I Am Over the Moon!

We Have Chosen a Florist!

(Again!)

As I said in a previous post, I was let down by a florist we had already chosen.

I suppose the problem wasn’t really a big deal. I’d asked for an updated quote and the florist took almost a year to send it. I felt that meant the florist was somewhat unreliable and I decided to cancel.

However! We have now found a florist who seems fairly fantastic! And as a bonus, she had two really friendly Boarder Collie’s who were absolutely gorgeous and wanted lots of fuss! I’m definitely a dog person so that was a huge bonus!

How Long Does It Take for a Florist to Set Up?

Your Questions Answered:

One of the questions that was asked in google to find my blog was, How long does it take for a florist to set up?

This question can only be answered by your florist.

The set up time will depend on the complexity of your flower order. It will depend on where you’re having flowers, how far the ceremony and reception venues are apart and how many flowers you’re having.

If you’re having a flower organza with archways and drapes and stunning table displays, it will obviously take longer to set up than a more simple arrangement.

I strongly encourage brides to ask their vendors as many questions as they need. They vendors are the experts and will be able to answer their questions a lot better than the internet will.

As a rough guide, I would allow at least an hour for a very simple arrangement at your reception venue and at least three hours for a more complex one.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to post as a comment and I’ll do my best to answer them. :o)

Your Florist

Must Ask Questions for Your Florist

Choosing your flowers is difficult. I saw three florists and thought I’d never be able to choose a florist before I finally settled on Flowers by Andrew.

Here are some must ask questions for your florist:

1. Can we see examples of your work?
   It is essential that you see some examples of their work just to check that they can actually do what they say they can. Look at their arrangements, are you impressed? Do you think it’s beautiful?
   
2. What ideas can you give me within my budget?
   Your budget is a huge factor in every element of your wedding. Finding a florist that can work within your budget is essential. Your florist will also be the expert in providing a service that fits inside a budget, so this is a very important question.
   
3. Would you be prepared to do a mock-up of a bouquet before the day?
   Not all florists will do this as it will cost them money. It might be included in your quote. However, it does give you an idea of how your bouquet will look and feel for The Day.
   
4. Will I have to pay travel costs?
   This will depend on the distance the florist will have to travel. I would always recommend choosing service providers that are either local to your reception or ceremony venues.
   
5. When would I need to make payments?
   You will be expected to leave a deposit when you book the flowers and then a final payment would be at some point before your wedding day.
   
6. How far in advance would I need to place my order?
   You know from reading my blog that I believe booking as early as possible means cheaper prices, however that’s not always true. Ask your florist for advice on when the best time is to book.
   
7. What will be delivered, when and where? Will you need access to water?
   The answer to this question will depend a lot on what you want for your wedding day. The main things you will want delivered will be the buttonholes and the bouquets. To save money on delivery, you could ask a friend to collect the buttonholes to get them to your fiancé and his groomsmen.
   
8. Who will set up the flowers?
   Usually the florist will set up the flowers themselves. A good florist will show pride in their work and will want to display it to its best. Some florists will deliver the flowers to your venue and allow your venue people to put the flowers out.
   
9. How long will you need to set up?
   Your florist will no doubt ask you what time your wedding is, to ensure the bouquets are delivered well in time. S/He will want to know what time your reception starts to ensure that everything is set up at your venue well ahead of time.
   
10. Do you charge for breakages?
    The answer to this question will more than likely be: yes.
    
11. Do you provide bay trees and other accessories?
    You might want other little touches to your wedding such as mirror plates and tea lights which some florists provide. There may be a charge but some florists will throw those in for free.
    
12. Can you get flowers in unusual colours such as green or black?
    A good florist can. A friend of mine wants green gerberas in her bouquet and her florist will provide them. She is going to have to use ink to change the colour of the flowers but it can be done.

Good luck choosing your florist! You could leave a comment here to tell me about your florist experience.

