WEDDING NOTES™ – Selecting Your Florist

Most reputable florists will encourage brides to make an appointment well in advance of the wedding date.  Some ask for at least three months in advance of the planned nuptials while others can handle bookings a month in advance.

During your initial meeting with the florist, you will share with him/her your wedding style and your budget for flowers. (Note that The Knot.com suggests that wedding flowers budgets usually account for 8-10% of the wedding budget). You should be prepared to talk about colors, themes, décor, venue rules and restrictions.  Bring photos and swatches of your gown and bridesmaids dresses whenever possible.  Talk about your favorite flowers and be sure to discuss the kind of service you need.  Are you counting on the floral designer to do just bouquets and church flowers or do you want this professional to handle all of the design for ceremony and reception? Do you want them to just deliver the flowers to the church or do you expect them to place floral arrangements, aisle decorations (if ordered) and reception flowers? Will they provide someone to pin on corsages and boutonnières at the ceremony or will you? 

Here are some other questions that you may wish to consider asking as you interview florists.  The answers may help you make your decision and final choice of florist.

• ·        If he/she doesn’t offer the information, ask about the design credentials and experience of the florists who will work on your wedding.

• ·        Ask to see the operations area of the florist you are considering. See if there is enough design space to handle both your wedding and other work that may need to be done at the same time as your wedding.  There should be room for your bouquets and displays without crowding and staff to handle the careful assembly.

• ·        Ask about how far in advance of your wedding day they will begin the design process.  You don’t want bouquets assembled and then left sitting in coolers for days.

• ·        Ask how they insure that your flowers will be at their freshness peak.  Ask about the processing system they use to protect and feed the flowers as they arrive from growers.

• ·        Ask to see the cooler space they will use to store your completed flowers.  Is it big enough to handle your wedding needs and other business without crowding?  Is there backup?

• ·        Ask about their delivery system.  You want your flowers delivered on time without being damaged.  Make sure there is back up delivery trucks and experienced personnel handling delivery.

Flowers are an essential part of your wedding environment and key fashion accessories.  Select the best you can afford and make sure of the services you want and need well in advance of the wedding date.