It’s wedding season and besides thinking about the a bride’s budget, the venue, theme and all the details that go along with planning a

wedding, what immediately comes to mind are flowers for the wedding. Flowers bring joy, beauty and life to any event, especially a wedding

So what’s behind the costs of nature’s beauties that become exquisite works of art on a bride’s special day?

Speaking with Leila Simms of Half Moon Flowers in Princeton by the Sea, she shared with me some of the behind the scene details of creating beautiful bouquets and centerpieces for weddings and events.

Leila says there are several steps it takes in creating bridal bouquets and centerpieces.

After spending several hours at the San Francisco Flower Market, Leila processes the flowers by stripping and cleaning them of excess foliage and debris and placing them in florist pails of water for a few hours prior to designing her client’s flowers.

Depending on the size of the wedding and floral designs, creating beautiful floral arts varies in the time that it takes to create a bouquet, boutonnière, centerpiece or other theme or mood floral décor.

Consider, a simple hand tied bridal bouquet may take only 45 minutes; while a bouquet that has wire and florists’ tape could command 2 hours or more.

Depending on the design, each centerpiece could take 45 minutes or more. Leila and her assistants try to complete 3-4 centerpieces an hour.

Other factors that could increase the floral costs are the origin of the flowers; whether they are local or imported, and if they are seasonal.  For example, a winter bride requesting peonies in January may expect to spend $200 or more for her signature bouquet. While spring and summer brides maybe thrilled to find a variety of flowers in an abundance of colors that will compliment their vision.

And lastly, Leila notes that all personal flowers, centerpieces and additional floral arts that enhance the wedding or event are time and labor intensive.

Now that you have a glimpse of what it takes to create flowers for your wedding or event, you may want to check in with me as I share some tips that will help you get the look and feel you want with your flowers, while staying within your budget.