Wedding flowers - Florist tips
Choosing a flowers for your wedding can take some time, but well worth it to check around. Be aware that today florists are no longer just floral arrangers; they are artists and designers and can help you a great deal. While you may have ideas of your own, they too can offer some creative solutions. When choosing, you need to consider the time of year or date of your wedding. If it falls at a popular time of year such as June it is not too soon to contact florists 9-12 months ahead of time. Many florists limit themselves to 1-2 two events and you will want to get them booked early. On the other hand if you have chosen a date that is not a peak wedding time, then no problem, 3-6 months is fine. To save money consider choosing an off time of year.
Don’t be afraid to make appointments with several flower shops to get a feel for their work. Do be up front with them when you call though, that you are looking around to get estimates and not going in for a full blown consultation. Regardless, when you visit just to check prices or get ideas of the florists work, then you will want to be sure you have a checklist handy of questions and items that you know you want. For example, you should know the number of bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, and such, which you will need. This way you will be comparing apples to apples when you visit each one.
You will also want to be upfront with what your floral budget is. Don’t be afraid to tell them if you think it is low, they can work within all types of budgets. The real key to price is the flower type and how elaborate you want them. An example of this is that rose bouquets are more expensive then carnations. The flower type does impact the overall cost.
When you visit the florist you should bring along anything that may help them to be creative with your theme. Samples of photos and styles and any items that you may want added. For example you are going to carry your great-grandmother’s lace handkerchief; you may want to bring this with you. The florist may have a very creative idea to showcase the item in your bouquet or other items that may fit well in the bridesmaids’ bouquets. Remember they are artists and you may be very surprised. A personal story I have of a florist is that the bride and groom were both musicians. The florist out of flowers made two wall hangings, one a guitar and the other a piano. It was just beautiful and was placed behind the bride and groom at the head table.
One way to save money when using a floral shop is to utilize the flowers at the ceremony and at the reception. This can save considerable money. For instance, the baskets or sprays at the church can be brought to the reception and used on a buffet or serving table, or likewise on dessert, or cake tables, or even the head table. If you have any bows or flowers on chairs or pews you may take those to the reception and have them placed on the corners of serving tables.
Other ideas I have seen, is that the brides bouquet becomes the centerpiece on the head table as well as the bridesmaids bouquets. Another thoughtful use and gesture I have seen done is that the flowers at the ceremony are donated to either a nursing home or hospital. This is a great idea if someone you know cannot come to your wedding due to an illness or hospitalization. What a lovely gesture to make use of those expensive flowers. Another thought and it is not morbid, is to bring pieces to a cemetary to a loved one that could not be there.
If you have some thoughts of this, you will want the florist to know ahead of time, in case there are costs for the delivery after the wedding. Even if you don’t know of anyone when you first speak with the florist ask ahead of time so they can let you know if it is possible for them to deliver after the ceremony. If not, you may need to find a friend that can take the flowers to your designated spot after the ceremony photography is completed.
My final comment on florists is that they can work within your budget no matter how limited; it will just mean that you may have to settle for something different. On the other hand if you don’t want to settle and make the most of your limited budget, consider doing the them yourself, or even consider doing some flowers yourself and have the florist do some. The advantages are that you will be able to purchase more flowers for your money, but a disadvantage will be the time factor.
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