Why Choosing Your Wedding Flowers Early Is Important (And 7 Things You Should Know Before Meeting Your Florist)

If you are in the midst of planning a wedding, chances are you have put together a To-Do list laying out in detail all that needs to get done before the big event. To-Do lists help organize, prioritize, and track progress. However, when faced with a huge project, we often leave the hardest tasks to the last minute. Doing the easiest, least-time consuming things first gives a sense of accomplishment – until it doesn’t. Dread of what’s to come mounts, becoming heavier as the weeks go by.

As wedding florists, we’ve watched clients juggle wedding planning in combination with their work and personal lives. In our first meetings, we learn that they have already addressed smaller items on their To-Do list. It becomes clear that for many couples, flowers are a priority. But actually choosing their special day blooms is causing stress, so they have been putting it off. “It isn’t unusual for couples to have booked their photographer, band, and even done their cake tasting by the time they meet with us,” Bride & Blossom Director Carla Hunt says. Founder Rachel Trimarco further explains.

“We frequently have couples come in for their initial consultation who mention that they have all of their major vendors booked and flowers were one of the last things on their list. While many wedding blogs and sites might recommend this route, we beg to differ! Flowers and decor are truly one of the only ways for a couple to set their wedding, venue, and style apart from the rest. The color scheme, types of flowers selected, style of the wedding and design are all very personal decisions and really set the stage for the overall feel of your wedding. Determining and deciding on palette and aesthetic very early on can help guide choices and decision making for many other components of your special day.”

You are coming to us on referral, or because you came across our work on Instagram or Pinterest and like what you saw. A major focus of our job is to alleviate the stress and guide you through the decision-making process. Before any calls or emails are exchanged, steps can be taken to get a jump-start on choosing your perfect wedding flowers.

Consider Your Venue
From glamorous ballrooms to flourishing botanical gardens to chic downtown lofts, New York City offers every type of wedding venue. Your floral arrangements should complement the space where you will be getting married. High candelabra centerpieces accentuate the gilded ornamentation of The Plaza just as long tables decorated with floral and greenery garland underscore the cool, intimate vibe of the Bowery Hotel.

 

 

Determine Your Budget
Most of our clients have their floral budget finalized by the time they meet with us. The main factors influencing how much money will be spent are flower preference, how many flowers will be needed to decorate the space, and season and availability. Thus, having a good sense of budget early on filters your vision through a realistic lens – you’ll know which blooms are affordable and available. No wasted time and energy.

Know Your Wedding Style
Every couple is unique. Determining the overall aesthetic that you and your partner want for your wedding will impact the flowers you choose. Unsure where to start? We like to think that a wedding is a genuine reflection of a couple’s everyday style and personality, just elevated for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. If you love ‘being in love’ and passionate gestures of affection, a romantic theme with voluminous, soft colored florals, delicate details, and candlelight may be a good fit. If you gravitate towards a simple, streamlined look, modern décor with crisp white florals and geometric accents may be the way to go. Are you mapping out your next wilderness adventure together? Consider an outdoor wedding with organic florals and abundant greenery complemented by natural components such as gauze linens, feathers, and wood seating.

 

 

 

Gather Inspiration
With Instagram, Pinterest, wedding blogs, and bridal magazines, the wealth of sources showcasing ideas and trends can be overwhelming. Start by following accounts and pinning images of flowers that you really like and speak to your personal style. And don’t be afraid to look outside of the wedding universe for your muse. Research paintings by your favorite artist, collage photos from that unforgettable trip to Italy, page through books of English gardens, or check out the centerpieces at restaurants and boutiques for inspiration.

Pick a Color Scheme
Georgia O’Keeffe put it best when she said, “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way; things I had no words for.” Color is personal, emotional, and transformative. Your floral palette affects the overall look and feel of your wedding in so many ways. Some of our brides want nothing to do with pink flowers while other can’t get enough. Real BB couple Dayna and Matt had fun with coming up with their kaleidoscope-inspired color concept and headed to their local paint store for inspiration. “I would recommend this to any bride,” Dayna says. “We pulled out various paint chips and arranged them into really unique color schemes.” Once you grasp which colors you want and those you don’t, you can start choosing flower recipes. While you should think about wedding colors with wild abandon, we do see a correlation between schemes and season: winter (and summer) tends to be whites with greenery; spring is vibrant with bright purples, pinks, and yellow; summer is softer with blushes, peach, mauves, ivory, and cream; fall is rich with deep jewel tones along with berrry, burgundy, and wine.

 

 

 

 

Learn the Basics of Wedding Flowers
Pro Tip: Doing a little homework on flower types before meeting with your florist will prove to be fruitful. There will not be an exam, but it’s helpful to understand the main flowers used in wedding décor such as roses, ranunculuses, dahlias, anemones, orchids, hydrangeas, tulips, and lilies. Additionally, consider if you want to include fragrant blossoms or not – peonies, jasmine, gardenias, magnolias, sweetpeas, lilacs, lavender, lily of the valley, and freesias are noted for their distinct scents. This is also an ideal area to list any allergies you or special guests have.

 

 

 

 

Know What’s In Season
Cherry blossoms, tulips, and peonies bloom in spring, daisies and delphiniums thrive in summer, dahlias and mums bring life to fall. While rules shouldn’t dictate your flower selection, be aware that your florist will have an easier time sourcing seasonal blooms. And with accessibility and availability comes a lower price tag.

 

 

We use flowers to express emotion during life’s most important moments. Whether your wedding vision is as clear as day or still in the nascent stages, flowers should be of high priority. Once floral design and decor is settled, choosing the rest of your details to tell your love story will be a piece of wedding cake.