How to Pick the Perfect Florist

There are so many beautiful aspects of a wedding day, but one of the prettiest elements is easily the floral arrangements. From bouquets and boutonnieres carried by the wedding party to table centerpieces, ceremony decor and even the cake, natural elements are often everywhere on a wedding day. Even brides who aren’t fans of flowers often include some small floral or natural elements such as greenery garlands. So it’s only natural (hehe) that choosing the right florist is an important part of the planning process.

Before a couple can begin to look for the perfect florist, there are a few things that need to be checked off the planning list, such as the venue, the color palette, and the wedding style. And while a florist can give amazing recommendations about the best flowers to choose based on the season, wedding style and colors, it’s best to have an idea of what you like and dislike, as well as where you want floral arrangements to appear on your wedding day.

Do you imagine your bouquet being wild, modern, or structured? Will they have more white and soft colors like pink, or vibrant colors like yellow? How much greenery do want to include in the design? Do you want short centerpieces on each table, bud vases, or a floral installation that hangs above the tables? Will there be floral elements in the ceremony, such as on the backdrop or lining the aisle?

Once you’ve got a game plan, it’s time to start researching florists who may be able to create your vision. Begin by asking friends, family or your wedding planner for recommendations, search reviews online, and look through the florists’ portfolios to see who has a style that fits with yours.

You’ll want to narrow down your list to see who your top contenders are, and the first questions you should ask about are date availability and price minimums to see who you could work with.

But after that point, what sets one florist apart from another? We’re here to help you get started.

Style and Experience

If flowers are one of your top priorities, you may want to focus in on questions about style and experience. You already know they’re going to play a big part in your wedding, so you want to find the perfect floral designer to bring your vision to life.

• • How long have you been a florist?
  • What is your floral design background?
  • Have you done many weddings?
  • Have you ever worked at our venue?
  • What is your design style?
  • What sets you apart from your competition?
  • Do you have any reviews I could see or references I could speak to?
  • Will you take the bride’s dress into consideration when creating the bridal bouquet?

Price and Logistics

Sticker shock is real and price should be taken into account early in the process with a florist. There are so many factors involved in how flowers are priced, such as the difference between standard and premium blooms, which flowers will be in season during your wedding, and where the flowers are coming from.

The Flowers

Maybe you know exactly what flowers you want, or maybe you have no clue. Having a great conversation with your potential florist about what’s important to you and what you need help with will help you see how awesome they’ll be to work with.

• If there aren’t particular flowers I want, will you make suggestions based on my wedding style, season and budget?
• Can you work with inspiration photos of arrangements I like?
• Are you willing to work with flowers that are out of season?
• Do you work with flowers that are locally sourced and/or sustainably grown?
• Do you only work with fresh flowers?
• Will you make suggestions to lower the budget without compromising the aesthetic look?
• What type of vases do you suggest?
• What kind of wraps can you do for the bouquets?
• When will you create my floral pieces, and how will they be stored before the wedding?
• Can you help me preserve my bouquet?

Setup

If you’ve chosen to keep the flowers simple and only include personal flowers, you might choose to pick up the flowers the day before the wedding. But if you’d like the flowers to come to you, you’ll want to think about the setup logistics before you book your florist.

• • Is delivery included?
  • What is your delivery range?
  • Will you be dropping off the arrangements or assisting with setup?
  • Is there an extra fee for setup?
  • How much time would you need for setup?
  • Do you offer breakdown services?
  • If we rent the vases or other items, how do we return them to you?
  • Are you able to work with my cake baker?
  • Do you have any other weddings or large orders that weekend?