Renting vs. Buying Bouquets for Events

For one-off events — an opening, anniversary, product launch, corporate party, or industry event — you want beautiful floral styling, but without the cost or commitment of a permanent investment. The question then is: do I rent flowers for the event or buy them? In this article, we compare both options, highlighting when renting works better and when buying is smarter.

The floral dilemma for events

Event agencies and in-house event organizers often face the same question. Renting one-off fresh flowers is operationally complicated:

• Delivery must be exactly on time
• No guarantee that they will still be fresh after a long day event
• Logistics after the event (where do they go?)
• High costs for one day of use

Buying one-off fresh flowers is even more difficult — what do you do with the bouquets after the event? Tossing them in the bin is a waste, throwing them away feels wrong, donating them is nice but not always feasible.

The rental option: what does it entail?

At Blooms, you can rent premium artificial flowers from the Botané collection for events. We deliver them to the location, set them up, and pick them up again after the event. You have no logistical problems and no residual waste.

It works like this:

• Briefing 4-6 weeks before the event
• Proposal with a suitable selection of bouquets and vases
• Delivery and placement on the agreed day
• Collection immediately after or the day after
• One invoice, no residual value discussions

The purchase option: what does it entail?

When you buy, you choose bouquets from the Botané collection, pay a one-off fee, and become the owner. You can reuse them for other purposes after the event — reception, office, next event, or donate them to charity.

When is renting the right choice?

Renting works best in these situations:

• One-off event with no follow-up: an opening, an anniversary, a one-off product launch — if there is no second use, renting is convenient
• External location: if the event takes place at an external location (hotel, conference center, museum) and you don't want to leave flowers there
• Statement pieces that don't fit your daily decor: large, dramatic arrangements that would be too overwhelming in your regular office
• You don't have storage: if you don't have space to store bouquets between events
• One-off summer or winter style: arrangements in a specific seasonal color that you don't want year-round

When is buying the right choice?

Buying works best if:

• You organize events more often: for companies that run 3-6 events annually, buying quickly becomes cheaper — you build an event set that you reuse
• The bouquets get a second life: after the event, they fit in your reception, canteen, or meeting room
• You have your own event location: hotels, restaurants, event agencies, real estate developers with show locations
• You have storage: a cabinet or warehouse where you can compactly store 10-20 bouquets
• You want control: being able to grab what you need directly without delivery times

Cost comparison for event agencies

For an event agency that organizes 8 events per year with an average of 6 bouquets per event:

Always renting

• 8 events × 6 bouquets × €60 (rental price per bouquet): €2,880 per year
• 5-year costs: €14,400

One-time purchase + self-maintenance

• Purchase set of 10 bouquets + vases: €4,500 - €6,500
• 5-year costs: €4,500 - €6,500
• Savings: €8,000+

The tipping point is around 3-4 events per year. Below that, renting is more convenient; above that, buying quickly becomes smarter.

For one-off event organizers

For companies that have a large event once every 2-3 years (anniversary, opening), renting is almost always the right choice. No storage, no logistics, no second life needed.

What about "fresh flowers for the event"?

A common argument: "for an important event, I really want fresh flowers." We understand that. But our experience after many events:

• Fresh flowers look beautiful at the start of an event, but after 6-8 hours, they often look less fresh
• Delivery often comes in the morning — inconvenient for evening events
• The costs are high: €100-200 per bouquet for event-grade fresh flowers
• The photos the organization wants for social media are always taken — even after 8 hours, when the early bouquets are already tired

Premium artificial flowers solve all these problems. And the difference is not noticeable in photos and in the room — rather the opposite: they still look perfect at 10 PM.

Frequently asked questions

How long in advance should I reserve a rental?

For standard events 3-4 weeks, for custom arrangements 6-8 weeks. Ask for our availability via hello@blooms.nl.

What if a bouquet is damaged during the event?

Normal wear and tear is covered in the rental price. For major damage, we charge at cost price.

Can I still adjust the placement during the event?

Yes, after placement, the bouquets are yours for the duration of the event — feel free to move them.

Do you work with external event locations?

Yes, we deliver throughout the Netherlands to external event locations (hotels, conference centers, restaurants, museums). We do need to coordinate with the location about access.

Do you offer customization for brand events?

Yes, for brand-specific color choices and formats, we provide customization through our customization service.

Planning your event?

Would you like a non-binding proposal for your event? Contact us via hello@blooms.nl with the date and location of the event and the type of space. We will send a suitable proposal within 5 working days.