Wedding Flower Tax

Do wedding flowers cost more?

No doubt you have heard someone say “the minute you say it’s for a wedding, the price goes up”. Or you may have heard the term “wedding tax”. The wedding tax refers to the theory that wedding vendors add a hefty surcharge onto their regular prices just for wedding bookings. And if you are anything like me, you hate to think you’re being taken for a ride and being ripped off. So, is it true? Yes, but no. The reality is that for a lot of businesses, they do increase the price of their services for weddings. But these businesses are not taking advantage of clients the way people often allude to.

The real reason is pretty simple: weddings are more work than other types of events. More time, more people power, more/better stock and more skill

So yes, there is truth in it, flowers are more expensive than those flower bouquets you’d buy in a retail store. But let’s dive into why these prices differ to your run-of-the-mill flowers and demystify the flower market game.

Is there are difference between florists?

Both retail florists and wedding and event florists require a strong sense of creativity, a keen eye for design, and a good understanding of different types of flowers and their characteristics.

But, picture this – there are flowers, and then there are "Oh my! Are those even real?" flowers. Wedding floral designers focus on creating highly customized and unique arrangements tailored to the specific preferences and themes of each event. Every wedding or event has been carefully designed and planned closely with event planners and clients to ensure the floral designs align with the overall event concept.

A retail florist operates a flower shop that serves the general public on a day-to-day basis. They create and sell a wide variety of floral arrangements. Their focus is on providing a range of options for everyday occasions and "just because" gifts.

Image Danelle Bohane

Reasons why flower prices vary

Dreamy designs:

It's like floral artistry. If you're going for a flower masterpiece that looks like it could be featured in a museum, you might have to shell out a bit more. The more intricate the design, the more time and skill it takes, and that’s often reflected in the price. Your florist may have years of experience and knowledge in the industry, you’re paying for their art! Try not to think of the flowers as just being flowers. They’re more than that. Floral designers have their own distinctive style. And you’re paying for their skills to create that art for your day.

The New Zealand Flower Markets

Often you’ll find blogs saying “choose in-season flowers to save costs”. However that’s not always the case for elite popular New Zealand flowers. Come wedding season, all those on-trend, in-season flowers are fetching high prices because everyone wants them! Supply in demand baby.

As a New Plymouth florist we go to our wholesalers both locally in Taranaki and New Zealand wide and request your chosen dream flowers, and the market determines what the price will be. We put our orders in months in advance, the wholesaler works closely with the grower and delivers what you want on your day. White roses mid-February when 50 other weddings want them also for the same weekend, the price will be high. I’ve seen the wholesale price triple for a very popular flower mid wedding season.

As for retail florists, they simply purchase whatever is at the market on the day, they will buy the best flowers for the best price. When you order a bunch of flowers, you get what they choose with what they have in store.

Images Stephan and Nakita

Time is money

When you book someone for a wedding, there’s more communication. More emails, more meetings. The amount of time and comms that are going on behind the scenes for wedding flowers may surprise you. As an example, our process follows; most often there are two consultations. We go over your ideas and what you want to achieve, and we talk about vendors, locations, and plans. We then go away, and do market research on what is available. Put together a buyers list and talk with suppliers about what we need for the day. More meetings will be had to confirm everything. Leading up to the day we are liaising with other vendors and making timelines for executing your day. There may need to be site visits also. This is all before the flowers even arrive and we start working with them!

Working in a flower store is quite different. On the day of the flower market, a florist may buy directly from the auction or buy from the wholesalers who are buying from the auction. The flowers arrive to the store, are prepped, and placed in vases. You as the customer place your order. A bouquet is made then and there with what happens to be in store, wrapped up, and placed on the courier. Job done.

Immediately we can see the difference in pricing when it comes to labour, experience and design.

Paying for Expertise

Imagine a floral designer with more skills than a magician pulling rabbits out of hats. They know how to make flowers last and not wilt within 10 minute of being in the harsh New Zealand sun and wind. Or they know how to create hanging installations in a marquee or tent, in a safe manner, so the flowers won’t come crashing down on guests mid-dinner party. Experienced wedding florists might charge more for their expertise because they know what they are doing. They're like the floral gurus you're happy to pay a little extra for, knowing they will deliver! Often working on larger and more customized projects that require careful coordination and attention to detail, they know how logistics work and what is involved in pulling a lot of elements together all within a few hours.

Floral designers also stay updated on current wedding and event design trends, as well as flower availability throughout the year. They often source flowers and materials based on the specific needs of their clients.

Images Hanna Andrewes

Names the Game

You know that florist everyone's buzzing about? Well, their name holds serious weight. Established floral rockstars might charge more because, hey, they've earned their stripes, and their reputation brings a touch of trust and quality to the table. Make sure you check in with the reviews. You’re not doubt laying down hundreds or thousands of dollars for a deposit for a product that you don’t even have yet. And wont receive till on the day. If they’re bad, it’s too late. This is where reviews are gold. Real couples who have had their actual day! Shamless plug: Check out our google reviews when you search us under Florist New Plymouth!

Image Kowhai and Thistle

Wrap-Up:

So there you have it. Wedding florists are not playing hard to get – they're just reflecting the time and skill involved in creating for your special day. From flower quality to design intricacy, seasonality to location, and even the magic touch of a skilled florist, all these factors jazz up the price. When you break down the time, costs, product and skills and people involved it makes sense. It’s an exciting process. So what does it all cost? Just about every couple we meet, has absolutely no idea on what to budget for flowers. There are so many incredible options you can dream up and the designs we can create for you are endless. So prices do vary. But everyone needs a starting point. If this is you, we’ve written another blog on this exact subect here. However, if you are ready to dive in now and looking for a New Plymouth florist or are happy for us to travel to your venue somewhere in New Zealand, follow this link to learn a little bit more about our services.