Tips to prepare for your floral consultation
If you’re reading this, you may be a newly engaged couple starting to look around at wedding vendors. Or, maybe you’re in the midst of planning and are feeling a little stressed out. To help you feel more organized, here is a short list to help you prepare to meet with potential wedding florists.
Think about how you want your wedding day to feel. When you walk down they aisle, do you want to be in the church your family has gone to for generations, or do you want to be in a woodsy forest surrounded by nature? Do you want moody, dark tones, or do you want a classic, traditional look and feel? This will help your florist determine what flowers will help you achieve that feeling! You can convey a lot through color, textures, and placement, so your florist will use your vision to shape their design choices. You don’t need to know “I want x amount of roses in each bouquet” or “I want x amount of candles at the ceremony” - you just need to have a vision. Your florist knows what elements will convey it, so lean on their expertise for the specifics.
Consider which parts of the wedding are most important to you. This is where you should devote budget. If you want a huge, beautiful bouquet - tell your florist. If you want the perfect ceremony backdrop, but aren’t too worried about reception centerpieces - let your florist know. Your florist will tell you what makes sense within your price range, so that you can get the most bang for your buck, and get the pieces that are most important to you.
Bridal party headcount and a close guest count estimate are important to know in advance. Your florist uses this information to create your quote. There’s a big difference between 2 bridesmaids and 10 bridesmaids when it comes to how many bouquets you will need. Likewise, there’s a big difference between having 50 guests and 100 guests - this doubles your centerpiece count. Your florist can add/adjust within reason before the big day, but you don’t want to make drastic changes in headcount after you’ve booked. If you’re not sure yet, you can have the consultation, but wait to book until you have a better idea for what you’ll need, and how much of it.
If you have photos of arrangements you love, get them organized so you can give them to your florist. This can be a Pinterest board, a folder on Google Drive, an email to your florist with the photos attached, or a few Instagram posts you can send. Floristry is an incredibly visual part of your wedding. Personally, I utilize reference photos to make certain I understand what a client likes and what their vibe is - what look and feel they prefer. Providing inspiration photos will give you confidence that what you receive on your wedding day will be in line with your tastes!
Have an idea of what your maximum spend is - the top line you cannot go beyond. This helps your florist design a package within your budget. If you decide to take things out after the initial quote, that’s not an issue, so I suggest starting at the top end of your budget and working down as needed. This way, you will know the maximum you can get within your budget.
Getting to know your vendors is super important, since your wedding is such a personal day. Consultations are part of the planning process, and it’s not just to nail down details. You aren’t just another client on a schedule. Your vendors want to meet you, talk to you, and hear your story. Our passion is bringing your vision to life, and a productive consultation is the first step in making that happen.
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