Planning your wedding flowers is an essential aspect of creating a beautiful and cohesive atmosphere for your big day. Flowers play such a significant role in enhancing the overall aesthetic, setting the tone, and conveying the your style and personality. You can keep things low key or make big statements. Really it's down to you, and what you want to create and remember.
You don't need to know every last detail before you sit down with your florist as they will be able to help you fill in the gaps along the. way.
But where do you start? Use my wedding flower guide below.
1. Define your style.
Do you want, boho, modern, rustic, romantic? Browse wedding magazines, websites, and social media platforms for inspiration. Create a mood board or Pinterest board to gather ideas and decide on a colour palette. The time of year you are getting married may guide some of your inspiration on this.
2. Decide your colour palette
Decide on a colour scheme that complements your wedding theme and overall aesthetic. Consider the bridesmaids' dresses, venue decor, and other elements when selecting flower colours.
3. Set a budget
Establish a realistic budget for your wedding flowers. Be sure to include arrangements for the ceremony, reception, bridal party, and any other decorative elements. Your budget should be a balance of what you can afford and what elements you want. If you are unsure how much things cost then then get in touch and we are always happy to share our standard price list. This will give a general feel but will differ from one florist to another as each florists costs, overheads and experience will be different. Each florist may also use different stem counts so its not always easy to compare like for like quotes.
4. Seasonal flowers
Consider using seasonal flowers, as they are usually more readily available and cost-effective. Seasonal choices also ensure that the flowers are at their freshest and most vibrant. Being flexible with flower choices based on seasonal availability can also contribute to a more cost-effective and visually stunning outcome.
5. Find a florist
When looking for a florist you are looking for someone who has a vision which aligns with your day. How do they source their flowers ? Are they British grown or imported? Are they sustainable and chemical free? What is the most important thing for you? named varieties, seasonality or luxury florals? Some florists grow their own flowers too ( Farmer Florists) which means they may have lots of varieties which traditional florists can not get hold of through wholesalers. (Typically because some flowers do not travel well) There is no right or wrong but looking through the florists website and photos should give you a good idea if you are the right fit for each other. If you are looking for a Flower Farmer Florist or a florist who uses a lot of locally grown blooms then check out the Flowers From the Farm website. Otherwise there are wedding aps such as bridebook & hitched which are a good starting point.
6. Consult with a florist
Once you have found a florist who you think may be a good match contact then to ensure that they have availability for your wedding date. Typically florist will get booked up a year in advance for the most popular dates so its wise to get in early.
You can then discuss your vision, preferences, and budget. They may also have a standard price list and seasonal flower guide to help with some of your choices They can also provide valuable insights, suggest suitable flowers, help you create a cohesive design, and advise where your money would be best spent/ budget friendly options. .
7. Timeline
Work with your florist to create a timeline for flower deliveries and installations. Ensure that flowers set up as needed for the ceremony and reception. If it is a hot day the florist may advise to set up as late as possible outside to keep the flowers at their freshest. Most florists will usually plan to leave an hour before guests start to arrive but this will depend on when the venue is available for set up and you may have booked them for a turnaround from ceremony to reception. You will also need to consider if the venue has a midnight clearing policy as your florist will certainly charge extra for this service.
Elements to consider
Bridal Bouquet
Bridesmaids Bouquets:
Ceremony Flowers:
Reception Flowers:
Other Floral Elements:
Backup Plan: