Florals
Choosing wedding flowers that look expensive but are not
Which flowers are reliably available in Thailand, which imports are worth it, and where to concentrate your floral budget.
Flowers are the most price-volatile item in a wedding. The same bloom can cost twice as much one month later. Understanding the rhythm saves a lot without lowering the standard.
Start with the palette, not the flower
Tell your florist the tone you want — white and green, cream and champagne, blue and white, soft blush — and let them choose the varieties that deliver that tone at that time of year. You get the same photograph for a lower number.
Reliably available in Thailand year-round
- Roses, in almost every tone
- Carnations, which handle heat well and are excellent value
- Baby's breath, which adds volume to anything
- Chrysanthemums, the most heat-resistant option for outdoor weddings
- Thai orchids, in whites and purples
Imports that cost significantly more
Hydrangea, peony, delphinium, tulip and ranunculus are beautiful but expensive, and they bruise quickly in the heat. If you want them, use them only where guests see them up close — the bridal bouquet and the head table — and build the rest of the wedding on local blooms.
Where the floral budget earns the most
In order of return:
1. The ceremony arch — it is the backdrop of the photographs you keep for life
2. The bridal bouquet — it appears in almost every frame
3. The head table and stage — every guest looks at it all evening
4. Guest tables — seen up close, but not studied for long
Planning around the heat
For outdoor weddings in Thailand, flowers should be installed as close to the ceremony as possible, with a team on site to mist them and swap out anything that wilts. Make sure this is written into the quotation from the beginning.
