Flowers are truly one of the most important elements of any wedding. Great flowers give your venue a lush, romantic look – and if you hire a florist who is responsible and organized, you can rest assured that the look of your wedding will come together beautifully on the big day.
It’s important that you ask your florist a lot of questions before the big day because, let’s face it: Most of us don’t know a lot about flowers, which makes it tough for us to predict how the arrangements will look. Flowers are also very expensive, so booking the right vendor is absolutely essential.
These are the questions I think every bride should ask her prospective florists before she signs a contract.
Photo courtesy of Miller & Miller Photography
1. Can we write it into my contract that you won’t do another wedding on the same day? If your wedding is in the morning and there’s another one in the evening on the same day, your florist might think it’s OK to work both of these events. I would suggest writing a caveat into your contract saying your florist will only work your wedding on that particular day. That way, you’ll have her full attention.
2. What flowers will be in season the month of my wedding? The last thing you want to do is design the arrangement of your dreams, only to realize that it won’t be possible to recreate when your wedding date rolls along! Be sure to speak with your florist about the varieties they’ll have available during that exact time.
3. Have you ever done a wedding at my venue? Having a florist who understand the look and feel of your venue makes a huge difference. While there’s no reason you can’t work with someone who has never experienced the space, I think it’s a great idea to go with a florist who is comfortable with your location.
Photo courtesy of Fowler Studios
4. Can you use my own vases/votives? Believe it or not, sometimes it’s cheaper for you to buy vases and candles for your tables! You can likely find affordable accessories on a site like Etsy – but it’s very important for you to make sure your florist is OK with using these.
5. Have you done other weddings with a similar vibe to mine? This sounds like a strange question – but trust me! If you want to have a glamorous, high-end wedding, work with vendors who are experienced in creating this sort of vibe. If you want to have a laid-back bohemian party, choose someone who knows her way around a string of burlap.
6. Can you suggest anything to bring down the price? Again, flowers are very pricey. It’s always worth asking your florist to suggest small tweaks to your vision that can bring down your overall cost.
7. Will you still charge me for a mock-up if I book you as my florist? You should definitely allow a florist to show you a mock-up of an arrangement before booking. With that being said, you may be able to have the florist apply the cost of your mock-up to your overall wedding bill if you end up booking his or her services. Be sure to ask about this!