Real Talk -Event Minimums + what that means

All those lovely and dreamy wedding images you are saving on your socials and on your Pinterest boards are most definitely swoon worthy! I am not going to sugar coat it, floral budgets for those events would blow your mind! All that gorgeousness comes at a cost! I can pretty much guarantee you that those event florists have set minimum investment requirements.

Most florists and other event industry professionals will have an event minimum spend requirement. This is the minimum budget a florist and/or event studio will work with to design custom wedding flowers. Wedding florists set this amount to ensure their clients are receiving the quality of work that is representative to their brand and that can be found on their socials and in their portfolio's.

Event minimums will vary from florist to florist. Individual florists will base this rate on a number of factors, such as quality + quantity of flowers they use in their designs, the time they put into planning, designing, including staffing requirements, transportation costs, the installation timing required for your wedding flowers including what they require to make their business profitable.

LET’S PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE If you where given $1000 to buy a pair of shoes for your wedding day, would you go to Walmart or Target? No. You wouldn't shop where you normally buy your every day, average shoes. You would hit up Jimmy Cho or buy those gorgeous Bella Belle Shoes to match your wedding dress!   

WEDDING FLOWERS ARE NOT YOUR EVERY DAY AVERAGE PURCHASE Purchasing your wedding flowers isn't average day kinda purchase. So why would you want to purchase your wedding flowers from an average every day flower shop!  You want to hire that florist that specialises in luxury events, and offers amazing customer service to ensure that your wedding dreams are fulfilled beautifully, professionally and as promised.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A MINIMUM SPEND? This will vary from florist to florist. However, most commonly, a minimum spend will only include floral elements + products, decor elements such as candles, table numbers, linen, depending what your florist and/or event company as to offer. You may find the odd florist that will include consulting services, delivery, installation, and tear down fees. For most, those fees including taxes will be over and above their minimum requirement.

WHY DOES THIS BENEFIT YOU? For our floral studio it all comes down to quality + customer service and providing an overall amazing experience for our clients.

Choosing to wed beautifully with Sue Gallo Designs, along with our great customer service we have become known for, you will also receive our signature floral designs that are full of various premium flower varieties such as roses, spray roses, garden roses, ranunculus, peonies, anemones, dahlia, larkspur + delphinium, stock flower, hellebore, hydrangea and lush foliage.  So that our garden inspired designs are lush and full of texture and dimension.

Our set minimum gives you insight into the cost expectations to what will be required to execute this vision. We appreciate the client who understands the added value of florals to their wedding and are excited about making use of their entire budgets to bring their vision to life.

HELPFUL PLANNING HINT Just because a florist advertises an event minimum spend, does not mean that all your wishes, needs and requirements will be accommodated within that amount. It is common for couples budgetary expectations exceed that of their own wishes, needs and requirements for their wedding flowers.

If you have budgeted 5 K for wedding flowers, and your florist of choice is advertising a minimum spend of 10 K, they most likely aren’t going to be the florist for you. Their proposals will come in way over what you are comfortable spending and leave you disappointed.

Do your research when looking for your florist. Visit their website and read the information they provide there. Check them out on all their socials. If they don’t list an event minimum requirement, don’t be afraid to ask a potential florist what that minimum spend is.

Sue Gallo

Founder, Lead Designer and Creative Director of Sue Gallo Designs

Keeping wedding flower planning real! Honest, sincere advise to help take the stress out of planning your wedding flowers.