Choosing a Wedding Florist

With so many wedding florists out there, how do you know which one has your best interests at heart? Read on for some tips on choosing a wedding florist.

Visit a Local Wedding Florist

Hopefully your church and reception location aren’t far apart from each other. This will come in handy when choosing a florist. Your best bet is to go with one that is local to the wedding and reception areas to cut down on costly delivery fees. The quicker your flowers reach their destination the fresher they will be.

Choosing a Wedding Florist: First Things First

Before choosing a wedding florist, several decisions should have been made. You should already know the type of wedding and reception you have planned and their locations should already be booked. For instance, if you are having a beach wedding the bride will want a small bouquet to go with her more informal beach wedding dress.

You should also know what color table linens will be used at the reception and what color dresses the bridal party will be wearing. This information is important when comparison shopping since you want to choose flowers to match the décor.

It’s probably a good idea to first check with your banquet manager to see if flowers for the reception are included in your catering package. If they are, and this is acceptable to you, you’ll only need to discuss ceremonial flowers and bouquets.

A florist who is armed with this information can give you a more accurate quote.

What You’ll Need

The sizes and shapes will vary, but you will want to find packages that include the following:

• Brides bouquet
• Bridesmaid’s bouquets
• Corsages for Moms, grandmothers and other special women
• Boutonnieres for the groom, groomsmen and fathers of the bride and groom
• Floral arrangements for the church
• Centerpieces for the Reception

These are the basics. A more elaborate wedding will call for more elaborate flowers. For instance, will you need a flower girl basket? Will a small bridal bouquet for “tossing” be required? If you’re getting married under a gazebo, trellis or canopy, will these be adorned with flowers? Extras such as these are sure to add to the cost.

Comparison Shop

Like all other aspects of your wedding, you’ll want to comparison shop to get the best value for your money. Visit with different wedding florists and describe what you’d like for your wedding. He’ll probably have several books for you to look through to choose the flowers and centerpieces that compliment your wedding and reception. Keep in mind that flowers are seasonal. To save money, go with blooms that are in season. If they’re out of season, make sure they won’t cost much money to bring in from other parts of the country. Exotic flowers are sure to be more expensive.

In your quest for the perfect flowers for your wedding, don’t discount the neighborhood florist. He might not advertise as a wedding florist, but he probably knows what he’s doing. Even better, he probably charges less than the one at the wedding super center. The service is sure to be more personalized and he’ll have more time to sit with you and find flowers to suit your needs.

Putting it All Together

Once you’ve visited several shops, browsed their books and received their quotes, it’s time for you to begin choosing a wedding florist. Do you want to go with the wedding florist who charges the lowest fee or the florist with the prettiest floral arrangements? Do you want personalized service, or a limited package provided by the wedding super center or catering hall? Don't forget to ask about flower preservation! Whatever you do, don’t settle for the cheapest price if the package doesn’t feel right to you. It is, after all, the most important day of your life.