Why Florists Have Minimum Spends: Understanding the Value Behind the Pricing

What is a Minimum Spend?

Simply put, a minimum spend is the lowest amount a florist will accept for a wedding order. This threshold ensures that the time, effort, and resources dedicated to your event are appropriately compensated. While it may vary from florist to florist, a minimum spend is typically in place for larger events like weddings, where florists invest significant time and effort into planning, sourcing, and creating custom designs.

Photograph by Rosie May Kelly

Why Do Florists Have Minimum Spends?

1. Time and Expertise

Florists are artists. The process of designing your wedding florals is a combination of creativity, skill, and experience. From the initial consultation to the final floral arrangements delivered on your wedding day, florists invest hours of planning and designing. This includes:

• Meeting with clients to understand their vision and preferences

• Sourcing the best seasonal flowers (which might need to be ordered weeks in advance)

• Creating custom arrangements that reflect your unique style and colours

• Handling logistics like delivery and setup on the big day

  
  

All of this requires a considerable amount of time and expertise. A minimum spend ensures that the florist is compensated fairly for this level of involvement, especially when larger events require a more hands-on approach.

2. Quality Materials and Sourcing

Wedding flowers are not just a simple commodity. They require high-quality blooms, which often come at a premium price. In many cases, florists will need to source flowers from specialty growers or suppliers, sometimes even internationally, to meet the specific requirements of your wedding day.

A minimum spend allows florists to invest in these premium materials, ensuring that you receive the freshest, most beautiful flowers that will last throughout your wedding day. It also enables them to manage the cost of flowers that may not be available locally or in season but are crucial for achieving the aesthetic you're after.

3. Logistics and Delivery

For weddings, flowers aren't just about the design—they also require meticulous logistical planning. Delivery to multiple locations, setup at the venue, and ensuring that all arrangements are placed perfectly at the right time on the day of the event all take significant resources. Florists may need to transport large quantities of flowers, which requires vehicles, staff, and sometimes additional labor to set everything up and break it down after the event.

A minimum spend helps cover these costs and ensures that the florist can allocate enough resources to handle the complexity of wedding logistics.

4. Business Sustainability

Florists, like all small businesses, need to maintain profitability to stay in business. Weddings, by nature, are large-scale events that require substantial investment in terms of flowers, time, and staffing. A minimum spend helps ensure that the florist's business remains sustainable, allowing them to continue offering high-quality service to future clients. Without a minimum spend, florists may not be able to cover their operational costs for smaller orders, especially when considering overheads like rent, utilities, and employee wages.

5. Fair Pricing for All Clients

A minimum spend also helps florists maintain fairness in pricing. Weddings often have a range of needs, from simple bouquets to full-service floral installations. By setting a minimum spend, florists can offer a level of service and attention to detail that is proportionate to the size and scope of the wedding. This allows them to allocate resources effectively and ensures that every client receives the same level of care and quality, regardless of the size of their event.

What Does a Minimum Spend Include?

The minimum spend typically covers a combination of services:

• Consultation and design time: Time spent meeting with you, discussing your needs, and creating a custom floral design that aligns with your vision.

• Flowers and materials: The cost of flowers, vases, containers, ribbons, and other materials used in the arrangements.

• Labour: The time and effort required to arrange, assemble, and install the flowers on the day of the event.

• Delivery and setup: Transportation of the flowers to the venue(s), as well as the setup and breakdown of the floral arrangements.

  
  

Some florists may also offer optional extras, such as floral archways, table centrepieces, or personalised designs, which may affect the overall cost. When considering a florist, be sure to ask what is included in their minimum spend and whether any additional services or features are available.

Can I Negotiate the Minimum Spend?

While the minimum spend is typically a firm policy, there may be some flexibility depending on your specific needs. If you're working with a florist who is booked during a peak season, they may be less inclined to adjust their minimum spend. However, if your wedding is during an off-peak time or if your event is smaller in scope, it's always worth having a conversation. Some florists may offer package deals or suggest alternative options that can help you stay within your budget while still getting the look you desire.

How to Make the Most of Your Minimum Spend

If you're concerned about meeting the minimum spend, here are a few tips to maximise your investment:

• Prioritise your floral needs: Focus on the most important elements of your wedding — like your bridal bouquet, ceremony florals, and key décor pieces — and allocate your budget accordingly.

• Consider seasonal flowers: Seasonal blooms are generally more affordable and easier for florists to source, so incorporating these into your designs can help lower costs.

• Opt for fewer, larger arrangements: Instead of scattering dozens of small bouquets, larger focal pieces (like a grand centerpiece or statement florals for the altar) can make a bigger impact without requiring excessive resources.

• Ask for advice: Your florist has experience in budgeting for floral arrangements, so don’t hesitate to ask them for recommendations on how to achieve your vision within your budget.

  
  

Conclusion

Florists' minimum spends exist to ensure that couples receive the quality, service, and expertise they deserve while allowing the florist to run a sustainable business. Though it may initially seem like a barrier, understanding the value behind the pricing can help you make informed decisions about your floral needs and set realistic expectations for your wedding budget.

By respecting a florist's minimum spend, you're not just paying for beautiful flowers—you're investing in an artistic, customised experience that will elevate your wedding day to something truly extraordinary.

Here at Nina Isobel Florals, we currently have a minimum spend of £1000 to ensure our couples a high quality service.