Finding the Best Wedding Florist for Your Big Day

Finding the best wedding florist for your up-coming marriage ceremony doesn’t have to be complicated. By starting early, you can ensure your flowers and arrangements will be perfect when it’s time to say “I do.”

Your wedding should be special and unique. Accordingly, every element of your ceremony and reception should be special and appropriate. The wedding flowers are one the most important aspects of your celebration and deserve as much attention as your choice of venue, music, and other wedding details.

Ideally, you want to select a wedding florist at least six months prior to your wedding. Visit florists in your area and check out their arrangements, style and of course, their rates. You can also meet with the florists themselves and ask to see their references. If a florist has successfully handled many weddings, they are sure to have many positive references. If a florist doesn’t have many references for their services, you need to ask yourself why. Remember, your wedding is far too important to trust to an inexperienced florist.

Once you begin to focus in on a particular florist, it’s time to begin asking about the details of their service. Find out about any delivery and setup fees; be sure you know exactly what you get for your money. Some florists only provide flowers, but others will take care of all the tiny details, including even the party favors. Also enquire about the props, linens and other extras the florist will provide.

It is important to remember that you are purchasing flowers for your ceremony and the reception, as well as your bridal party flowers and corsages. A good rule of thumb for your budget is that approximately 10 and 20% of your total wedding expense should be spent on the floral arrangements.

If cost is your biggest consideration, don’t worry. It is possible to obtain lovely flower arrangements on a budget; especially if you plan out and organize your flower needs well in advance. To keep your wedding florist expenses as reasonable as possible, it is important to be honest with your florist from the start, and let them know that reducing cost is a very high priority for you.

Once the florist is aware of your limited budget, they can often suggest ways to cut expenses while maintaining a high-quality appearance in your flowers and arrangements. Getting the florist “on your side” can make all the difference in the world, because most experienced wedding florists will know dozens of ways to cut costs and get the absolute best from your limited budget.

Important note: before ordering any flowers with your florist, be sure that your wedding venue allows “third-party” vendors for flowers. Occasionally, a venue will have a commercial relationship with a particular florist that they require be used in their venue. Fortunately, most venues do not have such limiting rules, but a few still do, so be sure to check before ordering any flower arrangements.

An experienced wedding florist can offer many creative suggestions to make your ceremony and reception more personal and unique. Trust their opinions on what will look the best for your event. Remember, you appreciated their work to begin with--that’s why you hired them!

By starting early and working closely with your chosen wedding florist, you will be sure to get the best flower arrangements possible, no matter how large or small your budget may be.