You're Engaged...Now What Should You Do About Wedding Flowers?
You may have worked with a floral designer before, to order a boutonniere for your prom date or a Mother’s Day bouquet, but picking wedding flowers requires special attention. Your wedding flowers are going to punch up the "pretty" factor of your reception, and will be seen in almost all of your formal photographs.
At a minimum, you'll probably want to order a bridal bouquet; bouquets for your attendants; boutonnieres for the groom, groomsmen and fathers; corsages for the mothers (and sometimes the grandmothers); flowers for the ceremony site;
and centerpieces for the reception tables.
But the first step is to find a florist who "Gets You" —
and will get the job done right! ( :
Floral Designer: All My Heart Events
Start Interviewing Pros
All My Heart Events Most couples meet with floral designers for their wedding flowers needs to make sure their styles, prices and personalities agree with each other. You can obtain referrals from your house of worship, or recently married friends and family members, or go to an amazing referral site for all kinds of wedding vendors: Wedding.com. is a member on this site and has a 5-star star status here! ( :
Floral Designer: All My Heart Events
Photographer: Jessica Anne Photography
Be Prepared
In order to present you with his or her ideas, a florist will need to know three things:
Your budget: Most brides and grooms will spend about 10% percent of their total wedding budget on their wedding flowers and decor. It's okay if you don't have much to spend — most floral designers will be willing to work within the parameters of your budget and suggest smart ways to save. Like us open versus closed roses to fill up your bouquets and centerpieces with less flowers ( :
Your numbers: To determine quantities and, consequently, total prices, the floral designer will need to know the number of tables you will have at your reception, for centerpieces';; how many bridesmaids and groomsmen you're having; and the number of children, grandparents, parents and stepparents who'll need flowers, too.
Your style: First, have a general idea of the look you want (lavish, natural, simple, modern, romantic). Next, compile an "idea file" of photographs, from magazines or books,Pinterest (of course) that exemplify the kind of floral designs you like. And have a color scheme in mind. At a loss?...Use the design details on your invitation, the color of your bridesmaid dresses and the interior of your reception space as reference points.
Floral Designer: All My Heart Events
When you attend appointments,
you should be ready to show florists:
Your idea file: Visual aids are essential (just like when you're trying out a new haircut at the beauty salon).
A bridesmaid dress fabric swatch: This is an important item! Fabric swatches will help your floral designer suggest coordinating flowers. (It's not enough to say "lavender," for example, because there are so many variations.)
A photo of your wedding dress: This way, the floral designer can suggest bouquet styles that are complementary in terms of size, color and grandeur. Remember, too, to specify whether your gown is white or ivory. The floral designer will want to have the base flowers be either white or ivory and it does make a difference, especially in your wedding pics, unless you are going for a monochromatic white look, which is also beautiful and can incorporate many variations of white! ( :
Photographs or a brochure of your ceremony and reception sites: The layout, wallpaper, ceiling heights, windows and room and carpet color will greatly affect what your florist dreams up for your decor. Trying to match the room decor of your vendor with your chosen wedding colors, will determine which variation of a flower's color(s) will be chosen over another.
What to Ask Prospective Florists
Don't forget to ask:
"Do you offer any other decorations, such as candles, lighting and linens, and how will these affect the cost?"
"Do certain flowers cost more than other flowers?"
"Do you set up the flowers at the venue for me?"
Now it's time to narrow down your selection. When the floral designer begins to get a sense of your vision, she should offer ideas and suggestions and show some bouquets or other arrangements, so you can check out his or her work and see the detail in person.be sure to get an estimate — in writing — based on what you've discussed. Feel free to ask any other questions that will increase your confidence in, and comfort level with, the floral designer at the end of each meeting,
Floral Designer: All My Heart Events
Photographer: Jessica Anne Photography
Booking a Florist:
When you've finally committed to a florist, set up a second meeting to finalize the details of your order, in terms of the specific wedding flowers that will be used, as well as the colors, style or composition, and quantity. This is the time to make adjustments: Do you really need an arrangement for the head table, or can you use the bridesmaid bouquets as head table decorations? All My Heart Events always makes the suggestion to use the bride and bridesmaid bouquets, whether in vases or laying face forward to guest with ribbons (if any) dangling down the front of the tables. For a sweetheart table, just use the bridal bouquet as your centerpiece. It helps reduce a brides overall cost for her wedding package and they are already readily handy and look beautiful sitting in front of the bridal party at the head table! ( : Trust your florist's knowledge and expertise, and be willing to mix and match your ideas and desires with her recommendations.
Can you skip the pew decorations at the ceremony, and are there substitute flowers for what you have chosen that are similar and will bring the cost down? Yes to both questions. There is no need to have pew decorations and./or you can just put bows in the end of the pews. Simple decor is always beautiful and elegant.
The Contract
The booking process will be complete, when you sign a contract. Typically, floral designers, like All My Heart Events, will ask for a 50% deposit for a down payment on the wedding
flower package you have chosen, when you sign the contract. The balance will then be due the week of the wedding.
The payment schedule should be clearly stated in your contract, along with the number and descriptions of each item in your wedding package, the prices; the date, place and time the flowers will be delivered and assembled; as well as any rental fees for vases or decorations the floral designer is providing, along with pickup and return procedures (returns only appropriate for rental flowers and accessories); and any additional labor charges, taxes and other fees.
Always choose:
for your Real Look Silk Wedding Flower Arrangements and Decor
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for over 30 years.
