Ok. Let's be real. How many of us fall in love with those amazing hanging flower installations we see on Pinterest or those gorgeous ceremony backdrops we come across as we plan our wedding? I DO!! I'm a floral designer and still swoon over some incredible floral installations and designs. The problem is that as soon as we see those pieces of art the first thing we think of is "I could never afford that!". "That must cost a fortune!". "That ONE backdrop is my WHOLE wedding budget!". Who's been there? Yep. I hear ya.
Well, I'm here to tell you that even though, these installations don't necessarily come cheap, they can be affordable. You CAN have a gorgeous backdrop or a beautiful hanging installation, you just need to sit down with your floral designer and see what can be done to make it happen.
Here are three tips to having a beautiful backdrop or hanging flower installation that won't make you need CPR after you see the cost.
Tip No. 1 - Size. Yep! Size matters. Obviously, the bigger the backdrop or hanging installation the more expensive. You can have a beautiful installation measuring between 5 - 6 feet in length x 2 - 4 feet in width for a reasonable price. The price will be dictated by product choice and amount of labor, but we will talk about that in tip number 3.
Tip No. 2 - Placement. I cannot emphasize enough how important proportion is. If you are considering a hanging installation for your wedding, get measurements. Planning for a hanging installation on a 30ft. wall will require quite the large installation so proportions are right, but if you are planning on having an installation against a 10ft. wall, then the installation can be significantly smaller, saving you some $$ and still giving you the focal point you long for.
Tip No. 3 - Product. This is also very important folks! I've had some clients ask for a hanging installation with a minimalist feel thinking that if they only ask for a little bit of product it will be cheaper. That's not quite the case. A minimalist feel installation created with cherry blossom branches can be much more expensive than a lush greenery installation. Your floral designer will be able to give you suggestions as to what product can be used to get you the feel and vibe you want without a visit to the emergency room.
With all this said, the cost for these installations can vary greatly. They won't come cheap, but you may be able to save your pennies and manage to invest between $1,200(ish) - $2,500(ish) on some modest but amazing stuff (which btw, if you want to see a pretty darn cool ceremony arch check this out). Splurging a bit to give you that wow factor and seeing your photographer go bananas taking ALL THE PHOTOS is definitely worth it.
**Photos by Britney Clause Photography & Sean O'Rourke Photography**