As professional DJ's we see a lot of wedding flowers, and deal with a lot of brides who are in the midst of choosing a florist. We would like to offer some advice to couples choosing floral arrangements, bouquets and other wedding flowers for their big day.
Every florist has their own style when it comes to wedding floral arrangements, so it is important to be familiar with a florist’s work before signing a contract.
The best way to start is to ask friends who they used, and what they thought of their work, price, and professionalism. If the florist comes highly recommended, chances are they will do a good job for you too. But don’t forget to also look at pictures (online and in-store) and if possible, check out a bridal order they are currently working on.
When you visit each florist, look at pictures of their previous work and look around their shop.
-->Do you like the arrangements that you see in the shop's displays?
-->Do the flowers in the pictures look fresh? (are the petal edges brown?)
-->Are the pictures current and do they follow contemporary styles?
-->Talk to the specific florist that will do your arrangements.
-->Do you feel comfortable with your florist and are they willing to take your ideas and wishes?
When to Book:
You should begin your search for a florist about 6 months before your wedding date. This is something you can’t do too early or too late because you need to have your reception and ceremony sites picked out before you can hire a florist, (because of size, location, amount, colors), but you also don’t want to wait too long, especially during a busy “wedding season,” so you can have your choice of florists.
What to Bring:
When you go to meet with your final florist-prospects, you should bring pictures of flowers and arrangements you like from magazines or photographs, pictures of your gown, color swatches and a list of the flowers you will need (i.e. centerpieces, boutonnieres, bouquets, etc.). You may also want to bring quotes your received from other florists.
What to Ask:
While you are looking over their portfolio, make sure to ask if the person who did the arrangements you like, is the same one that will be doing your flowers. Ask for their creative ideas and get a sense of what kind of artist they are. Ask if the flowers you want are in season when you need them. A florist may be able to get out-of-season flowers, but there may be additional costs, and they may not last as long. There are also some technical questions, such as “is there a delivery charge?” and “when must the final order be in?” and if there are hidden costs.
With these tips, we are sure you will haev beautiful arrangements on your special day.
