How many flowers DO I need?

Short answer: It depends on your preferences and event size. You should absolutely feel free to ask for what you prefer, not just the standard approach! And Studio Fleuraison LOVES to think outside the box, so let us help you! ANY of ideas in this post are RIGHT UP our alley, we'd love to help if you like them, too!.

Long answer: keep reading! 

1) Do you like flowers? I mean, if you don't adore blooms, you should feel free to plan a wedding with minimal or no flowers! Yes, I am saying that, as a florist. You may want to choose a venue that is aesthetically pleasing on its own, and just add lighting, or go with balloons. So many options!

2) If you DO like flowers, you will need to figure out how you want them to show up. Generally there are two main factors to consider: style and budget/event size.

3) Style considerations. 

Are you a Mid Mod fan with a house full of sleek wood furniture and want to bring your modern sculptural sensibilities to the wedding? If so, consider pin frogs or asian-inspired minimalist floral design. Styles like ikebana feature a pared down look that focuses the eye on each element and leave plenty of negative space for conversation to flow. Or bring in non-flower elements (seashells! fruits and veg! mushrooms!) to increase interest. This can be an amazing way to incorporate an element that has special meaning to you as a couple. 

Do you dream in Bridgerton or Pride and Prejudice? Lush English garden florals or rich multi-colored Dutch masters florals might be just the thing. As you might imagine, this mode features a lot of flowers, but oh is it ever glorious! 

Or perhaps you love the DRAMATIC, and want to bring an astonishing moment of delight? (Oh hi, me too!) In this case, you could think about focusing your floral design and budget on one or two elements that really up the ante! This can work with or without lush florals scattered throughout the event, but I love to work on a big installation or experience that sets the mood to PARTY. Let's talk!

Psst: There's no rule that there have to be flowers on each table. We can be strategic! Gorgeous flowers on each table is just one of several approaches.  

Speaking of rules, there are also no rules that you have to carry a bouquet or wear a boutonniere! I love making wearable flowers in all shapes and sizes: I've made crowns, giant headpieces, fascinators, flower clouds, flower tattoos, pocket square boutonnières, the list goes on and on...

4) Budget and Event Size Considerations: 

Check out my post about floral budgeting, but as a general rule, the bigger the bunch of flowers, the more expensive. You can sometimes save by choosing a more minimalist style like ikebana-inspired arrangements. 

The other main determinant of budget is the size of your wedding party and of your guest list. And of course you know I'm going to say it: Feel free to think outside the box with tables and wedding party florals!

- Can you create a dramatic floral moment in a spot that everyone will see all night long? Go for it! 

- Can you create a special floral experience for your guests instead of centerpieces? Might be fun! 

(What about a "flower market" backdrop for the sweetheart table that becomes a bouquet bar during the dance hour so guests can take flowers home? OR: What about a dramatic floral arch for them to go through on their way into and out of the reception--maybe you can even reuse something from the ceremony this way!)  

FLoral Budgeting 101

First off, there doesn't have to be a one-size-fits-all flower budget. AND there are lots of ways to maximize a flower budget. (Be sure to catch my upcoming post about Flower Choices: How Many Flowers Do I Need?)

And if you're like most soonlyweds, you sometimes eat out in restaurants and therefore have a general idea of what professionally-cooked food costs--but you may have never before ordered professional flowers, so you just don't have a framework! I certainly didn't know when I got married (long before I became a florist), and I am NOT offended if you ask for explanations!

And today I want to give some general ideas for you to start thinking about! Here are a few things to keep in mind: 

1) You should likely plan on spending 10-15% of your overall wedding budget on flowers. I know, that's a LOT. But flowers (and candles, usually also provided by florists) truly do set the mood like nothing else, and unless you just don't want flowers, spreading floral joy through your event will likely cost about this much. Check out my post about how florists price if you aren't sure why they add up so quickly. 

2) If you have a budget below this percentage, you should consider a) a lower guest count (added bonus: you'll get to talk more with each guest!) or b) one big floral moment only and no flowers on tables. This is because of ....number 3 below.

3) Check out the slides for an easier to read version of this, but as a general example, here's pricing for a small-to medium amount of flowers on a table. 

Example : It's hard to flower a dining table for less than $175-200 worth of candles and flowers (unless the look you like is actually just a couple bud vases).  With 120 guests, that's 12-15 tables, or $2400-$3000 of florals. If you were hoping to have a $5000 dollar budget, you have only $2000 left to put toward your wedding party bouquets and ceremony backdrop. When you realize bridal bouquets are usually $200-400, and floral arches usually are around $1200, and setup will be 750…it makes sense to have fewer tables if you want them all to be decorated.

