10 tips for choosing your wedding florist and achieving the look of your dreams
When Paul Fuller Photography suggested we collaborate on a blog post Jojo Blooms and I couldn't resist sharing a few detailed tips to help couples plan their wedding florals. Paul has been sharing some amazing posts from wedding suppliers of all kinds whilst showcasing his fantastic photography.
Follow the link to his blog to take a read:
“Sue and Jo are two of the best wedding florists in the business who’ve recently joined forces. They’ve taken the time today to share their top tips on getting the wedding flowers of your dreams!”
Call us bias but the florals really do make your day sing and tie the look together. Let us share our wisdom so that you can get off to a smooth beginning when planning your dream wedding florals. We believe that you should be armed with realistic information to help you enjoy choosing the right wedding florist and florals for your big day!
Our 10 tips:
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Before meeting with your florist you’ll need to do some research. Save posts on your instagram, create a pinterest board or screenshot images and save them to a folder. The more ideas we start with of the ‘look’ that you would like for your wedding florals, the more we have to work from in our meetings.
Try to think about the following key points: Colour palette, high impact arrangements, where your florals will sit on location and who will have arrangements to wear or hold. Even better, bring along a photo of your dress, the suits, bridesmaid fabric swatch, furniture hire, the venue, these all help us to piece together the day as we discuss your floral options.
All wedding florists have a minimum spend for a wedding budget and you should keep this in mind when planning your wedding flowers. More on this below, but talking about the budget doesn’t have to be scary. We always jump straight into this topic at our meetings and discuss the details early, clarifying what arrangements to prioritise so that you feel safe in the knowledge that you’ve spent wisely.
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This is so important and will save you and the florists time! You should have an idea of the florist's style before you enquire, please don’t ask your florist for a single flower, tight bouquet if all of their images show light, airy designs with lots of variety! Match your desired look to their shown aesthetic so that you can guarantee the best outcome and harmony from the beginning.
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Couples are often surprised and wonder why florists have a minimum spend. Let us explain a little more:
When florists buy flowers, they generally do so in wholesale quantities, for example packets of 10, 25 or 50 individual stems. There needs to be enough spent in order to spread these flowers across all arrangements so that there is minimal wastage, wedding florists do not have the time or a shop to sell excess flowers to the public if they have to over order. The cost of flowers from wholesalers fluctuates daily, so we also need to account for those potential rises for weddings that are next year. It Is almost impossible to predict when one day a rose stem can be 95p, the next day it can be £8.00! Oh and don’t forget the tax.
May/June/July/August/September are peak seasons, the busiest time in our wedding calendar. We take on a lot of weddings in a short space of time and we have to make sure that each wedding covers our costs.
When you pay for your wedding flowers, the actual amount that’s going towards paying ourselves a wage isn’t as much as you may think. After tax, operational costs (software subscriptions, workshops we may attend to develop our skills, replenishing tools, design planning/admin/consultations, expertise, conditioning (preparing the flowers), creation, sundries / rentals, delivery, set up / pack down to name a few) and then the actual spend buying the flowers themselves, we’re then left with what we pay ourselves as a wage.
We offer luxury wedding flower designs, to achieve this look we order high quality florals. This is not only a part of our style but also a part of the brand and brand image that you fell in love with. In order to achieve this look, a lot of flowers are purchased to make your dreams a reality. This can only be achieved by having a deposit scheme and minimum spend in place. We have a current minimum floral investment of £1,500. Our approach is personal, bespoke, and designed around every aspect of your wedding day.
Wondering why wedding florists have different minimum spends? It's because operational costs vary - some have studio rent, some cater to larger scale weddings and therefore hire freelancers to assist and others have higher financial goals or take on more weddings per year.
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When you contact wedding florists that you are dying to work with, they will need to know your wedding date to check their diary before arranging your first meeting. It is worth also considering the date in terms of how it affects the costs of flowers and your venue! As we have mentioned above, on peak dates flowers can cost 3 times more than they would at another time due to high demand.
Likewise wedding venues have peak dates that will sell out long before others, so it is always worth booking your venue first! Your wedding venue, as well as your table layouts will greatly influence your choice of wedding flowers. Your florist will be able to advise what arrangement style will work and last in each position. Talk through ideas with your florist so you can have a design that blends well, flows throughout the day and ties your whole look together.
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Flowers and décor will take up about 15% of most wedding budgets. Bear this in mind when planning your wedding and mention your budget when enquiring.
Remember that florals really can decorate and style the entire look of your wedding if used to their full potential. You’ll see more value for money if you prioritise high-impact floral arrangements such as archways, meadows, fireplace and staircase adornments. This will be reflected in your photos, memories and guest reactions. What’s more, these types of designs can quite often be repurposed from ceremony to reception, making your money go even further. Your florist will be able to work magic and it will pay off on the day and in your photos for years to come.
There are certain arrangements that are going to increase the budget for your wedding flowers – these include floral installations such as archways, moon gates, flower columns, staircase designs and flower meadows. This is because they require a lot more planning, design work, flowers, and time on the day to create. But don’t forget that they can also add a certain wow factor that you and your guests will remember.
The number of guests at your wedding can also affect the price – for example, the more guests you have to a sit down reception, the more table centres you will require.
We are always happy to use our experience to provide recommendations on where the money is best spent, where to get value for money at your venue and how to make the greatest impact on the day.
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The more creative freedom your wedding florist has, the more magic you’ll see on your big day. We’ll create your mood board which focuses on a colour palette, and we’ll use it to select the most beautiful flowers in season at the time. However, it is worth noting that being flexible with the exact flower might be necessary…
When we go to market there is no guarantee that we will be able to buy that particular flower or the price may fluctuate so much that a similar option could be the better route. Most flowers are seasonal and may not be available or in season on your wedding date. However, don’t be saddened if you are getting married at a time where your favourite flower isn’t in bloom – your wedding florist will be able to source an almost identical flower, we have plenty of tricks up our sleeves to make several other flowers give the same effect as a Peony!
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Consider the timing of your day, if using a wedding planner, your florist will be able to liaise with them to make sure that this runs like clockwork. A few things to think about; arrange access to the venue the day or a few consecutive days before your wedding. Time the delivery of your bouquets and buttonholes after your photographer’s arrival. Finally, consider briefing a family member or groomsman on when to move arrangements from the ceremony area to the reception if this is something that you are utilising!
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Make sure that you consider how tall your table arrangements will be so that they don’t hinder conversation, but that they are plentiful so that the tables don’t feel empty. Plan the weight of your bridesmaids posies to keep them comfortable throughout the day. Use that wow ceremony arrangement to set the tone for your wedding day, give them a feast for the eyes! If you choose an experienced florist they will be able to suggest various invaluable tips such as these to really make your day sing!
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Remember that this is a wonderful opportunity to choose what you would like, your wedding, your way. Relish in this and work with your florist to make your dreams a reality because the memories will last a lifetime!
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Our final tip is to trust the florist that you have chosen. After all, you have researched, met with and agreed a wonderful approach to your wedding flowers. Now all that you have to do is let your florist be creative and trust the process.