Tuesday Tips and Tools: Calculating Wedding Costs

I have a wonderful segment for today's Tuesday Tips and Tools that I think you will find very, very helpful.  Sisters Flowers posted a great blog the other day about the real cost of those gorgeous florals you see in magazines and blogs.  The tablescapes in these photoshoots are just not monetarily practical for everyone.  I encourage you to read the entirety of their blog post for the details of how they calculated the cost for the arrangements.  Here is a quick summary:

In this photo, the vase is 8 inches tall and 5 inches wide and is filled with ranunculus (one of my favorites!).  This wouldn't quite be a centerpiece for a table -- more of a cocktail table centerpiece.  Ranunculus are small (about the size of a quarter) but cost the same as a rose.  There are about 15-20 ranunculus in this vase.   The cost? $85-$110.  

This beautiful arrangement from Martha Stewart has about 75-80 blooms for the whole arrangement.  It's a great size and its "full" like many brides prefer. The cost? $275-$325 per arrangement.  

Let's do some more math (we'll even take the lower end of the price for you) and multiply $275 x 15 (tables) - the cost of the centerpieces (not including the bridal table, cake table, escort card table, gift table, guestbook table, bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, and entire ceremony area) is $4,125.  This number means different things to different people - for some it is out of the question while others don't even bat an eye.  

If the reality of the cost of the flowers you love doesn't fit within your budget, don't think you can't have them at all.  Florists are wonderful at accommodating their brides and grooms and coming up with arrangements that can achieve the same look while staying within your budget.  

SO today's tip: Look at magazine and blog photoshoots as inspiration, not reality until you get cold, hard numbers. 

[Images via Sisters Flowers]