Flowers can help set the overall tone and style of the wedding so it is important that you choose your flowers and book your florist as early as you can. Here are some tips on how to choose your flowers and your florist for the big day.
Book your florist in advance
Most florists tend to book their weddings in advance and because of the difficulty in acquiring certain types of flowers and the intricacies involved in flower decoration, some may only book one wedding per week. To ensure that you get the flowers that you want in your wedding, it is wise to book your florist and make flower arrangements as soon as you have set a date, booked the venue, and bought your wedding dress.
Choosing the Right Florist: Referrals and Magazines
You can find numerous florists that cater to weddings if you live in or near large cities. You can ask friends and family members for referrals. Bridal magazines like Weddings and Brides are also good sources of florist options since they often list down the florists that cater to specific weddings along with contact information for future brides.
Working with Your Florist
The first meeting is where you get a feel for how well you and the florist can work together. Most florists know how to provide all the information the client needs in a manner that is friendly and professional. It is important to choose a florist who understands what flowers you want, why you want these flowers, and how you want these flowers displayed. The best florists will be ready with display options for you to choose from as well as photos so you can see examples of past works. Since flowers are a large part of what brings the color to a wedding, you will also be working closely with him or her in planning the color selections and making sure that all your color choices, from the dresses to the flowers to the cake, go well together.
Photography: Studio Impressions Photography
Source: Style Me Pretty
Using a Moodboard for Visual Inspiration
Working on the color palette will require you to look at the colors and textures of your gown, the cake, the bridesmaids dresses, the flowers and the rest of the decorations for the wedding. A vision board will help you and the florist get a bird’s eye view of how all these colors will appear together on the big day.
Finances
Your florist will give you an estimate of how much you can expect to spend for the entire service. Ask for a breakdown to see how your money is spent. Do not scrimp on the cheapest packages if you want to see your choice of flowers and arrangement translated well in your wedding.
Choosing Your Flowers
It is always a good idea to choose flowers that are in season to make procurement easier on your florist and to ensure that you do not spend too much on your flower arrangements. Flowers in season will also work well with fruits, leaves, and berries that are also in season for unique formations. Fragrant blooms in the spring, sunflowers in the summer and amaryllis in the winter are great starter choices.
Photography: N Barrett Photography
Source: 100 Layer Cake
Wedding Theme, the Ceremony, and Your Gown
The wedding theme is also an important factor. Your florist can advise on what seasonal flowers will fit a casual beach wedding, or what blooms are suited for a traditional, black tie wedding. Your bouquet should also compliment your gown. Your florist can help you find flowers with textures and colors that will accentuate the beauty of your dress. The ceremony is also another consideration. There are flowers that work well for formal, traditional weddings, while there are flowers which work great for a cottage style, homey and intimate ceremony.
Photography: Ryan Ray Photography
Source: Style Me Pretty
Something Different
Most brides want to have a flower arrangement that is unique. You can splurge on your bouquet if you want something new and different and totally out of season, or you can go for an interesting arrangement, such as hanging flower balls instead of centerpieces, to deviate from the usual and give your ceremony a unique feel.
Trends
Current wedding trends can affect your choice of colors as well. Strong colors, combinations of whites and greens and greens and purples are timeless classics. Pairing flowers with fabrics and other items is also a stylish trend that is not going away soon.
Author Bio: Annie Dodson is a professional wedding planner and blogger from Australia. She has been in the wedding business for nearly a decade and loves to share her ideas and experience. Currently, she is contributing to the marketing department at Flowerbasket, Australia’s leading online florist.