Designing the Perfect Ceremony: Balancing Cost and Impact
Planning a ceremony involves many decisions, and one of the most crucial is how to design the feature to balance both cost and impact. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this aspect of your event planning.
To Go Big or Small?
With Size and Volume Come Different Prices
Choosing the size of your ceremony installation can significantly affect both the atmosphere and the budget. A large ceremony installation, with elaborate setups and extensive floral arrangements, can create a grand and impactful atmosphere, however, such installations come with a higher price tag,
often upwards of $2400.
The Benefits of a Smaller, Purposeful Design
For those with a smaller budget, a purposeful and intimate ceremony design can be just as impactful. With a budget ranging from $880 to $1600, you can still create a memorable event. Smaller designs require thoughtful placement of elements, ensuring that each piece serves a specific purpose and contributes to the overall aesthetic, resulting in a more personalized and meaningful experience.
Ultimately, your design will depend on your budget and how much of it you want to allocate to this aspect of your event. Larger budgets allow for more extravagant designs, while smaller budgets encourage creativity and intentionality in your choices - this could be just as much a styling decision as it is a budgeting decision.
Jamie and Josh’s grand-scale ceremony design at Sophia in Prahran features an abundance of foliage offset by seasonal blooms
Kristy and Jordan’s ceremony at Levantine Hill featured premium summer floral on a smaller scale and created impact with the use of colour and structure.
Structured Ceremonies vs. Garden Ceremonies
Structured Ceremonies
Structured ceremonies might seem less voluminous but they require more consideration, premium products, and longer setup times. The detailed planning and arrangement involved can lead to higher costs, but the end result is a meticulously crafted ceremony that feels elegant and refined.
Garden Ceremonies
On the other hand, garden ceremonies are more forgiving and can accommodate larger volumes of foliage, allowing you to create a grand atmosphere even with a limited budget. Garden ceremonies often use a lot of seasonal products, which can positively impact both the size and cost of the installation.
To Repurpose or Not?
Repurposing Ceremony Floral
Many clients inquire about repurposing ceremony florals for the reception. If you plan to do this, inform your florist early in the process. Not all ceremony designs can be repurposed easily, and moveable ceremonies require a different foundation.
Costs and Considerations
Repurposing is not completely cost-free. Additional crew hours post-ceremony will be needed to move the arrangements from the ceremony to the reception, adding to the overall cost.
Claire and James’ ceremony was arranged in large Italian urns which were easily repurposed to the reception.
Ceremony floral for Claire and James repurposed to the entrance of the reception space.
Designing a ceremony is an art that requires balancing creativity, budget management, and personal expression. Whether you opt for a grand installation or a more intimate setup, a structured or garden ceremony, the most important thing is that your ceremony reflects your style and values, creating a meaningful and memorable experience for everyone involved. By carefully considering your options and making intentional choices, you can create a ceremony that is both impactful and true to your vision.
To learn more about our ceremony design process, contact us directly.