Considering a florist for your wedding? Here’s everything you need to know

On average, how much does a wedding florist cost? 

“How long is a piece of string! It’s so hard to give an average due to the varying requirements for each wedding. To put it in perspective, here at Adonis Flower Designers, we cater for all requests from a single bridal bouquet, which starts at €150 to a venue festooned with florals, which could run into the thousands! 

“As a guide, an ‘average’ list of a bridal bouquet, two bridesmaids bouqets, a couple of buttonholes and three to four arrangements for the ceremony would have a starting price of about €900. When quoting for larger weddings, each item is priced individually and we would allocate a setup and delivery fee based on the volume of work involved. That would include an extra staff member to assist on-site, additional working hours, overtime, etc.

“You’ll find a lot of comments that ‘wedding’ means more expensive, but couples need to take into account that by the time a bridal bouquet is booked, we’ve probably already spent about two to three hours of our time on emails, phone calls, etc. and the pricings take into account the professional’s time.”

How do you get to know the wedding couple? 

“This depends largely on the couple’s preference. We have couples that like to have everything sorted by email or a phone call, have it tidied up quickly, and it’s another job off the to-do list. We also have couples that like to pop into the shop on Patrick Street, meet the team and have a chat in person.

“For larger on-site weddings, we would arrange an in-person meeting and walk-through. All approaches are fine with us, we want our couples to feel happy with how their plans are progressing with us. As a bride-to-be myself, I’m aware of the other side of the fence too and how it feels to be communicating with wedding vendors. It’s important to feel like you matter as a client, and that’s what we aim for here.”

Do you have set flower arrangements or can the bride customise bouquets, arrangements, etc.?

“No set arrangements, every wedding and couple is unique and we create the wedding list to suit each couple. All our wedding bouquets and arrangements are bespoke and we have no set menu!”

How far in advance does a florist need to be booked?

“For peak wedding season in summer months, I would recommend getting a date secured with a deposit a year in advance if possible. I’ve noticed a lot of last-minute bookings lately; I think the Covid uncertainties contributed to that. And, the after-effects of so many weddings being unfortunately postponed means the demand for weekend dates, especially in 2022 and 2023, is higher than usual.”

What timeline do you need to set up?

“This really depends on the volume of set-up required. We would liaise with the couple and the venues to confirm access times. We always aim to be completely finished set up an hour before the ceremony.”

What are some of your favourite venues you’ve done and why?

“Oh, tough question! In the city centre, I would list Medley, Stephen’s Green Club, 20 Fitzwilliam Place, Fallon & Byrne and Smock Alley as some of my favourite venues for reasons such as great atmosphere, setting and really helpful, friendly staff. I also love the beautiful rooms in the Merrion Hotel, such classic style. 

“In the not-so-city centre, I love country houses such as Tinakilly and Tankardstown and, for drama, Kilkea and Luttrellstown Castles. Of course, I need to mention the stunning City Hall for ceremonies, and there is also a wonderful, new non-denominational and spiritual wedding ceremony venue on Thomas Street, called City Sanctuary. It’s a beautiful, newly renovated building and run by the wonderful celebrant Karen Ni Dhiomasaigh.”

Any advice for brides-to-be?

“Trust your wedding florist and do your research. Have a look at their social media to see the style that they work with. Be open with budget; we are fighting rising costs in all aspects of the industry and we will do our best to work with you and create something beautiful and guide you towards the best choices for the day. 

“Have a couple of images ready of styles you’d like to show your florist so we can get an idea. For example, a mood board is a good way to collate colours and themes. Ask our opinion too; we’ve had years of training and we are here to help.”

Have a wedding question you’d like answered? DM us on Instagram and we’ll do our best to answer them in an upcoming Bride’s Guide. This article was originally published in July 2022. Feature image via Pexels.