How to find a wedding florist.
Obviously every aspect of your wedding is important, but few add as much visual punch as the florals. The flowers create the whole vibe of your wedding day, they can literally change the environment of your wedding.
You want a romantic scene - you got it!
A modern look - no problem!
A rustic theme - abso-blooming-lutely!
So how do you find a wedding florist?
Just married at Bryngarw House. Image by Simon and Polly Photography.
Don’t put it off!
Florists get booked up early so don’t delay. If you are having a large wedding with lots of flowers you really should book as far ahead as possible. If you would like to book me, I only commit to one wedding per day so I can focus my energy and time on that couple. That means if you want to work with me you shouldn’t delay. So once you have booked a date, picked your dream venue and dress, start arranging those consultations.
Who to choose?
Recommendations are a fantastic aid in how to find a wedding florist. Ask friends and family who they used or even your venue if they have preferred suppliers. Most of my work is through recommendations and referrals. It really is so lovely to be booked by the sister or brother or even daughter of one of my past brides. Make a note of whose work you like. Then check out their work through websites and social media pages. Book a couple of consultations and ask questions! A good florist, like me, will know the answers.
Bridal bouquet at Bryngarw House. Image by Simon and Polly Photography.
Go with your gut!
Your flowers are such a special part of your day and you need to be comfortable with your florist. You want your florist to have a clear understanding of the look you want to create so a good relationship is all-important. Do you want your florist to take the time to get to know you? Will they know your name when you contact them or are you just another wedding on the wedding conveyor belt. This close relationship is not for everyone but it is my preferred way to run my business. I have even become friends with some of my brides! If you’re worried a florist might not be for you, you are probably right.
Match your aesthetics
Floral designers are creatives at heart. They got into the business because they love making beautiful things, but beautiful means something different to everyone. So, for the best results, don’t try to fit a round peg into a square hole when it comes to selecting your vendor. If you love ethereal, loosely composed designs, don’t hire someone with a portfolio filled with formal, compact designs. The “compromise” you’ll arrive at while working to meet halfway will likely only disappoint both parties—and that’s the last thing you want. There is a wedding florist out there that is the right style for you.
Top table flower arrangement at Bryngarw House. Image by Simon and Polly Photography.
Come prepared.
If you can, arrive at your consultation with ideas and pictures but there is no need to stress about this. I do not expect you to know flower names or their availability but a couple of pictures will help me understand the look you like, even an image without flowers can give an idea of the mood and style you want. You don’t have to arrive with a beautifully presented mood board! A couple of pages torn out of a magazine, maybe a little bit of fabric or a picture of a dress are all you’ll need. These things will help your florist know your likes and dislikes.
Money, money, money!
I know everyone hates talking about money, it seems ever so crass especially to us Brits. But budget is so important and it is vital to agree on this before you start designing a look. A good designer will have great ideas of how to make the most of your flower budget so make sure you ask them.
You need to be reasonable. If you like a certain flower that is out of season and it will cost an arm and a leg to be shipped from abroad, that is probably not the best use of your money. I have lost count of the number of times I have offered alternatives to achieve the same look. That being said if your heart is set on expensive flower, such as peonies, consider having a few stems in your bouquet - but get married when it is in season; us florists are good but we are not magicians!
Grooms buttonhole at Bryngarw House. Image by Simon and Polly Photography.
Ask more questions.
Beyond budget, there’s also a few logistical matters to clear up. How many weddings does the florist work on each weekend? Will they personally be present to oversee your event installation, or will they send someone else from their team? Who is responsible for the clean-up and collection of vases? An experienced designer will be able to give you those answers ahead of time. Personally, I only book one wedding each day so I am there to set up and deliver the flowers myself. This is the way I run my business but not all florists work in the same way.
What do their past clients say?
I would always recommend reading the reviews of anyone you are planning to work with, ideally you want testimonials like the one I have attached below. You want to make sure that not only were people happy with the flowers on the day, but also the communication throughout, how the florist made them feel on and before the wedding day. But please treat these as a guide, and not the deciding factor. Unfortunately because of the world we live in some people like to leave bad reviews for no real reason. I am lucky that this has never happened to me but if there is one bad review in a sea of good, ask the florist what happened. It is not necessarily a red flag.
I cannot say enough positive things about our whole experience with Anne-Marie - from the outset she was attentive, kind, warm and super welcoming, even letting us into her home to talk all things floral! Our flowers on the day were everything I could have imagined and more - I'd had a specific idea of what I thought I wanted, but Anne-Marie somehow managed to beat all the pictures and arrangements I'd seen and made every item vibrant and personal, and she made them fit our personalities and the 'feel' of our wedding perfectly - the woman truly works magic! My bouquet was a literal masterpiece, and we had so many compliments on the décor. Thank you so SO much for all your hard work throughout!
Table centre at Bryngarw House. Image by Simon and Polly Photography.
Trust your florist
I am the one in the know. So if you have any flower related questions ask! How to carry your bouquet? What bouquet suits this dress? Will the flowers you want compliment your hair and complexion? Will they suit your chosen theme and work in your venue? Always make the most of our expertise! A good florist will know the answers.
Sit back and relax
Once you have booked your florist (preferably me ☺) trust them to do their job and RELAX. Make sure you stay in contact with them and keep them updated of any changes, no extra tables on the wedding day please - and yes, this has happened to me. Make sure you know what the process of working with them looks like. I always arrange a final meeting or at least a phone call a couple of months before the wedding to go over final details, approximate delivery times etc. Then I follow this is up with a quick call the day before just to triple check buttonhole numbers haven’t changed and to let the bride know all is in control and they can relax and enjoy this special time. These little things help you feel in control so you can relax.
Terrarium centrepiece with succulents at Bryngarw House. Image by Simon and Polly Photography.
What do you think? Is this blog a helpful resource in how to find a wedding florist?
If you like my work and would like to discuss your wedding day with me feel free to CONTACT ME HERE.
I look forward to speaking to you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anne-Marie, the face of Petal Power
Hi! I'm Anne-Marie, Petal Power is me!
I run my weddings and event floristry business out of my studio in Creigiau, Cardiff, South Wales.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog.
If you want even more prettiness take a look back at my page. You will find information on the latest beautiful weddings I have been lucky enough to be a part of.
Also, you can keep up to date with essential advice, craft ideas, my favourite seasonal wedding flowers and more.
You can find out more about me and my work here.
Anne-Marie xoxo
Follow Me on Instagram
This gallery area is linked to my Instagram account where I post all my latest weddings, projects and news. I would love it if you follow me.
See you there!
Are you getting married?
I have created a page just for you.
It’s only natural that you have a load of questions when planning your wedding flowers.
Some of the most common questions that keep cropping up I have already answered. You will find this page helpful; to read more CLICK HERE
I have written so many blogs, take a few moments and have a good look.
But if you are getting married and would like to learn more about how I work I have a whole page dedicated to this.
Summer bouquet wedding details
I still have some availability for this year and next year. If you have booked your wedding date get in touch to discuss your wedding flowers.
I look forward to speaking to you.