Choosing your wedding florist is SUCH an important aspect of the big day, and it’s really worth taking time over the decision to make sure all bases have been covered .

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Image by kristaguenin via Flickr

Early planning is esssential.  Give yourself at least four to six months before the big day to research and finalise your wedding flowers and bridal bouquet.

Choosing Wedding Florist

A good place to start is by talking to others and getting word of mouth referrals.  Most people will only make a recommendation if they feel they’ve had exceptional service, so ask around for real experiences.  Also talk to other suppliers such as photographers, venue managers, hair stylists and dress designers as they will also be very good (and reliable) sources of information.

Go online to get ideas and inspiration from online florists and other flower gifts websites.  The web is a fantastic resource and you can get good ideas of trends, colours and new floral designs.   Keep a reference file of photos, fabric swatches, dress design sketches and cuttings from magazines and newspapers so that you have a visual collection to show potential florists.

It’s best to have the venue and dress design finalized before you start looking at potential wedding florists.  It’s advantageous to work with a florist who has previous experience at your chosen wedding venue as they will know about the lighting, settings, locations etc and plus, they need to know what your dress design is so that they can quote/design an appropriate bouquet etc.

Make appointments to see at least two or three different wedding florists.  The following wedding florist checklist will be useful before you head off for the appointment:

Wedding Florist Check List

·         Have you got photos and cuttings of wedding flowers that you like?Have you got a portfolio of floral arrangements that you like?

·         Sketches or designs of the wedding dress

·         Fabric swatches

·         Photos or cuttings of how you’ll be wearing your hair on your wedding day

·         A list of your requirements (eg bride’s bouquet, bouquet for tossing, boutonierres for the groom, best man and ushers, corsages, aisle decorations, altar arrangements, table centerpieces, cake table, chair covers, table napkin decorations etc)

·         Details of the venue and ceremony (the florist’s previous experience at the venue could be invaluable when it comes to layout, lighting, proportions etc)

·         If you’re supplying the containers for the flowers, bring a sample with you to the meeting

A professional wedding florist should be able to provide :-

·         Customer referrals

·         Detailed breakdown of costs, including after hours charges, delivery etc

·         Contract detailing cancellation and refund procedures

·         Ask the florist to provide samples of the designs you like.  Also, remember that flowers are seasonal and some varieties may not be available in months to come.  If flowers have to be sourced from elsewhere because they aren’t in season, they will be more expensive.

Get a clear grip on all the costs and make sure you’ve covered all the bases.  Advance warning makes it easier to budget and to plan.

It’s vital that you feel that the florist understands your needs and your likes/dislikes – so the relationship has to be right.  If your answer is ‘YES’ to the following questions, then you’ve found the right wedding florist :

·         Are they energetic and do you feel confident about their abilities?

·         Do they have lots of different ideas and suggestions?

·         Are they really listening to what you want or are they paying lip service?

·         Are they enthusiastic about your special day or do you get the feeling that it’s just a bit routine?

·         Are they clear on budgets and costings?

Don’t feel intimidated by their knowledge and experience – it’s their job to create beautiful things that beautify the occasion.  In the end, it’s your big day and they’re there to help you make it memorable.

Once you’ve been to see your short-list of wedding florist, take your time before making a final decision as it’s a very personal affair.  As a leading Perth florist which specializes in wedding flowers, Angel Flowers, says : Flowers are the universal language of love and no wedding is complete without them, so make them perfect! Choose your Wedding Florist carefully then.

HOW TO CHOOSE A WEDDING FLORIST

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