Flowers and photos...:(

I was wondering if anyone could please help my nervous stomach. Although my FH and I haven't booked yet (although we're close), I've been talking to some friends and it seems that prices are sooooooo much more than I thought they would be for photos and flowers. My friend tells me that flowers can range from 5,000 - 8,000 dollars! Can anyone confirm or deny this!! I'm literally crying over here with worry. I could never afford that. Also, I am clueless on the cost of pictures/albums, etc...I figured between $1,500-2,000, but my friend says no way. I'm so worried that I won't be able to pull this off, being that my FH and I are paying for the entire affair ourselves. Can someone please help to ease my mind....Thanks!

Flowers and photos...:(

If you are going to be paying $5,000-$8000 for your flowers, you had better be having a quite large affair. That is higher than your average wedding. It really depends on the size of your bridal party, centerpieces and decorating you are looking for. Your best bet is to go by recommendations from people you know or look at work from different places then set up appointments for consultations with different vendors. Being in the flower business prices can vary from place to place. You will feel comfortable when you find a vendor who will show you different options for prices that are in your budget and work with you to stay in a budget. Good Luck

Flowers and photos...:(

Dear Marnles, I've come to expect that EVERYTHING will cost more than you think. However don't dispair. There are many ways to be creative and very classy for less. More and bigger is not always better. I once photographed a wedding for a bride on a budget. Her wedding was around Halloween. We suggested she get pumpkins with a small fall bouquet in each for centerpieces. A florist I know made small arrangements and put them in mason jars for the bridesmaids to hold. Be creative and save$$. Although important to your day, flowers will be dead in a week. Photos on the other hand, will last a lifetime and will be your only memories. Although this is what we sell, if you think about it, it is the truth. There are ways to cut costs here too without sacrificing quality. Such as portfolios for parents instead of albums & payment plans. I would be leary of any deal that sounds too good to be true. Studios come and studios go.

Flowers and photos...:(

The variety in photo packages is tremendous. You do get what you pay for, but there are ways to get quality for reasonalbe rates. We've done weddings from $600 to $10,000. Average is probably between $2000 and $3000. Sometimes a proof shooting will give you the quality of a $5000 photo package for well under $2000. Some people come back, by original agreement, years later to order full albums, but the wedding was photographed as a full $5000 value quality package. Limited coverage is another way to go, if you can live with the minor restrictions.