Flowers play a big part in creating the vibe for your wedding. Whether it’s romantic, modern, whimsical or rustic, flowers add ‘heart’ to any celebration. After all, they symbolise life, growth and rebirth. So, it’s worth spending time finding a great florist to help realise your ideas. Here are my tips!

Ask your mates 

You’ll no doubt have been to a few weddings yourself and seen what appeals and what doesn’t. Ask which florists were used. You could even get a guide of costs involved. If you get stuck, ask at the venue you’ve chosen. They will no doubt have recommendations or preferred suppliers. Obviously, you’ll want someone reliable and within your price range.

Have a chat

Show your potential florists your wedding ideas. A photograph of your dress and some images of what you want to create will speak a thousand words. Are your shortlisted florists interested in activating a space and bringing a theme to life? Or are they more about providing arrangements à la carte? If you have a wedding planner and an eye for design, then a regular florist is probably what you need. If it’s more about the entire event, a florist designer is perhaps more your go. Ask questions about the florist’s styles and previous weddings; you’ll soon get a gauge on what’s going to work for you.

Choose your style

The style of your wedding will determine the best season for it. Thinking beachy summer wedding or winter wedding at a vineyard or barn? Loosely composed or tight and traditional? You’ll need to select your flowers and florist according to your wedding style, venue choice and seasonal availability.

Know your budget

The average costs of flowers vary dramatically from wedding to wedding. Have a rough idea of how much you want to spend on your flowers, including your bouquet. The cost will depend on the size of arrangements, the number and types of flowers required, and whether they are in season or not. As a rule of thumb, I would factor in about ten per cent of your overall budget to flowers.

Sustainable?

This is another question to ask your florist. Is it possible to reuse the ceremony flowers at the end of the day? Is it important to have locally grown flowers? There is definitely a trend for a more au naturel style of flowers at the moment, so why not feed your eco soul and ensure that the materials used are re-useable or biodegradable.

Think ahead

Florists are in high demand, and so you’ll need to book them in around six to eight months before the wedding – especially if you’re a summer wedding.

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