often work for weeks, perfecting the vision with you before the first stem is ever cut.
4. We're a Full-Service Team, Not a Grocery Store
Unlike buying a bouquet at the grocery store, wedding florals include setup, styling, and often teardown. That means we bring tools, extra blooms for emergencies, rental items (like vases and arches), and a full team on site. We also coordinate with your planner, venue, and other vendors to make sure everything comes together seamlessly.
We love what we do, and we know flowers have a way of transforming a space and telling your story. That’s why we put our hearts (and hands!) into every petal, stem, and arrangement.
So yes, wedding flowers are a big investment. But they’re also a deeply personalized, handcrafted art form designed just for you. And we’re honored every time we get to be part of a couple’s day.
Have questions or want to talk through your event vision? Give us a call– we're always happy to chat flowers.
📞 Call us: (504) 390-0563
📧 Email: info@kimstarrwise.com
💐 Let's design something beautiful – New Orleans style!
