Ask most brides out there, and they’ll probably put flowers at the top of their list. And they will also probably have a dedicated Pinterest board with dozens, if not hundreds, of potential ideas. And why not? Bouquets are a staple part of the bride’s attire, and what do you think sits in the centre of every table during the reception?
Take it from us, flowers are important.
If you’re getting married in the near future, no doubt you’ll be enlisting the help of a professional florist. But if it’s your first time delving into the world of wedding flowers, it can be easy to get flustered. Don’t worry, we’ve come up with a complete checklist of all the questions you need to ask your wedding florist.
The date itself
- Is my wedding date available? (This may sound obvious but avoid falling in love with a florist’s style or starting conversations before finding out whether they can actually cater to your date can derail your entire plans)
- Does my date clash with any other events on your day? (While they may say they’re available, having too many weddings on the same day could mean one falls through the cracks)
- Have you been to my ceremony and reception locations before?
- If not, do you require a visit before the big day? Would you be available to do so?
- Will the flower arrangements be created by yourself or another florist?
- If someone else, can we meet with them?
- How far in advance are the arrangements and bouquets created?
- How and where are they stored between then and the big day?
- How are they transported to the venues?
The business
- How long have you been creating flower arrangements for weddings?
- How many weddings have you done?
- Do you have a portfolio I can browse through?
- Do you require a signed contract?
The design
- How would you describe your style?
- E.g. rustic, traditional, modern, quirky…
- Based on my ideas, are there any flowers that would be out-of-season?
- How much extra would these cost?
- Are there any similar in-season flowers that you could recommend?
- Where do you source your flowers?
- Are they organic, pesticide-free and sustainably grown?
- Do you provide the vases for centrepieces?
- Are these free of charge or do you rent them out?
- Do you provide additional decor elements e.g. mirrors, candelabras, aisle runners…
- Are these free of charge or do you rent them out?
- If I provide photos of bouquets and arrangements I like can you work with those?
- Do you provide a mock-up bouquet?
- Do you provide the accessories needed for centrepieces or arrangements, e.g. candles and vases?
- Can you recommend someone to assist with bouquet preservation after the wedding? Or is this something you can provide yourself?
The budget
- Is there a minimum budget you require?
- My budget is ___. Can you work with this?
- Are all your flower offerings customisable? Or do you offer packages?
- How are your arrangements and bouquets priced?
The logistics
- What is your delivery radius?
- Do you charge a fee for delivery outside of this?
- Do you charge for set up and breakdown of the decorations?
- How long do you require to set up?
- Are there any additional fees that haven’t been discussed yet?
- How do I secure your services?
- How much deposit is required?
- When is the deposit due?
- When does the remaining balance need to be paid?
- Could I see an itemised floral proposal along with the prices?
- Do you have a refund policy?