A Practical Wedding Budget Breakdown

Planning a wedding is a big financial investment, you need to understand how to go about allocating your budget wisely. This can make all the difference. 

From venue costs to unexpected expenses, you can use this guide to help you create a realistic wedding budget. This will ensure that you have a memorable day without financial stress.

Setting Your Wedding Budget

The first step in wedding planning is determining what your overall budget will be. Consider factors such as personal savings, and any contributions from family.

Think about any additional income sources you may have. You must be realistic about what you can afford and prioritise expenses.

You can do this based on what matters most to you and your partner. Since venue and catering are often the biggest expenses, it is a good idea to allocate at least forty percent of your budget to this.

Other important areas you must consider include photography, attire, as well as décor. You should also think about entertainment and miscellaneous costs. 

Having a clear financial plan from the very start is going to help you stay on track. You will also be able to avoid unnecessary stress.

Essential Wedding Costs

A significant portion of your budget will go toward the venue for the wedding. You will also need to have money to provide food and beverages for all your guests.

In addition to the venue rental and catering services, you must consider costs such as service fees, and any additional rentals needed. 

These additional rentals may be tables, chairs, and linens. Photography and videography are also essential. They can help you to capture memories that will last a lifetime. Hiring a professional photographer and videographer will likely account for about ten to fifteen percent of your entire budget.

Why Wedding Insurance is a Smart Investment

One often overlooked aspect of wedding budgeting is wedding insurance. This type of insurance is a necessity as it protects your investment from unforeseen circumstances.

These may be supplier cancellations, extreme weather, or even medical emergencies that may force a postponement of the wedding. 

Often a basic policy can cover lost deposits if a supplier decides to back out. More comprehensive plans may include coverage for property damage or even illness-related cancellations. 

Given the financial commitment that you get from a wedding, getting some insurance is a small but worthwhile expense that will give you peace of mind.

Planning for Hidden and Unexpected Costs

Even with careful planning, unexpected expenses will often arise. Setting aside five to ten percent of your budget as a contingency fund is always a smart strategy. 

Service fees and gratuities can often be overlooked when budgeting. Some wedding suppliers may include them in their contracts while others will expect tips separately. 

Wedding attire may require multiple fittings as well as alterations, and this can increase costs as well.

Weather-related costs can also arise, especially if you’re hosting your wedding outdoors. Renting tents, purchasing last-minute umbrellas, or having to adjust your plans due to unexpected weather conditions will lead to some additional costs.

The Cost of Wedding Flowers

Choosing the flowers for a wedding should be one of the most enjoyable parts of the planning process, because it’s all about the pretty! Without enough information though about what flowers cost, it can and does lead to a huge amount of confusion and misunderstanding for florists and couples alike. Apart from the cost of buying a home, the cost of a wedding can be one of the biggest expenses a couple will have in their lives; and flowers can be a big chunk of that!

The very nature of weddings is that no two are the same. Some couples spend eye watering amounts of money on flowers, and when those jobs come along, they’re incredible. Then again, there are couples who cut back and question everything until there’s hardly anything left. I think that Covid showed us that the days when you had to invite a hundred people to your wedding are gone. Elopement and small scale weddings have flourished, and I absolutely love flowering these intimate celebrations. An unexpected bonus for me has been that couples are often prepared to spend more money on flowers because they have fewer guests! Of course they still want heir wedding to look beautiful, and are prepared to pay for it.

Before social media there was very limited floral inspiration. Brides bought a wedding magazine or went to their local flower shop and chose from a catalogue of commercially produced styles. The designs and flowers available were limited, and I would often hear a bride say “I’ll have that one in peach”.  Today couples rarely turn to magazines, instead finding their inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest, gorgeously saturated with an endless stream of blousy, flower heavy weddings.

So what do wedding flowers cost? Well they actually cost serious money!It’s not just a case of, I pay pennies and charge pounds. It’s wonderful that we now have an abundance of seasonally grown British flowers, but this seasonality has to be supported with imported flowers from Holland and around the world to maintain year round supply. For all growers production costs have increased dramatically, and as those costs are inevitably passed on to florists, we have to pass them on to our clients.

The most important reason however, is like everyone else, we are in business to make money. All florists work to earn a decent living, pay our bills and provide employment for the myriad of people involved in keeping our industry going.

When it comes to money, my best advice about budgeting for your flowers is, be honest with your florist about how much you are comfortable spending, and be realistic about your expectations. From personal experience I know that this can save a lot of time and embarrassment later on.

A good rule of thumb is to allocate 10%. of the overall wedding budget, depending on your guest numbers, flowers used, number of arrangements and work involved. It’s not set in stone, but it is a very useful figure to bear in mind.

So what can we get for our money? Well a budget of £500 will realistically cover flowers for the bridal party (bouquets for the bride, 3 bridesmaids and buttonholes). £1000 will allow for additional ceremony flowers that could also be repurposed for the reception, and £1500 upwards for more complex designs. If however you’re thinking of arches and hanging installations, then you’ll be looking upwards of £5000. Some florists have a minimum spend, others don’t, but do remember certain flowers (like peonies and those gorgeous garden roses) are always more expensive. The unglamorous costs of hire items, transport, petrol and staff wages all have to be factored in, and can increase the final bill dramatically.

I spend many months preparing for a wedding, sometime more than a year. The run up to a wedding can involve months of site visits, design meetings, quotes, re quotes, adjustments and mock ups of final designs. A wedding day for me can have a 4 a.m. start to prepare the bridal flowers before a full day on site, and then clearance the day after. All this work has to be costed into the final fee.

