Illinois Wedding Articles » Wedding Planning
Wedding flowers are one of the central decorations in almost any wedding ceremony and reception. Choosing a wedding florist who can meet your budget needs and still provide you with beautiful and gorgeous floral arrangements can be the key to making your wedding memories shine through the years.
Budget
Before you begin to talk to potential wedding florists, you will need to define your budget for wedding flowers. Modern Bride and other wedding sources recommend that your floral budget be approximately eight to ten percent of your total wedding budget. If you follow this recommendation, then you will, of course, need to have a complete budget planned for your entire wedding. This is an extremely good plan to follow, since you will need these other estimates for your wedding planning anyway.
Recommendations
Before choosing a wedding florist, ask your wedding planner and other friends for their recommendations for good, reputable florists who they have worked with in the past. Very often, wedding planners will have firsthand knowledge of the best florists in your area and even good ideas about what kinds of flower arrangements they specialize in for weddings and receptions. Another source for referrals is your bridal boutique. Florists and other wedding vendors frequently advertise their services at bridal boutiques and may even offer discounts for brides who find them this way.
Interviewing
When you meet with potential florists for your wedding, bring your budget amounts and also a list of what kinds of floral arrangements you believe you need – ceremony arrangements (aisle decorations, alter, etc), bouquets, boutonnières and reception arrangements.
Also, bring photos of arrangements you like and believe reflect your personal style and the style you want for your wedding ceremony and reception. Keep in mind that a good wedding florist will offer you several different options for flowers, based on your budget and what flowers might be available when your wedding is scheduled. For example, if you are planning your wedding in late January or February and you want red roses, you may find yourself paying a premium – and not being able to afford as many flowers – because of Valentine’s Day.
If you are working with a wedding planner, feel free to bring them to your interviews with potential florists. He or she may be able to offer additional suggestions. Plus, very often wedding planners are able to negotiate lower rates with wedding vendors because of the volume of business they can bring a florist or other provider.
Summary
Deciding on a wedding florist is one of the key decisions in planning a wedding. Before you meet with potential florists, be sure to have a budget in mind and an idea of what kinds of flowers and arrangements you will need for your wedding.