How to Price Wedding Flowers: A Step-by-Step Guide for Florists
The short answer: Most florists price wedding flowers from the bottom up: work out what the flowers and supplies in one piece cost, multiply by a markup (many florists use about 3 to 4 times cost), then add a design or labor fee, delivery and setup, and sales tax where it applies. Publishing starting prices or ranges lets couples see what to expect before they reach out.
Pricing is the part of wedding work most florists find hardest, because every couple's order is different. A repeatable method lets you price confidently, defend your numbers, and quote quickly. Here's the approach most small studios and farmer-florists land on.
1. Start with what one piece costs you
Price each item, such as a bridal bouquet, a boutonnière or a low centerpiece, from its recipe: the stems and supplies that go into one of them.
- Flowers and greenery: stems × cost per stem. Cost per stem is the bunch price divided by the stems in a bunch.
- Mechanics and supplies: tape, wire, floral foam or chicken wire, pins, ribbon and wrap.
- The vessel if the couple keeps it, or a rental charge if you take it back.
- A breakage buffer: many florists order about 5 to 15 percent extra stems for damage and shrinkage.
| Ingredient | Qty | Cost each | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden roses | 6 | $3.00 | $18.00 |
| Ranunculus | 6 | $2.20 | $13.20 |
| Spray roses | 5 | $1.80 | $9.00 |
| Lisianthus | 5 | $2.00 | $10.00 |
| Greenery | – | – | $8.00 |
| Ribbon and mechanics | – | – | $4.00 |
| Cost of one bouquet | $62.20 | ||
If you grow your own flowers, don't count them as free. Price homegrown stems at what you could sell them for at wholesale or retail; that's what they're worth to your business.
2. Choose a markup
Multiply your cost by a markup to cover overhead (your studio, cooler, vehicle, insurance and software) and profit. Many florists use about 3 to 4 times their cost for flowers and supplies. Wedding work, with consultations, timelines and on-site setup, usually sits at the higher end. Pick one markup, use it consistently, and revisit it once a year.
3. Add design and labor
There are two common ways to charge for your time:
- Build it into the markup. Your item prices are all-in, which is simple for couples.
- Charge a separate design fee, often around 10 to 25 percent of the flower total. This makes your labor visible: consultations, processing, design time and mechanics.
Either works. Just don't do both, or you'll be pricing your time twice.
4. Price delivery, setup and teardown separately
Logistics vary more than flowers do, so most florists list them on their own:
- Delivery: a flat fee for your area, or a per-mile charge for longer trips.
- Setup: a flat fee or an hourly rate for installing arches, aisles and centerpieces.
- Teardown and rental pickup: late-night or next-day strikes are real work, so price them.
5. Set a wedding minimum
A minimum protects your busiest dates from orders too small to justify the day. Put it on your price list and your inquiry form so couples know before they reach out.
6. Publish ranges, not single prices
Couples want a ballpark. Ranges give one without boxing you in: a low centerpiece "$50–$90" covers a bud-vase cluster through a lush compote. Use "priced by quote" for one-off installations like hanging pieces or aisle meadows. Showing prices up front, or better, an instant estimate as couples pick items, means the couples who contact you already know your range.
Example wedding flower price list
An example starting point for a small studio, used as the starter price list in I Do Wedding Florals. Prices vary widely by region, season and style, so adjust them to your market.
| Item | Example price |
|---|---|
| Bridal bouquet | $150–$250 |
| Bridesmaid bouquet | $65–$95 |
| Boutonnière | $15–$20 |
| Corsage | $25–$35 |
| Flower crown | $45 |
| Arch or arbor arrangement | $200–$450 |
| Altar arrangement | $125–$250 |
| Aisle markers (each) | $25–$60 |
| Bud vase | $10–$15 |
| Low centerpiece | $50–$90 |
| Tall centerpiece | $125–$225 |
| Sweetheart table garland | $150–$300 |
| Aisle meadows and installations | By quote |
Putting it together: a worked example
- The bridal bouquet above costs $62.20 to make.
- At a 3.5× markup that's $217.70. Round it to a clean $225.
- Price the rest of the order the same way. Say the flowers total $1,800.
- Add a 15 percent design fee ($270), delivery and setup (for example $125), then sales tax where your state requires it.
Write the numbers into your proposal line by line. Couples trust a clear, itemized total far more than a single lump sum.
Frequently asked questions
What markup do florists use for wedding flowers?
Many florists mark flowers and supplies up about 3 to 4 times their cost. Some build design time into that markup; others use a lower markup and charge a separate design fee, often around 10 to 25 percent of the flower total.
Should a wedding florist charge a design fee?
A separate design fee makes the labor visible and keeps item prices simpler. It covers consultations, processing flowers, design time and mechanics. If you prefer all-in prices, build the same amount into your markup instead.
How do flower farmers price wedding flowers they grow?
Price homegrown stems at what you could sell them for at wholesale or retail, not at zero. Your land, seed, time and the stems you could have sold elsewhere are real costs.
Should I show wedding flower prices on my website?
Showing starting prices or ranges helps couples decide whether you fit their budget before they contact you, so the inquiries you get are better matched. Use ranges for pieces that vary by size, and "by quote" for large installations.