Keep decor inside the number you agreed on.

1. Decor typically 5–10% of budget

For most Indian weddings, decor and styling land between 5% and 10% of the total budget. The lower end suits smaller guest lists, simpler venues, and fewer events. The upper end covers multiple events, elaborate mandaps, and imported or custom elements. The share is not a rule; it is a starting point to discuss with whoever is contributing.

The real discipline is to set the number before you browse. When you know the decor ceiling, you can ask decorators to design inside it rather than designing first and trimming later. Trimming later almost always cuts the pieces you cared about most.

• ✓Set a decor budget band before meeting any decorator.
• ✓Discuss the number with all contributors so it is agreed, not assumed.
• ✓Treat the 5–10% range as a starting point, not a ceiling.

2. Itemised quotes

A lump-sum decor quote hides where the money goes. Ask for an itemised breakdown: florals by type and quantity, fabric and draping by area, lighting by fixture count, furniture and props by piece, and labour by hours or team size. Itemised quotes make comparison possible, and they make negotiation specific rather than vague.

When comparing two decorators, ask both to quote the same scope: the same events, the same areas, the same flower types, the same setup and breakdown timing. Only then is the price difference meaningful. A cheaper quote that skips labour or uses fewer fixtures is not cheaper; it is different.

• ✓Ask for florals, fabric, lighting, furniture, and labour as separate line items.
• ✓Compare quotes on identical scope: same events, same areas, same timing.
• ✓Watch for hidden costs: transport, overtime, late-night breakdown, and power rental.

3. Seasonal versus imported flowers

Seasonal Indian flowers — marigold, jasmine, rajnigandha, local roses — cost less, last longer in heat, and look fresher in outdoor setups. Imported blooms like peonies, hydrangeas, or certain orchids can cost two to four times as much and carry higher wastage because they travel further and wilt faster in Indian humidity.

That does not mean imported flowers are wrong. It means they should be used deliberately: in the bridal bouquet, the couple’s table, or a single statement piece. The bulk of the decor can be seasonal, and the imported flowers can be the accent. Ask your florist what is in season for your month and city, and build from that list.

• ✓Build the bulk of decor from seasonal flowers available in your city.
• ✓Use imported flowers as accents in the bouquet or couple’s table.
• ✓Ask the florist about wastage and freshness for any out-of-season request.

4. Contingency for last-minute changes

Last-minute decor changes are common: a relative wants an extra entrance piece, the venue rules shift, or the weather forces an indoor backup plan. A contingency of 5–10% inside the decor budget absorbs these without panic. If it is not used, it stays in the overall budget; if it is needed, it is already allocated.

The other protection is a written change-order process with the decorator. Agree in advance that any addition outside the signed quote requires a written revision with cost and timeline. Verbal additions on the day before the wedding are where budgets quietly break.

• ✓Keep a 5–10% decor contingency for last-minute changes.
• ✓Require written change orders for anything outside the signed quote.
• ✓Decide in advance who approves changes — one owner, one decision.