When I see wedding photos the one thing I pay attention more to than anything else (besides the bride’s dress) is her bridal bouquet. Wedding flowers add so much life, color, and style to a wedding day and in my mind are SUPER important. As with any wedding vendor, the responsibilities of a florist will vary so you’ll want to make sure that you know exactly what they will be providing AND that you get it in writing when you contract. Hiring a florist can feel overwhelming if you haven’t done it before – which most couples haven’t – but I’m here to guide you through the process of hiring your dream florist.
The first step when you’re hiring a florist is to check your budget. KNOWING how much you have allocated to this service is essential if you want to stay on budget. Don’t even entertain an idea if you know it won’t fit in the budget if you don’t have any wiggle room.
Next, it’s time for some research. Roll up your sleeves, girl because it’s time to do a deep dive and find out what your options are. Here are a couple of things you should always do:
1. Check their Google Reviews
2. Check with your married friends to see who they used.
3. Talk to your wedding coordinator (Me!) because they typically have a vetted vendor list.
4. Check out their social media if you find any you like!
It’s really important to get a sense of what the florist's style is. If they use a ton of pampas grass or only make rounded bouquets and that’s NOT the vibe you’re looking for, they might not be the florist for you.
Once you’ve created a list of potential florists it’s time to pick up the phone (or shoot them an email!) Here are a few essential questions that you’ll want to ask:
Do you have my date available?
How many weddings have you done?
Have you worked at my venue before? (This helps you know if they’ll be comfortable working with the elements/colors at the venue!)
Will you be dropping off the flowers or can you help set them up? Is there an additional fee?
Can you work within my budget
Are the flowers I want going to be in-season on my wedding date?
Pro Tip: Pay attention to their response time. If a wedding vendor has an average response time of more than 48 hours throughout your communication, you may want to consider looking elsewhere. As you get closer to your wedding date you’ll be communicating with a ton of vendors and you don’t want this one to go MIA before your big day!
( P.S - interrupting this blog to let you know that you are definitely going to want to slide through the photos above! )
Once you have the basics you’ll want to set up a consultation to make sure your florist can make your vision come to list. ALWAYS consult with 2-3 florists so that you can get a feel for who truly understands your vision – pay attention to whether or not they seem knowledgeable about what they’re talking about and how well they communicate. Go with your gut on wedding vendors and make sure you can work with them easily! Don’t forget to take sample pictures with you so that the florist can visualize what you want.
There you go, you are prepped and ready to hire your dream florist! Happy hunting!
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