Guide to choosing a wedding florist

A talented florist will ensure that your bridal bouquet is the most beautiful arrangement of flowers you will ever hold and that your floral decorations wow guests. Scroll down for a complete guide to choosing a wedding florist who will make your floral dreams a reality.

Wedding florist costs: How much to pay for wedding flowers

If you are opting for a bridal bouquet, bridesmaid posies and buttonholes, it is realistic to expect to pay between £140 to £200. Prices should only exceed this if you have decided to have additional floral decorations.

• Bridal bouquets will range from £40 - £80 dependent on the rarity of the flowers, arrangement and size
• Bridesmaid bouquets will range from £25 - £45
• Buttonholes should cost no more than £10 each

If you need to trim this budget, it is wise to give bridesmaids an elegant rose to carry or opt for small supermarket bouquets, which can easily be customised. These will cost no more than £10. Bridal bouquet costs can also be reduced by selecting flowers that are in season and are widely available.

Related articles: Wedding flowers Buying wedding confetti Creating centrepieces

How to find wedding florists near you

The easiest way to find a florist near your wedding is to ask your venue for their recommendations or preferred suppliers. It is also worth looking independently at florists located within a 5-10 mile radius of the venue: This will mean that delivery costs in the morning are minimal.

Before booking a wedding florist, visit a few shops so you can compare their creativity, interest in your wedding, price and floral stock. Costs are often reasonably comparative, but the approach and ability of florists can vary significantly. Do not get pulled in just by a big name; some smaller startups can be just as versatile and more willing to go the extra mile for an outstanding rating.

How to spot a talented wedding florist

• When visiting wedding florists, be bold and ask to look at photographs of previous weddings they have provided services for.
• Look at the range of flowers on offer and the quality/freshness of those on display.
• Check prices are inclusive of VAT and delivery on the day.

After exploring options near your venue, it is worth making a shortlist of two florists and organising to re-visit them for a bridal flower consultation. Always go with your favourite option first, and if this goes well, you can cancel the second consultation.

What to know before visiting wedding florists

Decide on flower preferences but keep an open mind: Before visiting florists, it is good to have an idea of what types of flowers, arrangements and bouquet shapes you prefer – taking some pictures is a great way of conveying your style preferences if you have limited flower knowledge or vocabulary.

Know what services you will want on the day and stick to these: Before visiting florists it is wise to decide on your specifications and approximate budget as this will stop you running away with ideas. In addition to the bouquets, wedding florists can also provide:

• Ceremony flowers
• Wedding confetti
• Flower centrepieces
• Thank you gifts
• Cake decorations

Related Articles: Choosing bridal flowers Confetti

What to expect at a wedding flower consultation

At a consultation, your florist will ask you about your wedding theme, colours and date to make sure they can accommodate your requirements.

The florist should then give their practical recommendations, prices and creative advice. While they are providing this, it is essential that you feel excited by their ideas and comfortable with pricing. This is your wedding day, and it is okay to walk away from the consultation to consider your options.

Some quieter shops will offer this consultation when you first visit to look around: This can save time if you already know your preferences, but do not feel forced into saying yes if you would prefer to come back once you have pictures.

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Questions to ask your wedding florist

• How many weddings do they serve on one day
• Do they include a consultation nearer the time if your plans change
• Will they deliver to your venue and is there a cost for this?
• What is their backup plan in case of sickness/unforeseen circumstances?
• Full costs for your requirements (do make sure that it is explicit if VAT is included or not)
• How they ensure the bouquet is robust enough to be thrown (if you intend to do this)

When to book a wedding florist

If you intend on going to a professional florist, it is worth booking their services up to four months in advance. The most talented florists will get booked up very early, especially during peak season.

How to book a wedding florist

Once you have met a florist who meets your requirements, you will often have to pay a small deposit (normally under £30) to secure their services on the day. This will be deducted from the final balance and usually is a percentage of the total (calculated on your exact requirements). The full balance is typically required a month before the wedding or payment can be made at the final flower consultation.

Finalising your wedding flowers

Approximately a month before your wedding, most florists will want to have a short consultation or email conversation to make sure your requirements are still the same. At this point, is it important to confirm:

• Tips on preserving your flowers on the day and after (if you want to keep them)
• How your florist will deliver the flowers to the venue on the day (whose contact details they will need)
• Delivery time (make sure this is different from other suppliers on the day)
• How bridesmaid flowers will be labelled (if there are any size differences)

Wedding day bridal bouquet tips

When walking the aisle with your flowers make sure to keep them below waist height so your husband-to-be can focus on your dress. At the end of the aisle pass these to your closest bridesmaid.

Also, make sure to pick up your bouquet for formal pictures, many brides will forget them and later regret that their beautiful flowers were not in pictures. The easiest way to remember is to pass them to a trusted bridesmaid, and she will then prompt you to take them back when needed.