Shopping for wedding flowers is hard work, especially when it comes to comparing proposals. Because each florist has different sources for flowers and a different style, comparing quotes is like comparing apples and oranges. Are you going to get the right shade of pink? How big will the bouquet or centerpiece actually be? Sometimes you just don’t know what you’re going to get until it is delivered!

My goal is to make each of my brides comfortable with the flowers I plan to deliver. I help brides select specific varieties of flowers based on their style, color palette and budget. Then I include pictures of each variety on their proposal, along with a written description and pricing. I even include approximate sizes for centerpieces. My hope is to surprise and delight my brides and their guests by creating a more beautiful experience then they imagined. But that also means “no surprises!” when it comes to color palette and size of their flowers.

Color palette is something that must be tackled on an individual basis, but sizes can be easily compared. I created three classic blush centerpieces at different price points. Each centerpiece is photographed on a standard five foot round table with eight place settings. All of the centerpieces are made with the same components – soft pink spray roses, apricot stock, blush standard roses, white hydrangea and seeded eucalyptus. The first centerpiece is arranged in a gold compote, measures approximately 13 inches in diameter and retails for $85. Let’s call this the Small Garden Centerpiece. The Small Garden Centerpiece leaves room for more candles, favors or even a more formal place setting. It might be the right centerpiece for you if you are on a tight budget, or if flowers aren’t the most important element at your wedding.

Low centerpiece in a gold compote with blush spray roses, apricot stock, Quicksand roses, white hydrangea and seeded eucalyptus, by Cincinnati wedding florist Floral Verde LLC.

The second centerpiece uses all the same types of flowers as the Small Garden Centerpiece, but has 55% more blooms. It uses a higher quality footed metal bowl, measures 15 inches in diameter and retails for $130. Let’s call this our Standard Garden Centerpiece. It’s more full and lush than the previous centerpiece, but still leaves room for plenty of other elements on the table.

Low centerpiece in a metal compote with blush spray roses, apricot stock, Quicksand roses, white hydrangea and seeded eucalyptus, by Cincinnati wedding florist Floral Verde LLC.

The third centerpiece uses all the same types of flowers, but is in a larger footed metal bowl. It measures a generous 17 inches in diameter, and retails for $175. It has over twice as many blooms as the Small Garden Centerpiece. Let’s call this our Premium Garden Centerpiece. Notice how the Premium Garden Centerpiece really fills out the center of the table. This is for the bride who really values beautiful flowers, or the bride who wants a luxury feel for her reception. However, a bride that wants to get published nationally should consider spending twice this much. No kidding – I’ll talk about that more on another day.

Low centerpiece in a large metal compote with blush spray roses, apricot stock, Quicksand roses, white hydrangea and seeded eucalyptus, by Cincinnati wedding florist Floral Verde LLC.

For kicks I added five peonies to the Premium Garden Centerpiece bring the price up to $235. They are smallish, and coming from the southern hemisphere this time of year. You could expect bigger peonies in June. But it goes to show that high-end and unusual blooms like amaryllis, peonies, dahlias, garden roses, calla lilies, orchids and succulents can add up quickly! I love expensive flowers just as much as any other girl, but they can do a number on the budget - a very large number.

Low centerpiece in a large metal compote with blush peonies, spray roses, apricot stock, Quicksand roses, white hydrangea and seeded eucalyptus, by Cincinnati wedding florist Floral Verde LLC.

Size is important when it comes to centerpieces. All three sizes look beautiful on the five foot round table, but move up to a six foot round, and the Small Garden Centerpiece would look absolutely dwarfed! There are ways to fill larger tables with less product than the Premium Garden Centerpiece, but my “Small” for a six foot table would start out in the $130 range. Larger tables need more flowers.

These centerpieces also make a nice demonstration on how another florist can easily undercut almost any quoted price. Looking an image of the $175 Premium centerpiece they might say, “Yeah, I can give you a beautiful centerpiece of soft pink spray roses, apricot stock, blush roses and white hydrangea for $75.” And although you are looking for the fullness of the Premium Garden Centerpiece, you may end up with something similar to the Small Garden Centerpiece. Be sure to ask your florist questions like, “How big will this actually be?” and “How will this look on my table?”

Proposals from different florists are going to be hard to compare. Just remember, you typically get what you pay for.