Choosing a wedding florist part 2 – what to ask at a consultation

roses and peonies

Any good florist will have a vast amount of knowledge about flowers.  They will know all sorts of useful info like which flowers are in season, what flowers look good together and they will be able to give you ideas for designs that keep within your budget.

If you are meeting with a few florists there are a few things you can think about to help you choose the right one for you.  Florists will show you photos of designs to give you an idea of different styles available.  Are their photos current and up to date? Some florists have a very definite style, do you like their style and their ideas? Pre-made design books and magazines are fine for getting ideas, but be sure you see some pictures of the florists own work as well so you can see the standard of their work and style.

When asked about your budget you should be upfront about what you want to spend.  Wedding flowers can go up or down hundreds of pounds dependent on the types of flowers you choose for your designs, some designs don’t contain many flowers but are very labour intensive and therefore cost more.  If you give your florist an idea of your budget they can suggest the best flowers and designs for you and you won’t get a shock when you receive your quote.  If you don’t know what you plan to spend, take a look at the flower and plant association website.  They have a guide to average prices compiled from UK florists, and a list of  flowers that are reasonably priced and flowers that are more expensive.

gloriosa, viburnum, peony and lisianthus

When the florist discusses your colour scheme and ideas, do you feel like they listen to what you want and understand what you are looking for?  A good florist will take in your ideas and translate them into designs that will work with your budget.  If you have orchid ideas but a chrysanth budget they should also be able to offer alternative flowers or designs that will provide a similar effect but be more cost effective.  If your budget won’t cover all the items you originally wanted, the florist should be able to suggest which items to spend the majority of your budget on to get the best impact.

If the florist has decorated your venue before they should be able to suggest designs that will suit your venue and any focal areas to decorate.  Ask them if they can provide a transfer service to move any items from your ceremony to use at your reception venue.  Florists will charge for this but the fee is normally far less than it would be for extra designs.

avalanche, peony and gloriosa bouquet

If you have looked into wedding flower costs, you should have a rough idea what your quote will say when it arrives.  If you have got a few quotes spend a little time to go through them, check all the details and that your total price states all the delivery and set-up costs.  If any quote stands out as drastically cheaper than others, you should consider why.  You don’t want to trust your wedding flowers to an inexperienced florist or someone who will let you down the week of your wedding because they have under-priced your flowers.  This also includes friends of friends or aunties who ‘do flowers’, only a highly skilled and experienced florist should do wedding flowers.  I have had to fix several attempts at wedding bouquets on the day of the wedding, made by people who are not florists with poor quality flowers, just because they were a cheap option.

Ultimately go with your instincts when making the decision on your florist, pick the one that you trust to turn your ideas into beautiful flowers.

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