Vendor Spotlight: Choosing Your Flowers

12 May Vendor Spotlight: Choosing Your Flowers

Annie Kasak from Annie Occasion for Any Occasion stopped by to share her insider tips for selecting the perfect flowers for your wedding.

As a florist, the very first thing I recommend is to look through some bridal magazines and other bridal publications for initial ideas. Look through at least two to three magazines and pick our all the ideas and themes you like that pertain to what you may have already planned. You may even want to start a folder specifically for your wedding, including floral ideas. Bring this folder to your initial consultation. Further, have a clear and firm idea of what you absolutely DO NOT want! Additionally, have a general floral budget set. While you don’t have to know 100% what your budget is or what it will be, you should have a general idea (10-15% of your wedding budget is standard). Setting initial parameters will give your florist a frame of reference to work with.

The following is a simple list of do’s and don’ts to consider before and during your floral consultation:

• DO get online and visit various floral websites to familiarize yourself with different floral and foliage varieties and bouquet ideas (www.aboutflowers.com is a great site)
• DO schedule an appointment with your florist. Many florists require an actual consultation or appointment and prefer that to someone just dropping in
• DON’T bring more than one other person to your first consultation. Too many people can make the consultation hectic and can cloud your opinions
• DO be honest with your florist. Be upfront with him or her if you are merely price shopping. If you are price shopping, most florists will not offer an extensive wedding consultation or ‘on-the-spot’ consultation
• DON’T be afraid to tell your florist how much you want to invest in floral at the time of your consultation
• DO check with your church and venue for all applicable specifications and restrictions
• DO expect to pay a deposit to reserve your wedding date. Your deposit is often non-refundable, but will be applied to your wedding order. You may also be required to sign a contract to process and fill your wedding order
• DO tell your florist if you or any members of your wedding party has any floral or foliage allergies
• DO be open to alternate suggestions from your floral professional. Sometimes, one look can be achieved in a multitude of ways
• DO make sure your contract outlines all the duties and responsibilities you expect your florist to perform. Often, an additional fee will be incurred if you want your florist to service or deliver your wedding
• DO keep in mind that you may pay a premium price for your flowers if your wedding day coincides with a holiday (i.e. Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, etc). Additional, keep in mind that some churches will not perform wedding ceremonies during ‘holy’ times of the year (i.e. The Lenten Season)

Thanks so much, Annie, for sharing your years of expertise and professional tips with us! Happy wedding planning everyone!_