I often meet with brides who are extremely nervous about sitting on the other side of my desk. The conversation usually begins with, “I know nothing about flowers, but I do know that I want it to be beautiful.” As a professional wedding florist, I understand that most of my clients have never ordered flowers and have no idea what goes well together, what flowers are in season, or how much they can expect to pay for their flowers.

You need to remember that this is the most exciting time of your life. Your wedding florist is there to provide you with guidance. Here are some tips for finding a florist that is right for you. If you meet with a florist and he or she doesn’t measure up to these guidelines, I would hit the door!

1. Expect your florist to know that this is your day – not theirs! I know of many floral designers that are very passionate about their work – as they should be. But I also know that sometimes a designer will get you carried away with their own ideas and try and steer you away from your vision of the perfect day. As florists, we ALL have flowers that we love to work with and others that we are not fond of for one reason or another. And, while we should relate those concerns to you, you need to know that ultimately the decision is yours.

2. Expect to see examples of their work – and not just website examples! More and more brides are researching their wedding vendors by way of the internet and there are some really GREAT websites out there. But, be careful and make sure that they are not better at creating websites than they are at creating beautiful floral designs. Ask to see actual photos from weddings they’ve done and even ask about the weddings that you see pictures of. Where was their ceremony? I love these flowers! What are those and are they in season for my wedding?

3. Expect your consultation to be thorough. Expect the consultation to last from 1 – 2 hours. In order to receive an accurate quote, your florist needs to spend a good amount of time getting to know you and your likes and dislikes. They should have plenty of pictures, books, magazines, and other materials on hand to show you. Because no two weddings are ever the same, there are many styles of bouquets, corsages, ceremony decor and endless reception centerpiece ideas. Your florist should take time explaining these styles to you and show you many examples of ideas that will fit your budget.

4. Expect your quote to be itemized – not one package price. You have a right to know how much your flowers are costing you. More than likely you will need to make changes to your order at some point. For example, you may decide you need less centerpieces for the reception once you get back your RSVP’s and have a more accurate head count. Make sure your quote is broken down by bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, etc. and that tax is included. Find out if there is an additional delivery and set up fee and make sure that is noted on your proposal as well. Also find out how late you can make changes to your ordrer.

5. Expect References. I have never had a client that was indifferent about my services! This is the most important day of your life and you will have an opinion about your wedding day when it is all said and done! Ask for references and call or email them. I have a ton of testimonials from past clients and they all bring something new to the table. Most talk about the beautiful flowers and the designs, but others comment on my pricing, my professionalism, my attentiveness to detail, etc. If there is something special you’re looking for your florist to have, you may find out if they have it from talking to a past client.

6. Expect your florist to make a sample design for you – even if you have to pay for it. Flowers can be incredibly difficult to pick out and you may not be able to find an exact picture of that bouquet you’ve always dreamed of. And, if not, don’t be afraid to ask your florist to make one up for you. They should be happy to do it, but you may need to pay for this service and that’s okay! Having peace of mind is sometimes worth the cost!

7. Expect your florist to be able to fit your budget! This is a tricky one because you have to first ‘know’ your budget in order for your florist to be able to ‘fit’ your budget. Many brides come to me with no idea of how much they want to spend, or what they want to spend isn’t reasonable with what they need. In other words, just because you say you have $500 to spend doesn’t mean I should be able to provide you with 25 table centerpieces plus all of the bridal party flowers! You should expect your flowers to cost between 10 – 15 percent of your overall wedding. My advice – be up front and honest with your florist right from the start. Your florist should be able to work with you in achieving something truly beautiful no matter what your budget – as long as it is reasonable!

8. Expect to see your florist the day of your wedding! Make sure that your florist will be delivering your wedding. Weddings can be chaotic when there are many vendors involved. I only schedule one wedding per day because I know that inevitably, the cake will be late, the reception tables won’t be ready, etc. A florist who schedules several weddings in one day can’t possibly plan to deliver them all. And, if something goes wrong with your flowers, I wouldn’t depend on the delivery person to be able to fix the problem or offer any solutions!

9. Expect your florist to be professional, knowledgable, and creative! Enough said!

10. Expect to feel good about the florist you’ve chosen! Meet with several florists and I can guarantee you will like someone the best. Don’t always go with the florist who is the cheapest. Pick the designer who you think will treat your wedding like it’s their very own! And, believe me, we’re out there!

Have any wedding questions? Get all the answers you need now at Rachael West Designs.