Jan 26

Jan 26 Florist: Wedding Vendor Guide

Wedding Vendor Guide: Florist

Choosing wedding vendors can be a complex process that involves lots of questions, research, and budgeting. That’s why I started this series of Wedding Vendor Guides! To show you what to ask and when to ask it. And hopefully make your job of planning your wedding THAT much easier. We’re starting with finding a Florist!

Vendor Search

First, to find any wedding vendor, I’d do a search in the area. I’d search “best wedding florist” or “top florist in X location”. I’d also use The Knot and Wedding Wire to find top options. Look at pictures on their website or Instagram. If you like their style, e-mail for a quote and confirm availability for your wedding date. Assuming they’re free on your wedding day, you’ll need an idea of florals to request a quote.

Let’s figure out WHAT you need.

What florals are you envisioning for your big day? Do you need ceremony flowers? Do your bridesmaids need bouquets? Do you want reception centerpieces? Do you envision a floral wall? Start narrowing down what you want in terms of flowers.

Think High Level

The best part? You don’t need to get too detailed on types of flowers yet because the florist can help you with that! They can tell you what’s in season, what costs more or less, etc. Once you choose a florist, let her help you figure out the specifics.

Examples of Florals

Bridal party:

Bride bouquet
#bridesmaids bouquets
Groom boutonniere
# groomsmen bouts + FOB, FOG
# usher bouts (optional)
# corsages - MOB, MOG, Grandmas, etc.
Flower girl accessories (floral crown, bouquet)

Ceremony:

Ceremony arch - large florals at the base, floral swag on the side, flower wall instead of arch, etc.
Aisle - vases on the ground, every other row, florals on a ceremony sign, etc.

Cocktail Hour:

# high tops
Bar florals
Photo wall

Reception:

Sweetheart table / head table - something low, so you aren’t blocked
# table centerpieces - do you want low, high, mixture of high/low, greenery, floral, muted, etc. This is usually where your style shines through.
Card table, dessert table, etc - anticipate 2-4 more tables that would need floral arrangements.

Now you’ve got an idea of WHAT you want, so list it all out and ask the florist for a rough quote. Again, without specifics on flower types the quote will vary. Roses cost more than baby’s breath. Anemones are harder to get than eucalyptus. If you have an idea of what type of florals you want, mention it! But don’t get hung up on the specifics. You want the florist to use her creativity to help you come up with the overall “look” once you’ve booked her.

Language you can use when requesting quotes. Assuming they are available on your wedding date.

Email Language Example:

Hello!

I am narrowing in on a florist decision, but wanted to share what I am thinking in terms of florals so we can get a rough quote. I have not decided on types of flowers yet, but my wedding colors are mostly black, white and lighter tones, with some natural greenery. Our venue has a somewhat rustic feeling with lots of browns so I definitely want to brighten it up! Also, it is important to note that the venue does not allow open flame candles so I will be getting creative with other centerpieces that we can combine with the florals. Ideas welcome!

Here is what I know I will need/want for florals at this time. (List it out)

A few more things you may want to consider:

Get a good understanding of travel time costs for the florist. Is your venue an hour away for them? Are they charging you by the hour?

Delivery options on wedding day. If your ceremony is at a church and your reception is at a winery - are they setting up florals at both locations? Or delivering to one and then you have to move things around? Also consider where your bouquets will be delivered vs where you are getting ready. You may want bouquets for “get ready” photos.

Factor in set-up and tear-down depending on your venue requirements. Some venues require you to tear down that night. Will the florist be doing that? Will you (just say no)? Put someone in charge of tear down if needed.

What does the florist want back? Vases, candles, etc may need to be set aside and returned to the florist.

Be open to repurposing florals from the ceremony for reception. This saves you money and waste.

And that’s it folks! Hopefully this gives you a good starting point in your vendor search. Anything I’ve forgotten? Drop me a note.

Happy Planning!