Reducing the table count to 8 tables brings that down to $1600, with $3400 now available for ceremony flowers. When you realize bridal bouquets are usually $200-400 and floral arches usually are around $1200, it makes sense to have fewer tables if you want them all to be decorated.

4) Last but not least, don't feel bad about asking questions--EVERYONE has a budget and we florists love figuring out how to get the most impact for you. This is also where having a planner can be a HUGE benefit--they've done this before and know what's a reasonable price for things! 

(Shoutout to Karen Royer and Martha Wilson for acing my wedding florals.)

Current events note: there’s a decent chance that if Trump’s proposed tariffs go into effect in their proposed form, floral wholesale costs will go up 10-15% , which will mean all of this shifts to be more expensive and you will for sure want an experienced florist on board to help you make wise selections!

How to find your floral style

Feeling anxious about describing what you want to your florist? Please do NOT fret--we NEVER mind figuring it out with you. In fact, I really enjoy asking you questions about your general aesthetic preferences and using that to suggest a few fun dramatic floral concepts! 

That said, if you're trying to think about it ahead of time, here are a few tips!

1) Before you hit Pinterest, quiz yourself about the following things: 

- What are my favorite colors and styles to wear and to decorate my spaces with? (Hint: those may be an excellent starting point for your wedding decor.) 
- But also: Do I want my wedding to feel comfortable and familiar to my favorite styles or am I looking to surprise and delight with something different? 

2) Then when you do start searching for images, save a BUNCH that you like and then go back and answer THESE questions about your favorites :

- Is there a consistent color or colors showing up? 
- Am I seeing a lot of smooth flowers or a lot of textured ruffly ones? Or just a lot of different kinds of flowers? 
- Is there a certain shape of bridal bouquet that keeps coming up? (Common ones include: round and tight, round and flowing, cascading, abstract.) 
- Is there a particular flower that you see a lot? It's TOTALLY fine if there isn't, but it's a good thing to ask your florist about if you have a particular love. 

3) Scroll through the Instagram and webpages of florists you're considering and ask yourself if you like all or many of the things you see. Most of us can work in a LOT of different styles (I LOVE to do so), but your best fit will be someone whose posts ALL make you say, "ooh, yes please!" You're not necessarily looking to see that they've already done something similar to what you see on Pinterest, but just that you enjoy a lot of their work. 

4) Last but definitely not least, reach out and schedule a consultation call! The link for a consultation with me is in my bio! 

Product Shoots

You’re planning your next product rollout, or working on updating your website—and you need something gorgeous to set your products apart from the rest. I would be thrilled to help you with some stunning floral pieces to set the scene! Flowers are special, luxurious, and a fantastic way to highlight the quality of the products you have worked so hard to create.

I work in conjunction with your vision and brand guidelines to create one-of-a kind floral backdrops that will be the perfect setting for your products. I generally plan for a similar time investment as required for a wedding consultation—so you can be sure that I make time to hear all about your creative vision for the flowers.

I have experience crafting moody and romantic backgrounds as well as vibrant Dutch masters arrangements and woodland tablescapes—my goal is to communicate the quality and beauty of your products by surrounding them with the best possible artistic floral arrangements.

Drop me a note on the inquiry page to set up a consultation today!

Rust and White Wedding at Tranquility Farm, Leesburg, Virginia

Boho Chic wedding style at charming Virginia Venue

Where not annotated, photos by Anna Rice. Where annotated, photos by Andrea Salazar, https://www.andreasalazarphotography.com/

Ochre, white and rust wedding color palette for an elegant rustic barn wedding. Combination of dried and fresh florals create texture variety for maximum visual interest.

Location: Tranquility Farm, Leesburg, VA https://tranquility-farm.net/weddings
Photographer & coordinator: Andrea Salazar https://www.andreasalazarphotography.com/
Coordinator : Keyla Alanes http://keylaalanesevents.com/
Hair: Styled for Elegance https://www.styledforelegance.com/
Cake: Dani’s Pasteleria https://www.instagram.com/danis_pasteleria/
Models: Brenda Zavalaa & Cameran Correa
Rentals: Table Manners DC https://tablemannersdc.com/

Wreath workshop at Muz & Rose!

I am so excited to announce that I will be teaching a workshop at the fabulous Leesburg shop, Muz & Rose. Muz & Rose focuses on fine and sustainable goods for your wardrobe, kitchen, home, and bath. It’s a wonderful gem, and I’m so excited to get to welcome you to a class there! We’ll be learning how to hand tie a holiday wreath. All the materials, and a light snack will be provided along with hands-on instruction. You’ll take home a glorious seasonal creation: a 12-14” wreath for your door! I can’t wait to meet you!