When it is time to get a quote from the florists you are considering, we have a checklist to help guide you through the information you need to know to make the best decision. And if something comes up that is not on our list, our professional wedding planners are available to answer your questions in the forum.
The following article is an example of the content we have in our online wedding planning membership site HappyWeddings.ca under the heading of Florist. To learn more and get useful wedding planning tools for FREE, click here!
Once you have narrowed down your list of florists, that is the time to get some quotes. Bring a swatch of the bridesmaids dress fabric, and a picture of the wedding gown you have chosen, that you can leave with the florist. If you have any pictures of flowers, bouquets, or flower arrangements that you really like, bring copies of them to your florist so they understand your tastes, and have a reminder when they come to do your flowers.
You must provide them with a list of your flower needs, which we have been compiling in the SmartBride Checklist. Remember, for each corsage, boutonniere, etc., you want to have the person’s name on your list so everything is labelled correctly. The last thing you need is an overbearing aunt snatching up the bride’s mother’s corsage, when you haven’t even bought corsages for any aunts or uncles! If everything is labelled by name, you will have a lot less problems.
When you approach the florist for a quote, you should have a complete list of all the corsages, bouquets, and the number of flower arrangements you need for all your tables. You should also be clear about your budget and know how much you want to spend. If you are on a limited budget, and the florist is suggesting a lot more money than you are willing to spend, tell the florist your budget. Ask them what they can provide for that amount—you might be surprised that a few changes in the type of flowers that you use can get your flowers in on-budget. But always get a few quotes—shopping around always pays off.
Another thing to include in your flower needs list is what services you want the florist to provide—-do you want them to set up the flowers at the ceremony or reception site? What time can they get in to start setting up? Do you want flowers transferred from the ceremony site to the reception site, and if so, do you expect the florist to do that, or will you enlist one of your guests to take care of the task? Who will remove the flowers from the site after the wedding? Where will they go?
View the SmartBride Checklist: Florist Services to review all the possible questions you might want to ask your florist. If you have special needs or requests, add your questions to the list.