5 Important Questions To Ask Your Wedding Florist

We’re not just making a biased statement here – your florist is going to play a major role in your wedding. From the ceremony entrance to the sweetheart table, their arrangements will set the look and tone of your entire weddingscape. As with any vendor, it’s important that the pro and client are on the same page to ensure that expectations are met and the day is flawlessly beautiful from start to finish.

An expert florist should be able to provide information about types of flowers and season availability along with advice about which floral designs best complement your wedding style and venue. Over the years, we’ve found that successfully turning a couple’s wedding vision into reality relies on maintaining an open conversation from the first meeting until the day of. So grab you’re planning notebook and pen – here are five important questions to ask your wedding florist with notes from the Bride & Blossom team.

Which flowers will be in season when I have my wedding?

The time of the year when you are getting married will affect the availability and selection of your wedding flowers to some degree. While most types of florals can be sourced year-round, they will come with a higher price tag and serious pre-planning. We recommend that our clients first consider what is in season to stay on budget while having the best blooms available. Bride & Blossom Founder Rachel Santana explains, “If you are willing to be flexible and open, there are many gorgeous floral options to fill your arrangements. We usually can get out-of-season varieties for clients that really want them, but the quality isn’t always the greatest and the price will be much steeper. By letting the season guide your decision, you are guaranteed the freshest, most beautiful flowers on your big day. We tend to use cherry blossoms, tulips, peonies, and sweet peas in spring weddings, hydrangeas, clematis, garden roses, and delphiniums during summer, and dahlias, chysanthemums, and hanging amaranthus in fall. Additionally, many clients are concerned about sustainability – most often, seasonal flowers can be purchased from local wholesalers and farmers.”

Which types of flowers best express my wedding theme and style?

After determining which flowers will be in season on your wedding date, you can start creating a floral recipe for arrangements and decor. Your florist should be able to guide you in selecting flowers that will best express your wedding theme and aesthetic. For example, if you love an organic and romantic look, florals with texture and dimension such as ranunculuses, café au lait dahlias, and cosmos are great options. With bold petals and clean silhouettes, Phalaenopsis orchids, calla lilies, and tulips underscore a chic and modern celebration. Roses, hydrangeas, and anemones set the tone for a timeless and elegant affair.

How do you price floral arrangements?

While each floral designer approaches pricing differently, make sure that your florist clearly communicates the cost breakdown for your wedding flowers. Typically, there is a base cost for bouquets, archways, chuppahs, mandaps, and centerpieces, which will increase or decrease depending on flower type and whether it is in season, amount of flowers needed, and complexity of design. “Bride & Blossom provides our clients with proposals detailing the floral recipe and total bloom count for each arrangement,” Rachel Santana notes. “Expectations are extremely high with weddings. Being transparent with our clients reduces stress and diminishes any misunderstanding because they know exactly what they are paying for, and ultimately getting, right down to the last rose.”

Have you done floral decor for a wedding at my venue before?

If it hasn’t already been established prior to the first meeting with your florist, be sure to ask them if they have done a wedding at your venue before. If they have, request to see photos that highlight the arrangements, decor, and overall atmosphere. Looking at past weddings in your venue will be especially helpful if you haven’t decided on a floral theme yet. Carla Hunt, Bride & Blossom’s Wedding Director explains, “Because each venue is unique from the next, seeing how a venue has been decorated before is important in order to fully understand which floral style best complements the space while also capturing your wedding aesthetic. While there are no rules when it comes to decor, a sleek, minimalist tablescape may not be the best choice for a grand chateau setting just as opulent candelabra centerpieces may look out of place against a modern industrial backdrop. We always provide our clients with examples from our design portfolio that showcase our work in their venue, or one that is comparable. From there, they will have a strong sense of how to best fill out the space with arrangements and other decorative elements while incorporating their own personal touches.”

Do you handle rentals or do I have to go to a rental company?

As you plan and design your wedding, the topic of rentals will enter the picture. Because rentals such as furniture, candleholders, and dinnerware are closely tied to flowers and decor, it’s worth asking your florist if securing any of these items is included in their list of services, or are you responsible to seek out event rental companies yourself. “Not all wedding & event florists take care of rentals,” Rachel Santana points out. “We work with our couples, and their planners if they have one, to coordinate rentals for any type of decor or occasion. Whether the client is looking for linens, chairs, chargers, or lounge furniture, we are happy to advise and help them find what they need for their special event.”

Your floral arrangements and decor are going to be in nearly every single wedding photo. By asking your florist these essential questions at the next meeting, you’ll be able to look back at your wedding album years from now and still love what you see right down to the very last petal.