THE ABC'S OF WEDDING FLORALS
by Wincie Wong
-* updated May 7, 2004 *-

You're engaged and planning a wedding, but there are a million things to do! Flowers? You've never really thought about it, but they are an integral part of your special day. What should you do? Where do you start? The following are a few tips to help you on your way.
 

Timing
When should I start thinking about florals? As with many other items in the wedding planning checklist, the earlier the better. As soon as you pick a date and place, you should begin looking around. Start out with looking at magazines and wedding books to get an idea of what you'd like. Once you've decided on your bridesmaid dress colors and fabrics and have a rough estimate of how many people will be attending, you can start approaching florists. It is recommended that this is done at least four to six months prior to the wedding date. If you have a florist in mind already, it is better to notify them earlier so they can plan accordingly.
 

Budget
How much should you be spending on your florals? You should allot 10% of your total wedding budget to florals. Many floral designers offer other services such as linen rentals, fabric draping, party favors, etc. Increase/Decrease your budget accordingly. Do not be afraid to give a florist an approximate budget. You are paying them to help you and work with you. With a budget, the florist can better suggest ideas and flowers that are within your price range so you can get the best result for your money. 
 

What do I need?
So you now know how much you want to spend, but what is it that you're going to need from your florist? There are probably a million things but most will fall into these five major categories: Bouquets, Boutonnieres and Corsages, Sanctuary, Reception, and Other.

Bouquets - The Bridal bouquet tends to be the focal point of many weddings and it's hard to see why not. It will probably be the most photographed floral arrangement out of everything you order. Do you want a wired or hand-tied bouquet? Cascading or round? Monochromatic or colorful?  Do you need a toss bouquet? Next to think about are the bridesmaids bouquets. How many do you have? What colors are their dresses? Do you want to differentiate your Maid of Honor's bouquet?

Boutonnieres and Corsages - The Groom and groomsmen will need boutonnieres. What color bowties/vests/cummerbunds will they be wearing? Other people who might need them are immediate family members. Fathers, grandfathers, etc usually get some form of boutonniere. Mothers, grandmothers, etc will usually wear a corsage. Ushers and others helping out may also need boutonnieres.

Sanctuary - How do you want to decorate your sanctuary? Do you need large arrangements in the front to frame the ceremony? Do you need Pew Markers or decorations for the front? Is there a signing table and will you need florals for that? Is there a flower girl? Will the guests be throwing petals?

Reception - Things to think about are centerpieces, cake table, buffet tables, cocktail hour tables, and signing/gift tables. If you are thinking of using candles of any sort, make sure that it's ok with the reception hall.

Other - Will you need florals to decorate a limo? Do you want an arch somewhere? Do you need an aisle runner?

Most florists will guide you toward things you need to think about, but it is always best to show up prepared!

Where do I look?
So you have a budget and you know what you need. Where do you begin looking for a florist? Word of mouth is usually the best way. Think of a wedding you've attended where you loved the floral decorations or if any of your friends have planned one recently and were happy with the results. Certain hotels and banquet halls have a list of recommended florists. Some require you to use their in-house florist. Take note of florist shops that catch your eye that you've seen in your neighborhood. There are retail shops and floral design studios. Retail shops are the florists with storefronts that you see around most often. Floral designers and studios are independent designers who only do events such as parties and weddings. Both can provide you with wedding floral services, but you should try to see a range of different florists. Even if you have someone in mind, make sure you go out and try to see at least three or four before settling on one florist. Many florists have their own style of designing and different price levels. They should also have a portfolio of past work. Seeing all this will allow you to see a larger range of flowers available to you. There are thousands of different kinds for you to choose from!

That first meeting
You've made an appointment for that first meeting with a floral designer! What should you bring with you? Bring along pictures from magazines of things you saw that you like. Ask the florist what flowers will be in season during your wedding date. Certain flowers like roses and carnations will be there year-round, but others such as peonies and tulips, will only be available at certain times and can be very expensive out of season. Also, try to decide on a color theme for your wedding florals. A florist will be better equipped to help you if they know what flowers are available in your color theme.

Finishing up
By the time you've seen several florists and gotten a few estimates, you should have a very good idea of what you want and are going to get! Details should be finalized at least one month before the wedding date to ensure everything goes smoothly. Good luck on your wedding planning!