To fully appreciate what goes into turning your ideas into reality, please bear in mind that professional florists are highly skilled, passionate creatives who work incredibly hard (often unsung and behind the scenes) to make a couple’s day look amazing, and what they do is reflected as the cost of wedding flowers.

Time To Get Planning...

Well the Christmas decorations are all packed away, and it’s time to start planning the year ahead. If you’re recently engaged, or already in the throes of organising your wedding, then now is the perfect time to get all your suppliers in place to create the wedding of your dreams.

Couples often ask me how far in advance they should think about booking their florist. My answer is always the same…as soon as possible. If you find a supplier you like, please don’t wait to make that decision, book them as soon as you can, or someone else will!

There is no set time line of course, and some couples like to be incredibly organised and get all their suppliers booked 18 months in advance, while others make their choices a couple of months before. They downside to that though is people not being available.

So where do you start? Well there’s nothing like personal recommendation and word of mouth. Your wedding venue will probably have a list of tried and tested suppliers, so why not make that your first port of call? Over the years I’ve built wonderful working relationships with many venues, and it’s a real compliment to be a trusted colleague.

Weddings are what I love to do, so if you’d like to talk flowers for this year and 2026, please do get in touch. I’m here to help!

Photography by Sarah Gawler

How to Be The Best Maid of Honour

Being a maid of honour is a big responsibility. From helping the bride prepare for her big day, to planning the hen do and bridal shower, and ensuring everything goes smoothly! So if you want to be a brilliant maid of honour possible, here are some great these tips.

Be Organised

One of the most important things you can do as a maid of honor is to be organised. This means keeping track of all the details leading up to the wedding, including RSVPs, supplier contracts, and even smaller things like wedding cravats. Creating a spreadsheet or Google Doc is a great way to stay on top of everything.

Another crucial part of being organised is making sure you’re communicating with all the other members of the bridal party. Exchange contact information with everyone so that you can easily get in touch if anything comes up. Also, be sure to set up a meeting with the bride before the wedding to go over any last-minute details. This is your chance to ask any questions and make sure you’re on the same page.

Be A Good Listener

Being a good listener vital, as the bride will have all sorts of questions and concerns leading up to the big day. Try to be a calming influence as much as possible, and to lend a listening ear and offer advice when needed.

You should also pay attention to the type of person the bride is. Some brides like to plan every last detail themselves, while others prefer to delegate tasks. Be sure to respect her wishes and follow her lead. Lastly, include other members of the bridal party. If there are any disagreements, try to resolve them in a calm and rational manner.

How To Plan The Bridal Shower

When it comes to planning the bridal shower, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, consult with the bride on her vision for the event. For example, does she want a small and intimate gathering or a large party? Once you have an idea of what she is looking for, start planning the guest list and sending out invitations.

As far as the actual event goes, be sure to plan something that everyone will enjoy. Games, food, and drinks are always a good choice. Just be sure to avoid any controversial topics (such as ex-boyfriends) that could ruin the mood. Planning a bridal shower can be a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun! Just remember to stay organised, be a good listener, and respect the wishes of the bride.

Have Fun!

Remember, the most important thing is to have fun! This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so savour every moment. From dress shopping to attending pre-wedding parties, make sure to enjoy yourself. The bride will appreciate your positive attitude, and it will help reduce any stress she may be feeling.

By following these tips, you can be the best maid of honor possible! So just relax and enjoy the ride – the bride will thank you for it.

How To Make Your Wedding (Even More) Memorable

There is so much to consider when planning your wedding and making sure it’s the day you’ve always hoped it would be. From choosing the music to deciding on a theme, it can feel as though there’s just too much to do! You want it to be a day that your guests will remember as much as you do, and while the day is supposed to be all about you; it’s still worth considering how to make your wedding even more memorable. Here are a few ideas to consider. 

Destination Wedding 

Couples choose to have a destination wedding for a reason. because it's a place that means something to them. They may also feel it’s more meaningful to have all their friends and family together in one place. Another benefit is that they can be cheaper than the traditional wedding. It’s also a great way to make sure your wedding is memorable. It gives your guests the chance to visit somewhere they may not have been before, and if they have, it gives them the chance to reconnect with a place they loved.

That’s Entertainment

Weddings can be about more than dancing once the speeches and meals are finished. If you want to give your guests something to remember, entertainment is an excellent choice. There are plenty of entertainment options to consider, with troupes or stunts, or simply finishing the night with some fireworks. It also gives people a nice break from dancing their socks off, and you might even be happy that the pressure is taken off you for a few minutes

A Visual Treat 

It’s safe to say that every wedding looks stunning in its own way. If however you’re someone who loves to go big rather than go home, you can treat your guests to a visual treat by embracing bold colours and decor that represents everything about you and your partner. You can choose to match or contrast the decor with the venue. So, if you’re looking for a retro feel, custom Little Pineapple Neon signs are a great way to make a statement which you can keep after the wedding is over. For something subtle, modest but effective rustic styles for a farmhouse-style wedding will also make your touch immediately obvious.

Fun Themes 

Every wedding has a theme, but most themes are simply colour schemes or consistent fabrics. If you want to take this a step further, you can embrace something you and your partner love. 

Referencing pop culture or encouraging people to enjoy the day casually by ditching formal wedding wear can help loosen people up. With this, it becomes less of a traditional wedding and more of a party, which more and more people are considering. 

One to Remember 

Everyone who matters will remember your wedding, but if you want to take this to the next level, any of these ideas will make your big day the best anyone has ever attended. Whether you get married in front of a stunning natural backdrop or want to have a bit of fun with your nearest and dearest, think about how these ideas can transform your big day.