Florist

How to Choose Your Florist

The flowers are one of the main aspects of the day along with the venue, the dress and the photographer. Your guests are going to be looking at your flowers as the flowers and arrangements you choose will reflect your preferences and your personality.

My h2b could not be less interested in flowers so I’ve been very lucky and had free range to choose the flowers and the colours by myself! Yay!

The first thing you do is:

Look through wedding magazines or flower magazines and choose arrangements that you like. If you’re anything like me, you wont know a narcissus from a delphinium, all I knew were the colours I wanted and the pictures from a magazine.

A florist can put together a beautiful display for your wedding but she won’t know the flowers you like. This is why it is essential that you put together an ideas collage of flower arrangements you would like to have. They will be able to expand on the ideas you give them, offering cheaper options if necessary. They will also be able to tell you if the flowers  you’ve chosen are in season.

Next:

Go to wedding fayres and look at the flowers the florists bring to display. This will help you get an idea of what the different florists are offering. You will be able to speak directly to the florists and give an idea of your budget and what they can offer you. I will also help you to get a feel of whether or not you’d like to work with this person.

You can also trawl the internet. I spoke to Lynn at Fine Flowers at a wedding fayre, and then looked her up on the internet. I was impressed with the range of flowers she was able to tell me about, and then I was able to check out what she was saying through her website.

If you google for florists in the West Midlands you will find a range of different service providers. My advice is to look through their websites, get a feel of whether or not you want to work with them, and then arrange an appointment to discuss your requirements.

Meeting with a florist:

I spoke to three different florists before I decided to book the fourth florist, and each time I spoke to a florist, I had a better idea of what I wanted for our wedding.

I would absolutely recommend speaking to your florist face to face. Your flowers are a key element to your wedding, you don’t want them to go wrong. Its fair enough to email your florist but for a real discussion and a real understanding of what you want, I think you can’t beat a face to face meeting.

Look at their previous work:

Do you like the arrangements they show you in the pictures? Do the pictures look up to date and modern or are they a bit old fashioned? Are they willing to work with you or do they keep saying that your idea is wrong? Are they paying attention to you and seem interested in what you’re saying? Do you feel comfortable with this florist? A gut feeling is always a good indicator. Go with your gut.

Questions to Ask

• Ask if arrangments in the pictures have been done by the person who will be arranging your flowers.
• After giving your florist your ideas, ask for their opinion or ideas. You don't have to take their advice but at least take the time to listen. You never know, you might like their ideas better then your own.
• Additional costs? Delivery charge? Setup costs?
• Will they rent you the vases, mirrors and candles?
• If you change your mind, what is the cut off point for having what you want?
• What times will the flowers be delivered to each location?
• Will the florist transport ceremony decorations to the reception location? Is there a fee?
• Can they make a sample of your bouquet and centrepiece? Some florists will, some won't.
• Will they write you up an itemized quote? Some won't in fear that you will bring it to other florists for a better deal.
• Are the flowers you've chosen in season? What flowers are in season for your date?
• You're on a tight budget, can the florist work with a mixture of silk and fresh flowers?
• Are there any additional or hidden costs?
• Is the florist familiar with your reception and ceremony locations?
• 1 month before your wedding date, call the florist and ask them if they can get the type and colour of flower you wanted?

Things to bear in mind:

If your wedding is, like mine, around a flower time of year such as Valentine’s day, mother’s day and Easter, your flowers will be a bit more expensive.  This can’t be helped. Also, your florist may be a bit busy around this time.

You don’t have to book right away. I took the quotes from the florists I spoke to and compared them to quotes from other florists. This way I felt that I was getting the fairest deal.

If you choose flowers that are out of season and need to be imported from Holland, this will cost you more as it will cost your florist more. I’ve tried booking flowers that are in season for my wedding. Besides, I have chosen to have a spring wedding, why not have spring flowers!

I hope this helps you in your search for a florist. Please feel free to share your experiences and leave a comment below!